Unlock the North | 2024 State & Federal Budget Submission

Townsville Enterprise pays its deepest respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land in Australia, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and culture. We pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and commit to fostering a culture of learning from and working with First Nations people in the spirit of reconciliation and access to justice.

Foreword

We are pleased to present the Townsville North Queensland 2024 Unlock the North: Corridor of the Future

This latest edition of Unlock the North outlines the strategic priorities and projects that, when delivered, will continue to make our region one of the most liveable in the world. It will ensure we continue to support a growing range of diverse industries, embrace new technologies and provide opportunities for those who live here and for those who visit.

As in past years, this edition brings together projects and refines ideas based on our values of excellence, partnerships, creativity and non-partisan. As an organisation we take these projects and ideas and work with political stakeholders of all levels of government, and investors, to deliver the economic outcomes Townsville North Queensland needs in the decades ahead.

The Townsville North Queensland region encompasses five major regional centres: Townsville, Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook and Palm Island. The region is home to nearly 240,000 people contributing nearly $20 billion in Gross Regional Product to our national economy each year.

As a region we continue to be an economic powerhouse for Australia – a mixture of regional, rural and city industries coming together utilising innovation and first-class education facilities. This is coupled with a commitment to improving the region's liveability and tourism offerings and leveraging our stunning natural environment that provides growth opportunities for the visitor economy and an attractive lifestyle for our residents.

THE

2024 UNLOCK THE NORTH: CORRIDOR OF THE FUTURE IS IN TWO PARTS:

▶ Unlocking Townsville North Queensland: Projects which are pivotal for the economic growth of our region, enabling and leveraging existing infrastructure and removing barriers for growth.

▶ Growing Townsville North Queensland: Projects which will assist the region in economic growth through the development of their respective industry.

Our region has benefited from on-going government and private industry support. That investment has established new industries and infrastructure, including a new stadium, defence capabilities, renewable resources and tourism investment. The $5 billion CopperString project will connect world-leading renewable energy zones to the national grid, and provide affordable and reliable energy to the North West Minerals Province.

The time is right to look to the future, taking advantage of our renewable energy resources and skilled workforce to grow new industries in green energy, critical minerals refining and processing and knowledge industries.

At the same time, the people of Townsville North Queensland are facing challenges, including the on-going need to attract skilled workers in times of low unemployment, meeting future housing needs, and providing water security for our growing population and new industry developments.

Finally, thank you to the Partners, Members and key industry stakeholders of Townsville Enterprise who have worked together to establish a set of shared priorities to consolidate the voice of North Queensland.

As the peak economic development and destination management organisation, we remain true to our purpose of securing the future for Townsville North Queensland

2.0

Townsville Enterprise, the NQROC (North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils) and the North Queensland’s business community are committed to securing the future of North Queensland. Our role has always been to look ahead, and champion the projects and policies that will deliver economic growth for our region over the coming 5 to 10 years. We work to drive our traditional industries like defence, health, education, tourism, and mining to greater heights, while backing innovation and new technology to stay competitive and relevant to national and international markets. In addition, Queensland’s runway towards the 2032 Olympics also provides an ideal opportunity to develop refreshed experiences that support visitors travelling to Townsville North Queensland.

Townsville Enterprise is a proud and growing membership-based organisation. We would like to thank our members for their continued support in our efforts to Secure the Future of Townsville North Queensland.

About Townsville North Queensland

Advocacy Highlights

Townsville Enterprise and the North Queensland local government authorities thank the State and Federal Governments for supporting growth and regional economic opportunity in the North Queensland region.

This investment will ensure that Townsville North Queensland will be home to several world-leading projects, becoming a hub for sustainable industry development and enhance our sovereign capabilities.

Major Upcoming Projects

COPPERSTRING PROJECT

The 1,100km transmission line will extend from Townsville to Mount Isa and will connect the North West Minerals Province to the national electricity market. The project will unlock investment into new renewable energy and critical minerals projects and is the most significant economic development project in North Queensland.

NORTH QUEENSLAND SIMULATION PARK (NQ SPARK)

Australia’s

5,122

Equipped with cutting-edge technology systems and training research facilities for health, defence and emergency services. 834

ACTIVATING TOWNSVILLE NORTH QUEENSLAND’S HYDROGEN INDUSTRY

A collaborative hydrogen industry ecosystem to generate more jobs, advanced manufacturing and is a catalyst for growth of small business capability and skills in the renewables sector and other flow on industries.

OUTCOMES FROM THE DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW

Townsville will be the home of the 3rd Brigade, which will be an armored combat brigade as well as army attack and medium-lift aviation. Major upgrades are also planned for the Lavarack Barracks and RAAF Base Townsville.

REGENAQUA BURDEKIN

A world-first facility set to reshape the wastewater treatment landscape with breakthrough macroalgal technology that is natural and carbon-free. The facility improves water quality, removing harmful nutrients from wastewater before it enters waterways flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.

VANADIUM ELECTROLYTE MANUFACTURING FACILITY

Australia’s first commercial-scale vanadium flow battery manufacturing facility will be located in Townsville. This facility will produce the electrolyte used in vanadium flow batteries, a proven option for large-scale energy storage.

LARGEST

COMMERCIAL-SCALE VANADIUM ELECTROLYTE MANUFACTURING PLANT IN AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COMMON USER FACILITY

The Common User Facility will be a hub to trial production processes for commercialisation, enabling prospective miners to produce mineral samples at scale.

Unlock The North Project Priorities Summary

PROJECTS:

UNLOCKING TOWNSVILLE NORTH QUEENSLAND

TOWNSVILLE’S SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL CORRIDORAUSTRALIA’S HOME OF GREEN MANUFACTURING

• Port Expansion Stage 2- Tripling Port capacity and enabling expansion for defence forces.

• Townsville Eastern Access Rail - Doubling Rail capacity, unlocking North Queensland Stadium Precinct

• Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct - Australia’s largest green industrial precinct

TOWNSVILLE WATERFRONT RENEWAL

A transformational, city defining legacy project. The Townsville Waterfront Renewal will be an integrated multi-facility development transforming Townsville’s CBD and lifestyle waterfront precinct. Proposed to be developed in three stages:

• Precinct 1: The Global Great Barrier Reef Centre of Excellence

• Precinct 2: North Australia Arts and Entertainment Precinct

• Precinct 3: Reef Marine Tourism Gateway

WATER SECURITY

Providing water security for the Copperstring Project at Hughenden and progressing improved infrastructure outcomes in the Burdekin Catchment.

• Hughenden Off-Stream Water Storage Project

• Enhancing the Burdekin River System

SOLVING THE HOUSING CRISIS

Providing 1,000 new inner-city apartments through Build-to-Rent Developments and the quarantining of the Housing Investment Fund to support housing developments in North Queensland.

ATTRACTING THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE

Attracting an additional workforce of 48,000 over the next ten years through policy change and incentives.

PROJECTS:

GROWING TOWNSVILLE NORTH QUEENSLAND

TOURISM AND LIVEABILITY PROMOTIONAL FUNDING.

Additional support for attracting workforce and tourism by enhanced destination marketing and establishing future revenue sources for destination marketing and development.

FUTURE HEALTH AND PROSPERITY.

Enhancing North Queensland's world-class health care system through ongoing investment in infrastructure.

TROPIQ AND THE TROPICAL AQUACULTURE ACCELERATOR.

Funding to deliver integrated master planning for the TropiQ precinct and to establish the Tropical Aquaculture Accelerator at JCU.

GROWING THE HYDROGEN INDUSTRY.

Supporting the development of the hydrogen industry through concessions and incentives.

REGENAQUA HINCHINBROOK.

Supporting a transformational technology that will drive sustainable growth of agriculture and aquaculture industries plus municipal infrastructure in North Queensland.

PALUMA TO WALLAMAN TRAIL.

Funding for design and infrastructure for the Paluma to Wallaman Trail to meet the staged business plan.

AYR INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.

Funding to deliver trunk infrastructure to the Ayr Industrial Estate.

MAGNETIC ISLAND KOALA HOSPITAL.

Funding for the establishment of a publicfacing Koala Hospital on Magnetic Island.

RICHMOND

North West Minerals Province

JULIA CREEK CLONCURRY

MOUNT ISA

HUGHENDEN

NQ Green Energy Superhub

Critical minerals processing and refining

Hydrogen Hub Defence Capibal AYR CopperString 2032 Port

CHARTERS TOWERS

TOWNSVILLE

INGHAM

1.0

Unlocking

Townsville North Queensland

These are projects which are pivotal for the economic growth of our region. Enabling and leveraging existing infrastructure and removing barriers for investment. These are the projects that all other development relies upon, the critical building blocks needed for industrial and economic development – power, water, land and transport infrastructure. Investment in infrastructure and resource projects will unlock enormous economic benefit for Australia’s northern regions and drive the nation’s transition towards a Net Zero economy.

Copperstring Project: Paving the Way For Our Low-Carbon Future

The CopperString project will turbocharge North Queensland’s transition to green energy and deliver the largest grid expansion in Australia.

