Townsville Enterprise - A Voice for NQ

Townsville Enterprise is the Regional Economic Development Organisation (REDO) for North Queensland. This means we work with all levels of government, government departments and the private sector to identify core areas for the sustainable economic development of the region.

Our organisation is the voice of North Queensland – advocating for investment into these key areas. We are always on the look out for ways to increase the region’s capacity to do business, increasing prosperity for all residents of the region.

During the last Federal election, Townsville Enterprise was instrumental in lobbying the Federal Government for a number of critical infrastructure projects.  These included:

CopperString project:

The CopperString project proposes the development of a power line from Townsville to Mount Isa in North Queensland.

The proposed transmission line will provide major energy users in the North West Mineral Province (NWMP) with access to the National Electricity Grid, significantly improving the supply and reliability of electricity to the region.  The CopperString project will also provide opportunities for renewable energy projects along the proposed transmission line to supply clean energy to the National Electricity Grid.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has committed $185 million for the CopperString transmission line, $2 million for pre-feasibility works to develop renewable energy projects along the line and a further $350 million to construct a large-scale solar generation plant. Download the briefing document here.

Townsville Multipurpose and Entertainment Centre

Townsville has the potential to become one of Queensland’s leading convention and exhibition destinations, a drawcard for national and international business events.

The city’s potential is hampered by a lack of high-class, purpose built convention facilities. Townsville’s current meeting facilities are best suited for business events with fewer than 200 attendees. Its facilities are inadequate for larger events, with no purpose built venues that provide sufficient space for the full complement of business event activities i.e. plenary sessions, concurrent meeting rooms, exhibit space, banqueting and on-site accommodation options.

It was proposed that an equal three way funding split between the Townsville City Council, the Queensland Government and the Federal Government, requiring an investment of $47.67 million from each level of government.   The Federal Government has committed a total of $46.2 million towards the Townsville Multipurpose and Entertainment.

Eastern Access Rail Corridor (EARC)

Increasing the capacity of the rail network between Townsville and Mt Isa is required to meet the freight needs of various new mining projects within the North West Minerals Province, totalling more than $2.3 billion.

In the absence of the EARC, the increase in throughput along the Mount Isa to Townsville rail link will lead to bottlenecks at level crossings around residential areas of Townsville. Increased traffic volumes will increase the length of time each day that the level crossings are closed to road traffic.  The EARC has been identified by QR Network as the preferred option for dealing with the looming congestion problem.

The Eastern Access Rail Corridor, at a cost of $180 million, is a necessary part of the infrastructure required to expand the capacity of the Townsville to Mt Isa Rail Corridor to take over 7.5 million tonnes of freight and to avoid negative impacts on the southern areas of Townsville City.

To date no commitment has been made from the Federal Government to fund the EARC.