Today, Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith had the opportunity to speak at the national Courier Mail | Townsville Bulletin Bush Summit event held in Townsville.
Read her speech, showcasing Townsville North Queensland's potential in the State and national energy transition.
Queensland is an energy powerhouse of Australia. Our State’s diverse energy mix, which includes coal, gas, and renewables, positions us uniquely. As we shift towards greener and cleaner energy sources, North Queensland’s abundant solar and wind resources provide an unparalleled advantage. With 320 days of sunshine and over 9 hours of sunlight each day, combined with reliable and somewhat unique wind patterns after sunset, our region’s natural energy potential is unmatched anywhere else in the country.
Our region’s potential for renewable energy is immense, but historically, our challenge has been connecting these abundant resources to the national grid. Until now, we’ve been dependent on southern regions to generate the power we need, leading to soaring energy costs, significant transmission losses, the largest base metal province in the world, Mount Isa, still reliant on diesel generation. We have always said that Australia will not see a successful energy transition unless there was significant investment into transmission.
And I’m pleased to say that earlier this year we – as a State – we marked a significant milestone with the commencement of the $5 billion CopperString project. This is the largest transmission project in Australia’s history, delivering a 1000 km transmission line connecting Townsville and Mount Isa. CopperString will unlock over 33 GW of clean power and stimulate over $740 billion in critical minerals mining, essential for renewable technology development. The escalating power costs, which have surged by over 30%, have been a major challenge for our smelters and refineries, but CopperString promises to revive these vital industries and secure their future.
CopperString will be the single biggest investment into a clean energy future in our State’s history, a catalytic project that has set this region on its prosperous trajectory like never seen before. With $7.4 billion in new projects announced for Townsville North Queensland thanks to CopperString, initiatives like the Prairie and Mt James Wind Farms are now on the horizon, and Queenslanders/Australians are set to be the key beneficiary.
Townsville stands on the cusp of a green energy revolution, primed for expansive – yet sustainable – growth, but we need serious investment and commitment from all levels of government to accelerate the industries of tomorrow. And the recipe for this is quite simple. We need government investment into enabling common-use infrastructure such as ports, rail and roads, leaving the private sector to do the rest without interference, red and green tape or uncertainty.
In meeting with investors from across the globe, one question stayed with me – ‘What do you want Townsville to be known for?’. With such a diverse economic landscape – no single industry comprising of more than 15% of the GRP, this used to be a difficult to answer. There’s no denying the list of our accolades as a region should place us at the forefront of targeted government investment for enabling infrastructure to capitalise on our region’s untapped potential.
- We’re the army capital of Australia, and the largest population centre in Northern Australia, home world-class health and education facilities that underpin a thriving and resilient community.
- Townsville leads in green manufacturing, and the largest general cargo port in Northern Australia.
- Our reputation as a key player in global environmental research and innovation is unparalleled and uniquely North Queensland.
- The region’s abundant strategic industrial land and seamless road, rail, and air connectivity and title as a leading producer of globally in-demand commodities further solidifies Townsville's position as Australia's investment-ready gem.
Our business cases are solid, and our region is ready to lead this State and our nation into its next era. Our region embodies the solutions to many global economic, geopolitical, and environmental challenges – put bluntly, North Queensland is ready to lead Queensland and Australia into a new era of clean energy. So going back to the question of ‘What does Townsville stand for?’ - our vision is set.
Fast forward to 2040, Townsville North Queensland will stand as a global leader as regional Australia’s most liveable green manufacturing city. Townsville will be the home to the world’s first green zinc refinery and a hub for processing green battery materials such as zinc, copper, and lithium. We will have green manufacturing plants, including battery and hydrogen production facilities, scattered across the State Development Area, creating thousands of jobs. The Port of Townsville will have expanded to handle ten thousand containers of minerals, hydrogen, and batteries, reflecting an expansion of our thriving global export sector.
Our city’s population will exceed 300,000, thriving as a region that is a beacon of clean energy and innovation. To the west, the corridor of the future will produce some of Australia’s cleanest energy, with vibrant towns like Charters Towers, Hughenden, and Mount Isa benefiting from CopperString’s transformative impact. These areas will not only see renewed mining activity but also growth in agriculture and community development.
Our nation’s journey towards sustainability is critical, and the decisions made today will shape the future for generations to come.
History will not look favourably on decisions made based on politics but will instead celebrate bold decisions made now based not only on the ‘Made in Australia’ philosophy but based on ‘Best for Australia’. Decisions that put regions like ours – with proven capability and unrivalled resources – are the forefront of the State and national energy agenda.
North Queensland stands as the renewable energy hub of Australia, a region founded on industry, home to a highly skilled workforce of Queensland families, innovative manufacturing capabilities, and emerging infrastructure. The Prime Minister and Premier publicly acknowledges the importance of our region in the national energy transition, affirming this in every conversation I’ve had with them since their appointments, but what we need now is firm commitment. Shaping the energy future of this country is the legacy that can be created now.
In 2040, future generations will look back and thank today’s leaders for their foresight and investment into North Queensland’s potential. We are on the brink of a green energy revolution, and our efforts today will pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous tomorrow, for us all.