The $5 billion investment will create thousands of new jobs in critical minerals mining, refining and renewable energy generation, unlocking our region’s world class wind and solar energy resources.

North Queensland will be at the forefront of Australia’s low-carbon future.

This visionary project funded through the support of the Queensland Government ensure that North Queensland will be the epicentre for new, clean industry development and world-class jobs. Townsville Enterprise has advocated for the CopperString project for over 10 years, and is proud to see this vision for a decarbonised North West Queensland become reality.

Together with Local, State and Federal Governments, we will support local industry to ensure this project gives back to the regions through meaningful employment and procurement opportunities and enhances the capability of our regional contractors and workforce.

Importantly, CopperString is fuelling further economic demand that will require additional support to fully realise. With CopperString, Townsville North Queensland will be Australia’s centre of green manufacturing and Australia’s most liveable regional city. Conversely, the construction of a project of this magnitude in a sparsely populated region will present its own set of unique challenges. It is important to consider the impact that major projects linked to CopperString will have on the local community and supporting infrastructure.

To unlock the benefits of CopperString all levels of government and industry need to work together to address the challenges

of housing, workforce, access to water and delivering the required infrastructure upgrades to the Flinders Highway.

In addition to the projects and budget requests outlined in this document, Townsville Enterprise is calling for a full infrastructure audit of the Flinders Highway to ensure that it can support projects like Copperstring, renewable wind and solar and critical minerals developments in North and North West Queensland.

Like many parts of Australia, the North West Queensland region is facing a severe housing shortage, with an added layer of complexity due to the additional logistical and operational challenges associated with building housing in a rural area.

Workforce attraction is another challenge facing this project, with all regions along this corridor reporting extremely low unemployment rates, making attracting new workers to these regions crucial to the success of the project.

Finally, the largest challenge faced by North Queensland to deliver this project is a secure water supply that will support future growth in population and industry. The North West corridor possesses a naturally dry, arid climate, and receives most of its total annual rainfall during the summer monsoonal months.

It is imperative that fit-for-purpose water infrastructure is delivered to allow the needs of the growing communities and local industries to be met.

WHAT WE NEED

▶ Queensland Government to undertake a full infrastructure audit on the Flinders Highway and prioritise funding for works required to make sure CopperString, renewable wind and solar projects and the critical mineral mining and refining projects can be built.

Townsville Enterprise has worked with our members to determine the projects required to unlock the true potential of CopperString.

1.1 Growing the Townsville Southern Industrial Corridor: Australia’s Home of Green Manufacturing

Townsville has long been a global centre of base metals refining and export. The critical connection between Townsville and the North West Minerals Province has been producing national wealth for over 100 years and will continue on with the rising demand of critical minerals.

The first major metals refinery was established in Townsville in 1959 with the development of the Mount Isa Mines Copper Refinery and the refining industry has strengthened over the years with the establishment of the Yabulu Nickel Refinery in 1974 and the Sun Metals Zinc Refinery in 1999.

Through careful planning, the State and Local Governments have established and preserved nationally significant industrial precincts, combining to become the Townsville Southern Industrial Corridor. The corridor consists of the Port of Townsville, the Townsville State Development Area and the Lansdown EcoIndustrial Precinct. These precincts are connected by national highways, the Flinders Rail Corridor and supported by water from the future Haughton Pipeline and connected to the Northern Bowen Basin gas fields via the North Queensland Gas Pipeline.

Future Made in Australia: Commitment to Net Zero Industries

In April, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Future Made in Australia Act, which will deliver investment incentives to bolster clean energy and advanced manufacturing in Australia. The Townsville Southern Industrial Corridor aligns with the Federal Government new investment strategy by delivering jobs in the green advanced manufacutirng, hydrogen and renewables sector and securing sovereign manufacturing capability.

We thank governments at all levels for their deliberate focus on the development of renewable energy and critical mineral resources in North and North West Queensland.

KEVIN GILL CHAIRMAN OF TOWNSVILLE ENTERPRISE

The development of the CopperString project, the opportunities presented by a booming critical minerals commodity market and a rapidly developing hydrogen export industry requires a focused effort to plan, fund and implement the infrastructure required to support the development of new industrial refining and processing opportunities.

North Queensland is on the cusp of a new industrial manufacturing and refining boom. The development of the $2.5 billion Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM) – Townsville Energy and Chemicals Hub at the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct will be the first major new base metals refinery in Queensland for nearly 25 years. This project is being closely followed by new and well progressed development proposals in vanadium metals processing, polysilicon manufacturing and sustainable aviation fuels.

With up to six base metals and critical minerals refineries, North Queensland will be globally recognised as the leading green manufacturing and critical minerals hub.

To support CopperString and the future development of the North Queensland Super Hub in Hughenden, the Port of Townsville will become a critical import point for construction materials, solar panels and wind turbines for construction of these projects. They will require industrial land for laydown areas and efficient transport and logistics access from the Port of Townsville.

The success of CopperString is heavily dependent on the development of large scale, energy intensive green manufacturing projects like QPM and other projects in North Queensland to absorb the new energy generated by renewable projects connecting to CopperString and to help stabilise the electricity grid. The continued support of Governments at all levels to invest in the ongoing Townsville Port Expansion Project and the connecting infrastructure in the Townsville Southern Industrial Corridor will ensure that these new industrial projects will benefit Queenslanders both economically and socially.

1.2 Critical Infrastructure Projects for the

Townsville Southern Industrial Corridor

TOWNSVILLE PORT EXPANSION

Australia’s largest port for base minerals, sugar and fertiliser, and Northern Australia’s largest container and automotive port – the Port of Townsville is on a trajectory that will see its annual trade triple to 30 million tonnes per annum by 2050.

The Port handles more than 30 commodities and provides dedicated Defence and cruise facilities, making it one of Australia’s most diverse ports and a keystone of the North’s economic prosperity. Timely completion of the Port’s 30-year $1.6 billion Port Expansion Project is critical to facilitating competitive port services for the region’s existing industries and ensuring the success of new projects in critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, agriculture, tourism and Defence.

Without expansion, the Port is at certain risk of trade demand outstripping Port capacity.

The $500 million Townsville Port Expansion – Stage 2 will give proponents across the North the certainty needed to advance major export and service projects that will benefit every North Queenslander through facilitation of trade, job creation, economic prosperity, liveability and climate change action.

BACKGROUND

Over 30 years, the $1.6 billion Townsville Port Expansion Project will see the critical development of six new berths and associated infrastructure at the Townsville Port, thereby facilitating $700 billion in economic value from 2020-2050.

Stage 1: Channel Upgrade Project | Nearing completion

The $251 million Channel Upgrade Project includes widening the shipping channels and a new 60-hectare port land reclamation area.

This stage of the Port Expansion Project will enable port access for larger commercial, cruise and defence vessels (up to 300m long) that would otherwise bypass Townsville for larger ports. The project allows for more competitive shipping services, greater efficiency in supply chains, and reduced traffic on Queensland’s road and rail infrastructure.

Dredging works are on track for completion by April 2024, with land reclamation works to be completed by September 2024.

Stage 2: Outer Harbour Development | Seeking investment

Rapid momentum in existing and new industries in the North Queensland region is accelerating the need to mobilise Stage 2.

The $500 million Townsville Port Expansion - Stage 2 involves:

▶ Creation of a new 90-hectare land reclamation footprint including construction of 3.5 kilometres of rock wall, creating a sheltered new Outer Harbour

▶ Construction of a new multipurpose Berth 12 wharf and associated backing land

▶ Dredging the berth pocket, swing basin and approach channel

Stage 2 of the Townsville Port Expansion will be broken into separate work packages and staged in delivery to enable increased Port capacity to be online in three years and overall completion in four years.

Together, Stages 1 and 2 will provide the full 150-hectare footprint of the new expanded port required to progress the Port Expansion Project.

The Port of Townsville is investigating future port capacity requirements with a number of proponents that anticipate a need for onsite Port infrastructure in the coming years. Future stages of the Port Expansion Project will be determined by commercial readiness and suitability. By completing Stage 2 of the Port Expansion while these projects advance, the Port can ensure it is ready to accommodate its customers’ needs without delay.

The $500 million Townsville Port Expansion – Stage 2 will give proponents across the North the certainty needed to advance major export and service projects that will benefit every North Queenslander through facilitation of trade, job creation, economic prosperity, liveability and climate change action.

1.2 Critical Infrastructure Projects for the

Townsville Southern Industrial Corridor (cont.)

BENEFITS

Providing an interim increase in Port capacity through the development of Berth 12, required to meet rising demand for existing trade including mining, agriculture, motor vehicles and project cargo, fuel and bulk liquids, containerised goods, Defence and cruise.

Enabling trade growth in high priority areas including critical minerals, renewables especially wind farm projects, advanced manufacturing and fertiliser and phosphate products.

Support the development of the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct and in particular the Queensland Pacific Metals TECH project by providing capacity for bulk imports and exports of trades.

