We've always known the potential of the North and today we have seen the State Government commit to unlocking our energy superpower.
Townsville Enterprise was proud to host Premier of Queensland, Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk and members of her Cabinet today at The Ville-Resort Casino. The Premier made a number of announcements which centred around one key enabling project - CopperString 2.0.
This announcement marks more than a decade of advocacy by the leaders of North and North West Queensland and Townsville Enterprise. A united advocacy voice gets results and now we celebrate.
The Premier's speech included the following announcements for the region:
✔ CopperString will be built to provide affordable, renewable energy to open up the North West Minerals Province. The 1,100km transmission line from Townsville to Mount Isa will be 100% government owned. This $5 billion transmission line is the most significant investment in economic infrastructure in North Queensland since the railways. With the first $500 million down payment from the coal royalties fund being made today, there is no delays.
✔ Vecco will build a $26 million vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility in Townsville. The facility will employ 21 people and produce enough electrolytes for 175 megawatt hours growing to 350 megawatt hours of storage annually.
✔ Townsville's Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct has been declared a prescribed project to fast-track approvals.
✔ Queensland Pacific Metals have received Significant Investment Project status for their Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub at Lansdown.
✔ Construction has started on a major expansion of two new facilities at the Bohle TAFE Campus. A new $12.5 million Renewable Energy Training Facility and a $4.7 million Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab.
CopperString will sustain 20,000 existing jobs and unlock $740 billion worth of untapped known minerals in this region. It will also unleash the 33GW of green energy potential along this corridor.
"CopperString opens up an entire new supply chain from Mount Isa through to Townsville to manufacturer renewable technologies with renewable energy. To make flow batteries from minerals mined and processed in North Queensland. To process materials needed in lithium batteries in North Queensland. To make renewables in North Queensland," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
Townsville Enterprise thanks its members and partners for their continued support. Without their generous contributions and ongoing commitment to our organisation we would not be able to secure the future of Townsville North Queensland and projects such as CopperString.
Many Premiers and Prime Ministers have been supporters of the CopperString project, but did not deliver. Today the Palaszczuk Government is delivering for the North and on behalf of our region, we thank you, Premier.
Building CopperString is the region's Olympic race for GOLD and today, this race has begun.
