IT'S no secret the recent mining downturn has hurt Collinsville.

Proserpine is also experiencing record vacancy rates in its retail premises.

A solution that could go some way to arresting the decline could be as simple as a road connecting the two towns.

A proposal was pitched in 2013 by Whitsundays Marketing and Development but was never made a priority.

Denise Kreymborg from MWD said a proposal for the project was being revisited.

"It is important that a road is built to support the Collinsville community in attracting more people to their region," she said.

"It will also benefit Proserpine."

She also said there needed to be a political will at all levels of government to make it happen.

In WMD's 2013 proposal, expected growth of the coal mining industry was cited as a reason for the building of the road.

The predicted growth of an industry that founded Collinsville has not eventuated. The road is still needed but for different reasons in 2016.

Even before the mining downturn and the drive to make renewable energy a global priority, Collinsville was in decline - between the 2006 and 2011, Collinsville lost more than 25% of its population.

Ms Kreymborg said the opening of a road from Collinsville would allow the growing of other industries to help the town get back on its feet.

Agri-tourism and farm-stay accommodation, as well as the development of cottage industries unique to Collinsville are the kinds of diversification the town needs, according to WMD.

It is imagined the diversification could be added to the pit pony attraction Collinsville is famous for.

Ms Kremborg suggested attraction of visitors to the town could be worked into a new town plan that is currently being developed by Collinsville.