Enabling Australian Defence Force Forward Mounting Base capability. Constructing the rock wall to complete the Port expansion footprint now is essential to be ready for Defence to achieve the outcomes from the Defence Strategic Review. This is a key piece of long-lead time infrastructure that is critical to specifically accommodating future Army amphibious base requirements and potential new Navy facilities to support enhanced strategic projection in the Asia Pacific Region.

The development of Stage 2 of the Townsville Port Expansion will support regional growth and the enable ambitions of both the Federal and State governments by aligning with a wide range of government priorities.

WHAT WE NEED

STATUS

The rate at which projects across the North are progressing demands Stage 2 of the Port Expansion Project gets underway now.

Timely delivery is vital to optimising the region’s trade potential and additional project benefits, including significant cost savings, can be derived if Stage 2 works can commence prior to the completion of Stage 1 works.

The Townsville Port Expansion Project has been through rigorous environmental impact assessments by both the Queensland and Federal Governments. This provides certainty that the environmental impacts have been fully considered and will be controlled through conditions on development.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Townsville Port Expansion Project was assessed and approved with conditions by both the Queensland Government (2017) and the Federal Government (2018).

Stage 1 of the Port Expansion ($251 million Channel Upgrade Project) was funded through the Townsville City Deal, with contributions from the Queensland Government ($110 million), Federal Government ($75 million) and the Port of Townsville ($70 million).

▶ $300 million for rockwall construction and dredging works required to deliver new berth capacity to meet the time frames of new projects in the region and realise the benefits outlined by 2050.

▶ $200 million to construct a new multi-user berth in the outer harbour will be separately financed by the Port of Townsville bringing the total investment to $500 million

TOWNSVILLE EASTERN ACCESS RAIL CORRIDOR

The Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor (TEARC) is intrinsically linked to the Townsville Port Expansion Project

TEARC has been in planning for over 15 years. First identified along with the Townsville Port Access Road, the rail corridor has long been identified as the critical piece of infrastructure needed to improve rail access into the Port of Townsville and support a more efficient rail infrastructure layout within the Port precinct, relieving a known bottleneck. More importantly, TEARC will remove significant rail freight movements out of the Townsville CBD, providing further opportunities to enhance Townsville’s liveability appeal and further develop the Queensland Country Bank Stadium and proposed exhibition and events precinct.

The Queensland Government has confirmed TEARC is a required future strategic infrastructure project for North Queensland.

BACKGROUND

In 2017, as part of the Townsville City Deal, the state and federal government committed to the delivery of a business case for TEARC and an assessment of innovative financing models to fund the project. In November 2017, the Queensland Government finalised the business case confirming that TEARC is a required future strategic infrastructure investment needed to ensure the future growth of the North Queensland region. The business case identified that, at that time, the project was not economically viable, however future developments including stage one of the Townsville Port Expansion Project and other future developments would trigger a need to revisit the project.

STATUS

The time has come to review the business case and commit to developing TEARC. The 2017 Business Case confirmed the

WHAT WE NEED

need for TEARC and the requirement to preserve the land corridor identified for the project. The Queensland Government has committed funding to acquire the land required. In the six years since the original business case in 2017, additional development has occurred that was not considered in the business case. These critical developments include:

▶ The delivery of the CopperString project, scheduled to commence in April 2024 which will trigger significant new development in the North West Minerals Province as well as the Hughenden Renewable Energy Precinct

▶ The Queensland Government’s commitment to the development of a critical minerals industry which will see the future development of mining operations in and around the Richmond and Julia Creek region

▶ The development of the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct and the proposed development of two major minerals refining projects

▶ The development and operation of the Queensland Country Bank Stadium and the community’s desire for this precinct to be further developed into a major events and exhibition hub.

Importantly, even without these developments, the business case identified that, without TEARC, the current southern road access into Townsville would have difficulty servicing the expected residential traffic demand by 2027 and would be completely unable to meet expected traffic demand by 2036, highlighting the critical importance of TEARC from both an economic and social point of view. Increasing demand from further critical minerals developments will be best supported by an efficient rail freight connetion to the Port.

It is critical that all levels of government now recommit to updating the business case and commit to the delivery of TEARC.

▶ Commit funding to review the TEARC business case, detail design and progress the required development approvals

▶ Fund TEARC to ensure this corridor comes online in advance of future development.

1.2 Critical Infrastructure Projects for the Townsville

Southern Industrial Corridor (cont.)

LANSDOWN ECO-INDUSTRIAL PRECINCT ENABLING WORKS

The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct is the future home of green industrial manufacturing and technology in northern Australia. The Townsville City Council is developing the 2,200-hectare precinct to support the development of critical minerals refining and hydrogen production technologies and export opportunities.

BACKGROUND

Lansdown has been declared a Prescribed Project by the Queensland Government as a project of state and regional significance. Lansdown is also home to another Prescribed Project, the Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM) – Townsville Energy and Chemicals Hub project, also recognised by the Queensland Government as a project of state and regional significance.

The state and federal governments have recognised Lansdown’s importance in the Townsville City Deal and have committed a combined $74 million to assist in the progression of enabling infrastructure to help realise the significant industrial investments proposed.

Once fully occupied over 20 years, Lansdown will have created 15,000 full time jobs during its construction and operation, driving future wealth creation for the state and growing trade through the Port of Townsville.

STATUS

Together with the Queensland Government, the Townsville City Council is rapidly progressing the enabling infrastructure works required to ensure Lansdown is fully development ready in the coming year. The QPM project is progressing towards a final investment decision in the first half of 2024 with works progressing on the delivery of raw water infrastructure and road access to the northern end of the Lansdown precinct.

The Townsville City Council is working with a number of internationally significant companies to now progress the development of the southern end of the precinct.

Another major refinery project has recently been announced. Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners will seek to develop a state-ofthe-art polysilicon manufacturing facility at Lansdown powered by large scale solar and battery storage developments close by and supplied by a future silica quartz mine in North Queensland.

These projects align closely with government ambitions to develop new industries in Queensland focused on green energy and manufacturing development.

Access to the southern end of the Lansdown Precinct is constrained by the proximity of the Flinders Rail Corridor to the Flinders Highway. The distance between the two transport corridors prohibits the safe at level use and ‘stacking’ of type 2 road trains to access Lansdown. The ultimate and safe solution is to plan and progress the development of a rail load out connection into the Precinct.

Acquire and fund the infrastructure corridor between Lansdown and the Port of Townsville.

Provide funding for the design and planning of a rail freight load out facility for future bulk commodity freight between Lansdown and the Port of Townsville.

1.3 Housing

Access to housing is an important aspect of the region's ability to grow and attract new residents. The region's growing project pipeline and low unemployment rate has put intense pressure on North Queensland’s housing stock.

Townsville’s vacancy rate has remained consistantly below 1% since the September 2022 quarter. The region’s unemployment rate also remains low, at just under 3%, and the huge demand for further skilled workers to be brought in to support our project pipeline has exhausted existing housing stock. Based on projections from the Queensland Government Statistics Office nearly 25,000 dwellings need to be built by 2041, an average of 1,212 a year. Regions surrounding Townsville are also experiencing severe housing shortages. Regional Councils in North Queensland are working with the LGAQ and the Queensland Government to develop Local Housing Action Pland which will require funding assistance to implement.

On average, approximately 700 new dwellings are constructed each year, however, to meet the growing demand an additional 487 dwellings need to be built on top of existing output. This is an increase of 67% from current dwelling additions to be built each year, and is the highest increase required across all Queensland regions.

High-density housing can provide a solution for the region's housing shortage. However, there are several major barriers preventing the construction of high-density housing developments that urgently need to be addressed.

SOLVING THE REGIONAL HOUSING CRISIS

The Queensland Government’s Housing Investment Fund can incentivise further affordable housing supply in Queensland. Research undertaken by Townsville Enterprise and the Townsville City Council found that due to rising construction costs and insurance, the cost of building new developments in North Queensland can be up to 25% higher than Southeast Queensland.

Townsville Enterprise is concerned that this cost differential may lead to applications for the fund being concentrated in the South-East corner, where commercial returns are higher. This fund offers an important opportunity for our region to address our housing shortage if monies from the fund are quarantined for North Queensland and other regional locations where housing availability remains stubbornly low.

Extensive work has been undertaken to explore the viability of Build to Rent housing models in North Queensland which can help to alleviate the region’s housing shortage. Funding from the Housing Investment Fund quarantined and allocated to innovative Build-to-Rent models in North Queensland is required.

WHAT WE NEED

▶ The Queensland Government to quarantine $150 million of the housing investment fund to be allocated to North Queensland, encouraging the development of new social and affordable housing projects.

▶ $20 million from the Housing Investment Fund to be specifically allocated to the Townsville inner city high density developments.

▶ $30 million to provide trunk infrastructure upgrades that will facilitate rapid housing development and make the North Rail Yards project competive to South East Queensland.

1.3 Housing (cont.)

HOUSING FUND

TOWNSVILLE INNER CITY HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT - 1,000 NEW APARTMENTS

Across the Townsville LGA, an additional 9,142 dwellings are forecast to be required by 2026, with 34,228 dwellings required by 2041.

