Energy Hub set to unlock manufacturing jobs in Townsville
By The Queenslander Staff
In a boost for manufacturing jobs in regional Queensland the Townsville City Council has formally endorsed the infrastructure masterplan for clean energy manufacturing hub the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct.
“The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct is set to take Townsville to a greater tomorrow from a jobs, economic, and environmental perspective,” said Mayor Jenny Hill.
“This masterplan sets an infrastructure roadmap for the development of the advanced manufacturing precinct with the potential to support more than 5,000 construction jobs, around 1,600 initial jobs and more than 9,100 indirect jobs.”
Under the masterplan, the precinct will be developed in stages starting with infrastructure works commencing in 2022.
The Eco-Precinct will be Northern Australia’s foremost eco-industrial precinct for advanced manufacturing, processing, technology and emerging industries, and position Townsville as a leader in advanced manufacturing and as a hydrogen and renewable energy hub.
Seven proponents have conditionally been allocated land in the precinct following tender processes conducted by Council. They are:
- Queensland Pacific Metals
- Edify Energy
- Imperium3 Townsville
- RTE Energy Pty Ltd
- Origin Energy Future Fuels Pty Ltd
- Solquartz Pty Ltd and
- North Queensland Gas Pipeline.
The Council endorsement comes on the back of Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese pledging an extra $22 million on infrastructure for the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, should Labor win the upcoming election.
“We need Australia to be a nation that makes things again,” Mr Albanese said.
The extra funds would lift the total Commonwealth investment to the site to $34 million, helping to create 6,000 new jobs when fully operational.
Mayor of Townsville, Jenny Hill, welcomed the announcement. “This commitment from the alternative government of Australia to the people of Townsville will set our city up for sustained, long-term economic growth,” she said, calling on the current Coalition government to match the commitment.
