The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct has been declared a prescribed project, paving the way for a major green manufacturing hub and a new era of growth for North Queensland.
The declaration by Deputy Premier Steven Miles will fast track approvals to deliver the enabling infrastructure required for the 2,500 hectare precinct taking shape 40km south of the Townsville CBD.
As a prescribed project, the Coordinator-General will work with the Townsville City Council to provide further coordination and structure an approach to de-risk infrastructure planning and accelerate investment readiness of the precinct.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill welcomed the classification of Lansdown as a prescribed project, saying it provided coordination between government departments, Council, and successful industry proponents, a vital step to securing long-term employment and economic security for the people of Townsville and the north.
Townsville City Council plans to develop the estate over the next 20 years to transform it into an environmentally sustainable, advanced manufacturing, processing and technology hub.
The declaration will provide Council with additional State Government support to deliver this significant project.
Deputy Premier Miles said regional Queensalnd was the centre of the government’s $62-billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
He continued: “The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct is a great example of our plan in action and of our progress towards Queensland’s future as a renewable energy superpower.
“Townsville is poised to become a leader in advanced manufacturing and renewable energy – and this precinct is the game-changer to make it happen.
“With existing infrastructure at Port of Townsville, Lansdown is ideally located for local suppliers to become part of the fast-growing global supply chain in emerging industries.”
The enabling infrastructure works required to develop the precinct include the development of rail and road connections, delivery of water to the precinct and the development of internal road networks to support future project proponents.
The precinct will deliver a local jobs boom – about 5,000 during construction and an estimated 1,600 direct and 9,100 indirect jobs once projects located there are up and running.
It will be a centre for growth industries such as renewable hydrogen and advanced battery manufacturing, with six companies already signed on to operate at the site.
This includes Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM), which has chosen the Lansdown precinct as the future home of its proposed $2.1 billion Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub project.
QPM plans to process 1.5 million tonnes of ore a year to produce critical materials for use in new-technology batteries.
The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct is jointly funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Government in partnership with Townsville City Council.
It was flagged as the top project priority arising from the Townsville City Deal, which has the commitment of all levels of government to drive new industries and export growth for the city.
The Queensland and Commonwealth governments have committed $74 million to date to build the enabling infrastructure needed to get the precinct off the ground.
Queensland Minister for Resources and Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said Lansdown was at the heart of the government’s plans to ensure people in North Queensland benefits from the massive economic and employment benefits from investments in clean and green energy.
Stewart said: “With easy access to the Port of Townsville, Lansdown can connect suppliers and markets in Asia and the Pacific.
“A significant portion of the precinct has already been committed to including Queensland Pacific Metals’ hub that will support the growing electric vehicle industry.”