Townsville Enterprise and Townsville City Council have investigated the financial feasibility of a Build-To-Rent project in Townsville. As a regional city, Townsville faces unique challenges that drive up capital and operating costs associated with developing such a project. These include the cost of energy, affordability of insurance and availability and rising costs of construction. In fact, the cost of building new developments in Townsville is 25% higher than in Brisbane.

In order to attract private investment, support is required to cover the existing cost disadvantages.

BUILD-TO-RENT MODEL

Build-To-Rent is an emerging housing trend in Australia with most projects currently located in major capital cities. This housing model sees apartment complexes designed and built by developers that retain ownership when complete. The apartments are then rented to tenants with the developer maintaining and managing the complex. These developments are typically underwritten by an institutional investor.

BENEFITS

▶ Flexible lease arrangements for tenants

▶ Variety of amenities and lifestyle benefits

▶ Urban renewal and activation

▶ Additional housing for growing labour markets

▶ Influx of mid-to-higher end apartment options

STATUS

An independent housing demand analysis demonstrated that in order to meet future population growth forecasts, an additional 9,142 dwellings are required by 2026. Townsville inner city will require an additional 1,574 dwellings are required by 2026.

There are several locations in Townsville that are prime sites for Build-To-Rent projects, including the North Rail Yards site located within Townsville city. Townsville City Council has created a Beneficial Enterprise, North Rail Yard Developments Pty Ltd to oversee development of the site, which will be the southern gateway into Townsville city and support high-density residential housing with commercial and cultural activities that educate and celebrate our city’s heritage and future.

North Rail Yard Developments are progressing Expressions of Interest over the site with a vision of creating an active and exciting precinct that provides contemporary use of the rail heritage buildings, retaining their key architectural form and historical elements while respectfully integrating the intent of the Priority Development Area.

To further support housing solutions for the Townsville community, a proposal has been submitted into the Queensland Government’s Housing Investment Fund to support the viability of high-density housing at North Rail Yards.

$18.5M GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT

135 CONSTRUCTION JOBS

9,142 DWELLING FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS

REINSURANCE POOL

Access to insurance is imperative for the Townsville North Queensland region to reach its full economic potential and is essential for building resilient communities. The housing shortage facing North Queensland has heightened the importance for access to affordable and available insurance and in particular strata insurance to provide competitively priced cover to customers.

The $10 billion reinsurance pool was a significant announcement with the potential to be a real solution to a decade-long problem of rising and unaffordable insurance.

Despite this, access to affordable strata insurance continues to be a major barrier for the region and with a growing demand for housing, high-density housing models are the primary short-term solution to resolve the housing crisis. The lack of strata insurance providers in the North Queensland market, coupled with the extraordinarily high premiums means that new high-density housing development are financially unviable and are unable to compete with the return on investment for projects in the South-East Queensland.

Following the impacts of ex-TC Jasper on the Far North in late 2023, has raised further questions about the effectiveness of the Cyclone Reinsurance Pool. The first major weather event since the Reinsurance Pool has clearly demonstrated it’s shortcoming in proving affordable and commercially viable insurance for North Queenslanders.

The Pool is set to be reviewed by the Federal Government in 2025, and Townsville Enterprise strongly recommends that the recommendations below are incorporated into subsequent changes.

TOWNSVILLE ENTERPRISE RECOMMENDS:

▶ Extension of the 48-hour period: Propose an extension of the post-cyclone period coverage from 48-hours to 168-hours (seven days) in line with global reinsurance standards.

▶ Inclusion of flooding in the Reinsurance Pool: Advocate for the expansion of the reinsurance pool to cover flooding, a crucial component in comprehensive coverage.

▶ Insurance Incentives: Propose targeted insurance to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures for residents and businesses which would reward policyholders for risk mitigation measures.

▶ Enhanced Data Transparency: Reinforce the transparency of data requests to the ACCC for consumers to foster trust and understanding.

▶ Long-Term Resilience Mitigation Action Plans: Develop and implement longterm resilience action plans, including:

a. Investment in mitigation infrastructure in colloboration with local councils.

b. Grants for propoerty owners to enhance the safety of their dwellings.

c. Stregthening building codes and improving disaster management planning.

d. Removal of unfair taxes and charges from insurance policies by governments.

▶ Build greater understanding of the role of the reinsurance pool.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE READ OUR SUBMISSION TO THE REINSURANCE POOL INQUIRY HERE:

1.4 Securing Our Workforce

Townsville North Queensland currently has the lowest unemployment in Queensland, and the 10th lowest in Australia (as of September 2023). The North Queensland labour force is at full employment, and with a significant pipeline of projects expected in the next 10 years, it is critical that the region is well-equipped to attract both skilled and unskilled workers.

Townsville Enterprise’s Regional Industry Growth Plan forecasts the region labour force will require an additional 47,824 people over the next 10 years. The roles that are expected to have the most growth include health professionals, carers and aides, specialist managers and education professionals.

Rapid development of renewable energy projects and related technology, as well as the processing and refining of critical minerals are driving the need for additional skilled workers. To enable the growth of these new industries, targeted regional attraction incentives are required.

WHAT WE NEED

Townsville Enterprise strongly recommends that both State and Federal Governments consider implementing an incentive scheme that attracts critical workers to live and work in the region, ensuring the delivery of the major upcoming projects in the pipeline. Examples of incentives that could benefit the region and resolve workforce shortages include:

▶ Increase zonal tax allowance benefit for regional and rural communities and index future increases to CPI.

▶ Create new employment opportunities for workers from First Nations and disadvantaged backgrounds by providing fee free courses for both vocational and tertiary qualification for critical skill requirements in new and emerging industry sectors.

▶ Regional migration visa’s fast-tracked over capital cities for critical workers.

▶ Provide better access to permanent visas for international students seeking to work in Australia post university study.

DESIGNATED AREA MIGRATION AGREEMENT

Townsville Enterprise is currently the Designated Area Representative (DAR) for the Townsville North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA). Townsville Enterprise applied to become a DAR in response to the severe workforce shortages being reported across the region post Covid-19.

Several changes have since occurred with the regional economy, government and legislation in relation to the DAR over the past year. From the 1 July 2023, changes to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) were introduced raising minimum remuneration requirements from $53,900 to $70,000.

Long delays in the processing times by the Department of Foreign Affairs for labour agreements and visas are also having an impact on the effectiveness of the Townsville North Queensland DAMA.

There is still a need for overseas migration to the region to support the major projects coming online over the next five years, including the CopperString project, the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, Townsville University Hospital and the Port Expansion Project

WHAT WE NEED

To ensure that the DAMA is fit-for-purpose, Townsville Enterprise recommends:

▶ Expanding the list of occupations currently registered under the DAMA

▶ TSMIT discounts for specified positions – between 1020% discount depending on occupation and the rate of the award

▶ English language concessions not currently listed for certain occupations

▶ Skill level concessions not currently listed for certain occupations

▶ Streamlined processing by the Department.

Australia’s Most Liveable Regional City

For Townsville North Queensland to lead the nations journey towards a low carbon future, workforce attraction will be essential. Townsville Enterprise’s Regional Industry Growth Plan forecasts the region’s labour force will require an additional 47,834 people over the next 10 years across all industry sectors including health, manufacturing, education and hospitality.

Australia’s Most Liveable Regional City

Liveability refers to the degree to which a place, be it a neighbourhood, town or city, supports quality of life, health and wellbeing for the people who live, work or visit. Cities considered to have a high degree of liveability tend to have a high level of, and widespread accessibility to, amenities.

Amenities include features such as open and green space, educational, social, cultural and recreational facilities. High-amenity places have higher financial value (property prices and rent) and social, environmental, public health and cultural value.

Townsville will be an Olympic City, helping to showcase Queensland to the world in 2032. As the largest city in North Queensland, Townsville is located on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef. Our proximity to such a globally significant asset means that it is a showcase for the Reef to the world. It is imperative that our local amenities and Townsville’s waterfront precincts reflect the cultural and environmental connection to the Reef and demonstrate the pride that Australia has in this extraordinary asset, a natural wonder of the world.

Our Central Business District and Waterfront Precincts are also important in showcasing our region to the domestic and international visitor market and can be used to generate interest and visitation to our region.

Furthermore, as a region looking to grow rapidly over the coming years it’s important that Townsville’s cultural and lifestyle amenities are developed further to improve liveability and encourage relocation to the region.

1.5 Townsville Waterfront Renewal

Creating the new face of Townsville and building regional Australia’s most liveable city.

As Townsville stands on the cusp of significant population growth, the city will demand improvements in connectivity and liveability. The regions’ pipeline of committed and in-progress projects will create approximately 50,000 new jobs across the region over the next decade. An evolution in the city’s lifestyle, cultural and entertainment offering will be vital to attracting and retaining the talent needed to help the region meet its full potential.

