The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct development has reached an important milestone with Townsville City Council formally agreeing to partner with the Queensland Government to deliver a suite of road and rail projects to enhance access to the site.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill (pictured) said it was pleasing to see the state government deliver on the October 2020 election commitment.
“I commend the Premier and her government for delivering on their commitment and providing this funding now to allow Council to bring this exciting, jobs-generating precinct to fruition,” Mayor Hill said.
“Council has formally agreed to enter into a formal agreement with the State Government to get the ball rolling on this work, the cost of which will total $16 million.
“The State Government will contribute the lion’s share of the funding, with a $12 million commitment. Council will contribute $2 million and a further $2 million will come from the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.”
The works will facilitate safe access to the precinct and include an intersection realignment at Jones Road and the Flinders Highway, internal precinct roads, relocation of a rail passing loop and relocation and upgrade of a level rail crossing.
The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct will be Northern Australia’s first environmentally sustainable advanced manufacturing, technology and processing hub.
The precinct will realise the objectives of the Townsville City Deal, a tri-partisan agreement spanning 15 years and all levels of government, to activate industry and export growth for Townsville and its regional partners as the Industry Powerhouse of the North.
Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey said the agreement was an important step forward.
“Leading up to the October 2020 election, we committed $12 million to improve truck access at the Lansdown Industrial Precinct, and this agreement moves us closer to delivering it,” Mr Bailey said.
“This is about backing Lansdown as the new home for manufacturing in Townsville to support Queensland’s energy industry.
“There is an amazing economic opportunity for North Queensland to be an advanced manufacturing and renewable energy powerhouse, and we want Townsville to be at the centre of it.
“Projects like Lansdown will help to drive Queensland’s economic recovery from Covid-19.
Three companies, Queensland Pacific Metals, Edify Energy and Imperium3 Townsville have signed up to establish themselves at the precinct, with DriveItNQ already establishing its driver education and motor sport facility adjacent to the Lansdown precinct.
Council said it will continue to lobby the Federal Government for additional funding, which has become available under the Townsville City Deal, to install additional enabling infrastructure at the precinct and ensure it is ‘turn-key ready.’
“Council and the State Government have proven their commitment to Lansdown and the jobs and economic benefit it will provide to Townsville and North Queensland,” Mayor Hill said.
“Momentum is clearly building behind Lansdown and we continue to hope that the Federal Government will come to the table soon so this project and its economic benefits can be fully-realised.”