The Townsville Waterfront Renewal will be developed across three precincts, ultimately creating a new lifestyle and cultural destination for the region. The project will create a world-class entertainment, marine science education, culture, and lifestyle precinct, helping to boost the city’s liveability and appeal for potential new residents and visitors ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The project involves the creation of vibrant and distinctive precincts extending along the Ross Creek waterfront from the city heart through to the oceanfront. The redevelopment of these areas will be a catalyst to driving population growth, boosting the visitor economy, and increasing the region’s profile and appeal. Townsville Waterfront Renewal will help cement Townsville as regional Australia’s most liveable city. It will provide a catalytic change to Townsville’s lifestyle, investment and tourism- much like what the Strand continues to deliver.

PRECINCT 1:

THE GLOBAL GREAT BARRIER REEF CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Australia’s $56 billion Great Barrier Reef deserves a gateway Aussies can boast about. A global showcase for this natural wonder of the world. Queensland’s Reef will be on show to the world in 2032.

The Global Great Barrier Reef Centre of Excellence will celebrate and highlight Townsville’s position as the global headquarters of Marine Research, Education and Custodianship of the Reef.

Precinct 1 will be a central showcase of the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem and include:

▶ A 5-star rated world class Great Barrier Reef Aquarium and Education Centre

▶ Office accommodation for world-leading scientific and research agencies

▶ A re-imagined Museum of Tropical Queensland that showcases and shares the stories, objects and research that contribute to Queensland’s $662 million State Collection.

▶ Bridge connectivity between Palmer Street and Flinders Street – linking Townsville’s accommodation and dining precinct to key tourism assets

▶ Development of Stage 1 of Flinders Street Wharf, a new food and marine experience inclusive of small marina, floating bar and restaurant facilities.

1.5 Townsville Waterfront Renewal (cont.)

This Precinct will not only enhance the region’s tourism and lifestyle facilities and put Townsville North Queensland on the map but be a catalyst for investment and growth within Townsville city.

The Great Barrier Reef Aquarium (previously Reef HQ Aquarium) is a cornerstone of the North Queensland community for more than three decades. It has been integral to securing visitation for the region and providing a unique opportunity for people of all backgrounds and swimming ability to witness the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

As a leading force in educating the global community about the conservation efforts of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Aquarium has not only contributed to our local economy but has also instilled a profound sense of community and global pride.

Given Townsville’s status as the home of the Australian Institue of Marine Science, James Cook University and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, it is essential to establish a worldclass showcase that underscores Townsville’s position as the global epicentre of reef education and conservation.

The proposed revision to the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium are pivotal in achieving this goal, transforming it into one of Australia’s premier tourism attractions and education centres. The redeveloped facility will not only offer a more immersive and sustainable experience but also foster greater collaboration witht the region’s leading marine science facilities. This revitalisation aligns with our vision for Townsville as a hub of excellence in reef education and further solidifies our reputation as a tourism destination and regional economic powerhouse.

Importantly, the economic impact of the revitalised Great Barrier Reef Aquarium cannot be overstated. It is projected to generate 1,313 new jobs (FTEs) and contribute $444.6M in economic activity. No other community or tourism project in the region promises the same scale of economic benefits, global profile, and education and conservation advantages.

VALUE OF GBR:

▶ $56 billion in total economic value

▶ $29 billion in domestic tourism

▶ $3 billion in recreational use by Australians

▶ Directly supports 39,000 jobs

Museum of Tropical Queensland preserves North Queensland’s natural and cultural heritage, with leading research that focuses on the history of the Great Barrier Reef and the effects of climate change and human impact. It is also the central location for repatriation, storage, and access of First Nations items from North and Far North Queensland including the Torres Strait Islands. As a trusted knowledge institute, the museum has the unique ability to foster lifelong learning by showcasing Queensland’s biodiversity, prehistoric and maritime history along with the rich tapestry of Indigenous knowledge and culture.

Townsville’s inclusion as a hosting city for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games provides a prime opportunity to showcase the region to the world by spotlighting its credentials in reef management and education and showcasing our First Nations’ stories and history.

BENEFITS:

Opportunities for an integrated approach to the development of a mixed use waterfront tourism destination.

STATUS:

$80 million is currently committed to redevelop the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium. Design works are currently underway for the new facility.

WHAT WE NEED

$191.5 million to achieve a vibrant, transformative precinct comprising of:

▶ $100 million additional funding will transform the aquarium into a sustainable reef STEM and education centre.

▶ $41.5 million for upgrades to the Museum of Tropical Queensland including extension to Ross Creek and the precinct, dedicated children’s space incorporating First Nations and Western Science, extensive permanent gallery renewal, First Nations Keeping Place, commercial upgrades as well as sustainability and accessibility improvements.

▶ $50 million in funding for public realm works including critical safety works, pedestrian bridge and boardwalks.

▶ A commitment to leasing office accommodation by federal and state agencies within the Precinct.

▶ Funding support for Flinders Street Wharf under the Growing Future Tourism Grant Funding.

1.5 Townsville Waterfront Renewal (cont.)

PRECINCT 2:

NORTH AUSTRALIA ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

Precinct 2 of the Townsville Waterfront Renewal will introduce a stateof-the-art entertainment precinct to Townsville. The introduction of a new Exhibition and Entertainment Centre co-located with a Concert Hall will enhance Townsville’s reputation as the events capital of North Australia and promote the region nationally and on an international scale. These facilities combined will be a leading centre for business events, sports, concert, and entertainment, visual and performing arts, and facilitating the future growth of North Australia’s art and culture industry EXHIBITION AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE:

A potential future Olympic venue, the Exhibition and Entertainment Centre will be a multi-functional facility providing large exhibition space, 6,000+ pax and a seated sporting arena, breakout rooms, classroom capacity and auditorium space. The facility will feature a uniquly local design, house world class AV and be accessible for all abilities.

The world-class arts and entertainment centre will usher in a new era of liveability, culture and entertainment to Townsville. From world-class concerts and sporting competitions to art exhibitions, theatre productions, comedy festivals, educational workshops, tradeshows and gala events. The North Australia Arts and Entertainment Centre will create jobs, boost tourism, and drive infrastructure development, elevating the overall quality of life in the region. In essence, this precinct will be a catalyst for growth, investment and enriching the social fabric of the entire region.

WHAT WE NEED

▶ $300 million to develop Precinct 2 of the Townsville Waterfront Renweal- City Transformation Project subject to the completion of the business case (currently under development).

PRECINCT 3:

REEF MARINE TOURISM GATEWAY

The Reef Marine Tourism Gateway covers 500,000 sqm of prime waterfront land that will be designed as a high-quality, mixed-use marina precinct located on the oceanfront of Cleveland Bay. Comprising a unique blend of maritime, tourism and commercial opportunities which would include retail, dining and green spaces which will provide significant amenity for residents and visitors and contribute positively to the existing community.

The new developments will integrate with existing resort developments including The Ville and Ardo. The Precinct will enable continuity and connection from Precinct 1 through to Precinct 2.

The Reef Marine Tourism Gateway will include:

▶ A new ferry terminal capable of receiving vessels up to 60 meters, marine tourism facilities to drive growth in marine-based eco-tourism.

▶ Expanded yacht club and marina facilities to meet forecast demand for the region.

▶ Mixed-use developments including hotels, residential developments, restaurants, public realm.

▶ The Precinct will enhance the region’s tourism and lifestyle facilities and put Townsville North Queensland on the map as a premier destination for tourists.

BENEFITS:

Opportunities for an integrated approach to the development of a mixed-use waterfront tourism destination.

Growth in eco-tourism and education about the Great Barrier Reef

STATUS:

Master planning works are nearing completion across the Townsville Waterfront, including the Reef Marine Tourism Gateway.

WHAT WE NEED

▶ $50 million for enabling works that will unlock more than $300 million in private investment into state-of-the art marine tourism infrastructure and mixed-use developments within the precinct in the initial stages, growing to more than $1 billion of development of the full precinct.

Planning For Future Water Needs

Despite a sustained period of economic and population growth in North Queensland, there has been no significant increase in water storage capacity in more than three decades. With emerging industries, including hydrogen production and critical mineral processing, water security will future proof the growth of North Queensland.

The construction of CopperString and the additional economic activity this will unlock will increase the demand on the region’s existing water reserves even further. It is imperative that fit-for-purpose water infrastructure is delivered to allow the needs of the growing communities and local industries to be met.

The projects which will support the CopperString project include:

▶ Hughenden Offstream Water Storage project

▶ Enhancing the Burdekin River System, Burdekin River Irrigation Area Channel Lining Project and Hells Gates Dam

1.6 Hughenden Offstream Water Storage Project

The Hughenden Offstream Water Storage project is a priority of the Flinders Shire Council, as enabling project to support the development of the 15 Mile Irrigation Development Project and the proposed Hughenden meatworks and feedlot.

All of the major projects planned for this region are contingent on a secure and reliable water supply. The Hughenden Offstream Water Storage project will be delivered in two stages. Stage 1 is a 7,000ml storage facility, including pumping infrastructure and approximately 7km of pipeline, with a project cost of $60 million.

Stage 2 of the project will deliver an expansion of Stage 1

WHY HUGHENDEN OFFSTREAM WATER STORAGE?

Proponents, Flinders Shire Council aims to develop and diversify industry in the Hughenden region, and water security is key to unlocking this potential. This project will support existing industry and attract new sustainable enterprises, for a prosperous future for the local community and surrounding areas.

Water Infrastructure in this region will support:

▶ Community well-being and growth

▶ The region’s agriculture industry

▶ Vital wind and solar projects

▶ Diversifying the regional economy and creating employment opportunities.

With Australia’s largest transformational energy project CopperString soon to commence, access to water is becoming a looming question over the project. Without water security the CopperString project could see serious delays and Australia’s opportunity to access the countries best wind and solar resources could be diminished or lost

INDUSTRY DEMAND

A secure water supply for the region will deliver a range of flow-on economic benefits, including:

▶ CopperString project

▶ A meatworks facility at Hughenden, with water to be used for both the processing of cattle and production of fodder crops at an attached feedlot

▶ A table grape producer at the 15 Mile Irrigated Agricultural Development Project

▶ Various road and rail maintenance projects

▶ Overland Sunfarming and Kennedy Park

▶ North Queensland Energy Super Hub

▶ Various mining and critical minerals processing plants.

The Hughenden Offstream Water Storage Project reduces pressure on the Great Artesian Basin which is currently the only reliable water supply source within 100km of Hughenden.

Investment in water infrastructure will deliver:

▶ Economic activity resulting in population growth and improving liveability

▶ Private sector investment in major regional economic development projects

▶ Increased community and industry resilience to extreme weather events.

BENEFITS

Key benefits for the project include:

▶ Optimised utilisation of existing natural resource base (land and water resources)

▶ Improved financial sustainability and rate base

▶ Community resilience and sustainability

▶ Expected project returns Net Present Value (NPV) of $5 million and Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.09

▶ The project is shovel-ready project and pending funding approval can commence immediately

▶ Once operational the project has the potential to support up to five farms or industries that are job intensive, and can create 400-500 jobs.

WHAT WE NEED

▶ Federal Government to match State Government funding and approval of $25.6 million. $5M

1.7 Enhancing the Burdekin River System

The Burdekin River is one of the largest river systems in Australia with the Upper Burdekin catchment located in the wet tropics. However, the region’s population has more than doubled since the Burdekin Dam was built in 1987.

The abundance of water in the Burdekin catchment and its potential to support our economic future is a competitive advantage for our region.

Significant investment has been undertaken into developing new water infrastructure storage proposals in this catchment. Townsville Enterprise has driven the business case development of the Hells Gates Dam and the Big Rocks Weir, in addition to Sunwater’s development of the proposed 2 metre raise to the Burdekin Falls Dam.

Townsville Enterprise acknowledges the decision of the Albanese Government to withdraw the $5.4 billion funding commitment to develop Hells Gates by the Morrison Government in 2022. TEL has sought at all times to act in the best interests of the economic future of our region and continues to do so.

TEL welcomes the decision of both Federal and State Government’s to take a holistic review of the entire Burdekin catchment to assess the most appropriate development of infrastructure to support our economic future. It is incumbent on both governments to ensure the previous monies committed is reserved for future investment in the projects identified in the further regional water assessment and review of the Burdekin Water Plan.

TEL remains firmly of the view that the development of water storage and distribution infrastructure is required in the upper Burdekin Catchment as part of a holistic infrastructure development program being considered.

TEL welcomes the decision to review the Burdekin Water Plan and undertake a Water Infastructure Assessment.TEL notes that:

▶ 73% of the rainfall occurs during the fourmonth wet season (December to March)

▶ 7.8 million megalitres per year flows from the mouth of the Burdekin River

▶ Water losses and unallocated water reserves exist in lower Burdekin that could be captured and re-allocated

▶ Climate change is expected to see a shorter but more intense rainfall periods resulting in the same volume of rain which means additional capture and storage infrastructure will be required

▶ North Queensland’s water security is critical because droughts can last 8-10 years.

The Upper and Lower Burdekin catchments must work as a combined system to maximise the use of available water within the catchment.

A holistic review of the whole system will ensure optimal use of the current unused water allocations and maximise the capture and distribution of water where it will have the best economic use. Currently, the bulk of the water available sits in the Lower Burdekin, limiting future development in the Upper Burdekin.

1.7

Enhancing the Burdekin River System

(cont.)

BURDEKIN RIVER IRRIGATION AREA

CHANNEL ENHANCEMENT AND MODERNISATION PROJECT

An immediate priority for infrastructure investment is required to upgrade the open earth water distribution channels that exist in the Burdekin River Irrigation Area (BRIA).

Extensive work was undertaken by the Queensland Government in 2017 that identified a risk to the future of agricultural development in the lower Burdekin arising from salinity impacts caused by rising groundwater tables.

BENEFITS

Studies undertaken by the Queensland Competition Authority found that over 50,000 megalitres of water is lost in the BRIA Channel system each year through channel seepage, contributing rising ground water issues.

Recent discussion papers previously released by the Queensland Government identified options to reduce channel seepage by improving the open earth irrigation channels and upgrading the distribution infrastructure to prevent these losses.

The Government has committed approximately $25 million to support works that will help recover these losses. However, futher funding is required to carry out ongoing channel improvements and upgrades to recover this water, return it for allocation to alternative economic uses and address the rising groundwater threat in the Lower Burdekin.

Approxiamately 200,000ML is nominally allocated in the Burdekin Water Plan to account for water losses in the system. The ability to recover the actual losses and return at least part of the nominal allocation for use in other parts of the basin will contribute significantly to the development of other storage and distribution projects.

WHAT WE NEED

▶ State Government to support the Channel Enhancement and Modernisation Project to improve the open earth water distribution channels to recover water losses in the Burdekin Irrigation Area.

▶ State Government to make this recovered water allocation available for alternative infrastructure development.

HELLS GATES DAM

Hells Gates Dam will support population growth, provide the water the region needs for green hydrogen production and unlock prime agricultural land to solve the global food crisis.

The proposed Hells Gates Dam is located approximately 120km north west of Charters Towers and 160km north west of Townsville. It is capable of storing 2,100gl of water to irrigate 60,000 hectares of prime agricultural land.

WHY HELLS GATES DAM?

Hells Gates Dam and irrigation scheme presents a transformational economic development opportunity for Northern Australia, comprising of a unique agricultural project, that will double the value of regional crop production utilising world-leading land management and high-tech agriculture practice. Hells Gates Dam will be a key enabler for the region’s population growth and will support new industries such as hydrogen.

Hells Gates Dam presents a unique opportunity for the optimal use of currently unused water allocations within the vast Burdekin catchment if both dams (including the new Big Rocks Weir) are operated as a combined system.

A secure water system is vital to support the agriculture industry in providing the food for the future and enhancing the region’s resilience to global food shortages. Water infrastructure is also imperative for emerging industries including mining and refining of critical minerals and renewable hydrogen production

IMPACT ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

The business case shows Hells Gates Dam will have positive outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef. It will reduce sediment and nutrient loads to the Burdekin Dam, supported by worldleading land management and agricultural practices.

Expanding irrigated agriculture in the upper rather than the lower Burdekin Basin will provide additional buffering against pollutants that affect the Great Barrier Reef.

HYDROGEN PRODUCTION

Hells Gates Dam will support the emerging hydrogen industry. Green hydrogen is produced by taking renewable power, high-purity water and converting to hydrogen and oxygen gas via electrolysis. The water requirement for green hydrogen is 9 litres of water per 1kg of hydrogen produced.

In December 2022, Townsville Enterprise commissioned a Hydrogen Opportunities Report from GHD to investigate the hydrogen potential for Hells Gates Dam. The report concluded that Hells Gates Dam would enhance the opportunity for large scale hydrogen production in Townsville. Hells Gates Dam would also provide the opportunity to accelerate the development of hydrogen export facilities in the region. In addition, given the large area of surrounding land at Hells Gates Dam, there could be an opportunity for a large-scale renewable energy development (e.g. solar) to support green hydrogen production.

BENEFITS

The Hells Gates Dam Detailed Business Case confirmed the project will deliver:

▶ A Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.05 for the full scheme

▶ Generate $6 billion increase in GRP from agricultural projects, positively impacting the entire supply chain from the farm to the export terminals

▶ Long-term water security and reliability for Townsville, Charters Towers and the surrounding regions

▶ Positive outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef

▶ Indigenous jobs and new business opportunities

▶ More than 10,000 jobs during construction and more than 3,000 ongoing jobs. These jobs will be highlyskilled and high-paid roles for generations to come

▶ One of Queensland’s largest irrigation schemes

▶ The opening of 60,000 hectares of prime agricultural land

▶ Double the value of crop production regionally

▶ Interconnectedness with other projects including the Australian Singapore Military Training Centre, Port of Townsville and Townsville Airport upgrades to cater for agricultural exports and freight, and major transport initiatives

▶ Major infrastructure will be developed for the scheme, including enhanced and improved access to roads and energy

▶ Harnessing highest flow of Australian river resources to build long-term prosperity

WHAT WE NEED

▶ Comprehensive water monitoring infrastructure to be established in the upper Burdekin to accurately measure water available for storage and economic use at the Hells Gates Dam Site.

▶ State Government support to re-allocate water allocations to the upper Burdekin to support a staged project development pathway.

▶ Update the current Burdekin Water Plan currently under review to include Hells Gates Dam.

▶ $50 million from the State or Federal Government to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment.

MORE THAN

10,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS

$6 billion INCREASE IN GRP

MORE THAN

5,500 PERMANENT ONGOING JOBS

60,000 ADDITIONAL HECTARES OF PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND

2.0

Townsville North Queensland

Projects which will assist the region in economic growth through the development of their respective industry.

2.1 Tourism and Liveability Promotional Funding

Tourism supports local employment, liveability, and drives the future growth and diversity of our economy. Growth in tourism has been the catalyst for emerging destinations like Townsville North Queensland to increase visitor spend and ensure a continued economic benefit to Queensland.

According to Tourism and Event Queensland’s community sentiment report, regional residents overwhelmingly want more tourists and support expansion of the tourism economy, visitor experience and awareness.

Townsville North Queensland’s current challenge is to grow the awareness and perception of what our region has to offer visitors. As a result, Townsville Enterprise in partnership with the local industry and regional councils developed and launched a new destination brand, Townsville North Queensland - Up for unexpected. Developed by analysing over 300,000 data points, the Up for unexpected brand has been derived from extensive consumer research including online

reviews, focus groups, surveys, creative testing and has been guided by an industry-led committee of marketing experts.

This visitor-centric brand is now in market and has already seen tremendous results. Destination awareness has increased by 166% and 70% of people who were exposed to the campaign took action towards booking a holiday. In the months following the campaign launch Townsville Airport experienced three consecutive months of record passenger numbers and local operators reported one of the best tourism seasons in history.

To continue to achieve results for the region’s visitor economy investment into marketing, tourism development and events is essential. Prior campaigns and marketing activity have demonstrated that for every $1 that Government invests into destination marketing through Townsville Enterprise the return is $15 in visitor expenditure for the region and $1.90 in taxation revenue for every $1 invested for the State.

▶ $9.93 million over three years to support destination marketing, tourism development and liveability promotion.

▶ Policy changes to enable regions to implement and collect sustainable user-pays tourism marketing and development funding models.

2.2 Paluma to Wallaman Trail

The proposed Paluma to Wallaman Trail follows an ancient First Nations trading , language and a song lines. History is written in its awe-inspiring landscapes providing a flowing narrative for visitors to discover, to be challenged and to feel exhilarated.

Development of this new tourism infrastructure aligns to the demands of visitors and delivers authentic and immersive cultural experiences providing a unique opportunity for tourism growth.

Eco-based adventure travel as well as cultural tourism have been identified as growth opportunities for the future visitor economy.

The Paluma to Wallaman Trail is a spiritual journey more than 60,000 years in the making and will provide a unique opportunity for the First Nations People to share the extraordinary stories of this country in a way that respects, retains and improves the values.

The trail is proposed to be a mixed-use trail. Once completed, the trail would be 127km long (8 days/7 nights) and will link the Paluma Rainforest and Wallaman Falls – Australia’s largest sheer drop waterfall. The completed trail would require approximately 80km of new trails and eco-accommodation and camping at approximately 11-15kms apart.

WHAT WE NEED

▶ $46.9 million from State or Federal Government for project planning, management, and development to meet the staged business plan. This includes a Traditional Owner training and employment program.

BUSINESS CASE

The recently completed business case indicates that the ability to offer a series of shorter trails along with the full multi-day experience, as well as a range of accommodation options, will provide additional appeal to a broader market enhancing the overall success of the trail. The trail covers three Local Government Areas of Townsville, Charters Towers and Hinchinbrook – and would provide activation and economic benefit into each.

The business case for the trail shows a Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.0 and estimates total users of the trail would increase from 9,000 in the first year rising to 25,883 by year 10.

STATUS:

▶ The business case for the Paluma to Wallaman Trail has been completed

▶ The State Government has committed $2 million to progress early works.

2.3 Supporting the North’s Hydrogen Potential

The Townsville Enterprise-led North Queensland Hydrogen Consortium (NQH2) was welcomed into H2TCA – the Federal Government’s National Energy Resources Australia (NERA) network of hydrogen clusters in December 2021. This established Townsville as a declared Hydrogen Cluster.

In the October 2022 Federal Budget, NQH2 received $70 million to progress the Townsville North Queensland hydrogen industry.

We are now working on a program of concessions to support this enormous opportunity for the region, the state and the

WHAT WE NEED

▶ Network concessions to provide new electrolysers in operation by 2030 with partial concession (approximately 90%) to network use of system charges.

▶ Australian production incentive equivalent to fuel tax credit on diesel.

▶ Demand incentives, including transition of public transport fleets owned, contracted or subsidised by the Government or council.

▶ Identify long-term government supply contracts and government contracts that can peel back as private domestic offtake increases.

▶ Additional support to stimulate the demand which will enable the origination of supply projects, which themselves can be supported by grants.

▶ Introduce a Contracts for Difference-style scheme (Cfd) to subsidise the difference between the price of clean hydrogen and grey hydrogen made from unabated natural gas or coal. Ensure that producers are compensated for the difference between the target price (based on the estimated cost of production and operation for the whole supply chain) and the reference price (what end-users pay for the products).

▶ Adopt a Built-Transfer Lease Model for the construction of common-user infrastructure that is required for the development of the hydrogen industry. This would see the private sector build the infrastructure, transfer ownership to the government and then proceed to lease the infrastructure back from the government over a 30 or 50-year period.

country. These concessions will support the use of existing spare capacity on our network infrastructure to support industry in these crucial early stages of development.

This will significantly reduce the cost of hydrogen and incentivise investment at scale to reduce costs even further. By limiting the concession to parts of the network with existing capacity, this mechanism will support the hydrogen industry to grow, while mininmising impacts on other consumers.

2.4 Regenaqua Hinchinbrook WATER TREATMENT PROJECT

GROWTH OPPORTUNITY

The RegenAqua projects meets the objectives of the Reef 2050 Plan. It is a transformational technology that will drive sustainable growth of agriculture and aquaculture industries plus municipal infrastructure in North Queensland, while reducing existing levels of nitrogen and phosphorous being discharged into rivers and Great Barrier Reef waters from aquaculture and municipal wastewater treatment facilities.

RegenAqua is a homegrown, world-leading technology pioneered by James Cook University (JCU) in partnership with Pacific Biotechnologies Pty Limited (PacBio), an innovative 100% Australian-owned company.

RegenAqua uses sunlight to convert these nutrients into macroalgae (seaweed), which is then processed into a biostimulant to accompany conventional fertilisers. The benefits are cleaner water, further aquaculture expansion and growth in sustainable agriculture.

The system was developed as a solution to reduce nutrient discharge on PacBio’s aquaculture assets, however, highly successful trials at Cleveland Bay and more recently at the Burdekin Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) have proven the technology as an effective, low cost, scalable solution for Councils.

BACKGROUND:

The basic principle of RegenAqua is that native green algae use sunlight to grow and absorb phosphorus and nitrogen (nutrient pollutants) from the waste water stream prior to discharge into the environment. Green algae is then harvested and converted into a biostimulant (PlantJuice) that enables the return of these elements back into the agricultural biosphere in a safe, low energy and value-adding form (like auxins, gibberellins etc.) rather than as damaging dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN).

These natural hormones enable plant growth and enrich soils reducing the dependency on traditional nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertiliser systems, widely considered a source of DIN and pollution across the Great Barrier Reef catchment areas

STATUS:

▶ The Burdekin Shire has been working with Pacific Bio for some time and is leading the way with a shovel ready project designed to protect its community, enable local industry growth, and reduce its impact on the Great Barrier Reef.

▶ With a RegenAqua pre-facility in operation since March 2021, the facility is consistently delivering exceptional results with nutrient pollutant reductions to below global best practice of 5mg/L Nitrogen and 1mg/L Phosphorus.

▶ Construction of a commercial scale facility will commence in early 2023 and will be the model which will be applied to all other sites.

▶ In November 2022, the RegenAqua Burdekin project received its final $2 million in State Government funding for a commercial scale facility (previous State Government funding of $3.5 million was received mid 2022). It is intended that this model will be duplicated in the Hinchinbrook Shire.

▶ The Hinchinbrook RegenAqua Facility is currently sized at six hectares.

BENEFITS:

This project supports jobs and economic development in North Queensland and demonstrates a practical solution to protecting one of the world’s greatest natural assets – the Great Barrier Reef. This Australian technology can not only help to protect our Great Barrier Reef, but could be exported to other nations in need of support of their ecosystems and reefs.

FUTURE SITES:

Townsville City Council has expressed interest in implementing RegenAqua technology at the facility in Condon. The completion of these sites will provide a foundation that will enable RegenAqua macroalgal wastewater treatment to be adopted by other councils across North Queensland east coast where low cost, low energy wastewater treatment is needed to ensure protection of communities and the Great Barrier Reef.

THE BURDEKIN, HINCHINBROOK AND TOWNSVILLE PROJECTS COMBINED WILL REMOVE NUTRIENTS CURRENTLY DISCHARGED INTO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF CATCHMENT:

3,609 CARS WHAT WE NEED

▶ $9 million from the State or Federal Government to establish facilities in the Hinchinbrook Shire.

500T OF INORGANIC NITROGEN

4,511T OF CARBON

102T OF INORGANIC PHOSPHORUS

This project supports jobs and economic development in North Queensland and demonstrates a practical solution to protecting one of the world’s greatest natural assets – the Great Barrier Reef.

2.5 Future Health and Prosperity

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) operates 21 health facilities across the region, including primary care clinics, rural hospitals, aged care facilities, and Townsville University Hospital (TUH), which is the largest tertiary referral hospital in Northern Australia.

In rural areas, which experience worse health outcomes than metropolitan Australia despite making a greater economic contribution, the Townsville HHS is commonly the only health service provider. While the significant breadth of specialty services

at TUH, including fetal medicine, neonatal surgery, paediatric oncology, stroke interventions, neurosurgery, transplants, and intensive care, means every year thousands of patients receive lifesaving care without needing to travel away from home.

More than providing the healthcare of today; the HHS is planning and innovating for the future.

An ambitious masterplan comprises several major expansions to ensure the continued health and prosperity of the region and solidify the position of Townsville as a centre of healthcare excellence. The delivery of health infrastructure will be a critical enabler of other industry priorities in the region.

▶ Additional 80 Medical Placements in Townsville to ensure workforce security for critical sector.

STATE ASKS

▶ Formal designation of TUH as the NQ hub of the Queensland Cancer Centre (QCC) from FY 24/25. The $750 million Queensland Cancer Centre, a standalone cancer hospital, will be built in Brisbane. To ensure equitable access to specialist cancer services and the same outcomes for regional cancer patients as those in Brisbane it is vital that comprehensive cancer services available to all Queenslanders. TUH provides an opportunity to have a ‘hub’ of the QCC located in regional Queensland focussed on meeting regional needs.

▶ $500,000 in operational funding to establish a deep brain stimulation service (DBS) to be made available in FY 24/25. DBS is a lifechanging treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. There is currently no public DBS service outside Brisbane which greatly limits local patients accessing this vital service.

▶ $63 million in FY24/25 to expand mental health capacity. This includes construction of a community health facility to support people accessing mental health care without going to hospital and fitting out more space at TUH for secure mental health care.

▶ $5 million for the installation of a robotic pharmacy solution with funding to be available in FY 24/25. This will bring state-of-the-art technology to the region and support faster and safer dispensing for patients.

▶ $6 million for expansion of North Queensland maternity services with funding to be made available in FY 24/25. As a result of the growing population in North Queensland, greater demand is being placed on the region’s existing maternity services. An expansion of capacity is needed to meet growing demand for maternity services in a contemporary environment that optimises the experience and outcomes of families.

▶ $2.5 million in FY 24/25 to support development of the preliminary business case for a $500 million integrated mental health hub in FY 26/27. This is stage two of the Townsville University Hospital Master Plan due to commence construction in 2027.

▶ $20 million to establish the NQ Spinal Unit with funding to be available in 24/25. Acute spinal services are currently only provided in Brisbane. This often requires spinal cord injury patients to spend several months away from home. A local unit that includes transition units in the community will remove this burden for patients.

▶ $30 million to be made available in FY 25/26 for a new integrated health centre on Magnetic Island. This will incorporate the general practice, community clinic and staff accommodation within the one facility to promote service efficiency, integration, and more care on the island where people live.

WHAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT RURAL HEALTH

▶ $21 million for upgrades in Ayr and Ingham Hospitals to provide local CT scanning at Ayr and improved emergency services closer to home at both Ayr and Ingham, reducing transfers to Townsville University Hospital.

2.5 Future Health and Prosperity (cont.)

CHARTERS TOWERS HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The Charters Towers Hospital was founded in 1887. As a health facility, it is now outdated unable to meet the needs of a modern hospital. The issues with the current building include piping, plumbing, inefficient layout and obsolete design. Many of its treatments and service areas require upgrading to meet current and future health, safety, and fire standards.

The current Charters Towers Hospital site has many limitations including being heritage listed and no physical room for expansion and development of new facilities. A vacant block has already been earmarked for the new hospital beside the Eventide Residential Aged Care Facility that would be the ideal site due to its central location, extensive development space and easy access for community members.

Residents in the Charters Towers region and Western Queensland communities of Hughenden and Richmond are having to frequently travel to Townsville to receive essential, life-saving medical treatments. These include birthing, gynecological treatment, x-rays, ultrasounds and computed tomography (CT) scanning. This puts additional pressure on the Townsville University Hospital in coping with additional patients and causes undue financial, physical and emotional distress to travelling patients.

▶ $300 million for Charters Towers Hospital to be made available from FY 24/25 to enable construction to start immediately following the business completion. This will see a new hospital able to provide safer, higher-quality services to the local community. The preliminary business case will be completed mid-2024 following $2.5 million in funding support from the Queensland Government.

▶ $130 million for a Residential Aged Care Facility to be made available from FY 24/25 to enable construction to coincide with the new hospital project. This will replace the existing facility which is significantly aged and prevents delivery of modern aged care services to local residents.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF A NEW CHARTERS TOWERS HOSPITAL WILL INCLUDE:

▶ A purpose-built facility to meet the healthcare needs of the region’s growing and aging population

▶ A focus on a patient-orientated approach with the design of the facilities

▶ Ensuring the most up-to-date technologies can be used to improve patient care

▶ Supporting high quality patient care and provide a safer environment for patients

▶ Increasing the capacity for emergency, surgery, sub-acute and outpatient services

▶ Addressing issues of staff retention and ensure we can continue to attract staff to the region

▶ Boost the local economy by creating jobs both in the

2.6 TropiQ: Tropical Intelligence & Health Precinct

TropiQ, Townsville’s Tropical Intelligence and Health Precinct is a collaboration initiative and development project focused on fostering innovation, knowledge-based industries, and research in the tropical and health sectors.

Backed by Townsville City Council and located only 13km from the Townsville CBD, TropiQ is situated at the nexus of Townsville University Hospital (TUH) and James Cook University (JCU) and shares a boundary with Australia’s largest Army base, Lavarack Barracks.

TropiQ is experiencing significant growth due to the expansion programs of its key institutional partners, while also managing development enquiries for a range of projects exceeding $1 billion in overall value. These include:

▶ Mixed-density residential housing for approximately 10,000 people

▶ Retirement living, aged care and childcare facilities

▶ University-linked high school

▶ Private hospital

▶ Hotel accommodation

▶ Purpose-built facilities such NQ Spark and the proposed Tropical Aquaculture Accelerator.

Townsville’s health and education providers are already managing demands on their services in excess of current capacities. With a growing population and large projects such as Copperstring getting underway, the projected requirements for critical housing, education and health services are set to soar.

STATUS:

TropiQ is home to approximately 70 organisations and contributes $3.5 billion to the regional economy annually.

Masterplan processes have resulted in major investment in the precinct, including soon-to-be delivered major infrastructure projects such as:

▶ The $530 million TUH expansion, including multi-level carpark

▶ Private hospital development interest

▶ $94 million JCU Engineering and Innovation Place

▶ $32 million North Queensland Simulation Park (NQ Spark).

These major projects will deliver significant economic and social benefits to the community but will place considerable strain on supporting infrastructure such as roads, power and water.

Further planning for infrastructure needs is required to position the TropiQ precinct to attract further investment from public and private proponents that have already indicated interest in the competitive advantage offered by the precinct. This will introduce thousands of health and knowledge jobs into Townsville and increase the annual economic output from $3.5 billion to more than $4.4 billion by 2035.

Achieving this revolutionary benefit for the region is directly dependent on establishing the enabling infrastructure needs, which requires support from government partners.

The TropiQ program is underpinned by a range of master-planning processes, regional, local and State Government plans and policies. These include:

▶ Queensland Innovation Precincts and Places Strategy

▶ Queensland State Infrastructure Plan

▶ DTMR Douglas Transport Study

▶ North Queensland Regional Plan

▶ North Queensland Regional Transport Plan

▶ Townsville City Deal - Health and Knowledge Development Strategy

▶ Townsville University Hospital Masterplan

▶ James Cook University Masterplan

WHAT WE NEED

▶ TropiQ requires an immediate planning program to establish enabling infrastructure needs. This work is beyond the means and capabilities of the University, the Hospital and TCC and requires government funding and support.

▶ $10 million from State or Federal Government to support the construction and detailed planning for the enabling infrastructure for TropiQ.

$4.4B ECONOMIC OUTPUT FOR BUSINESSES, INCLUDING $1.7B DIRECTLY $2.7B

21,261

SECURING NORTH QUEENSLAND’S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN AQUACULTURE

The Tropical Aquaculture Accelerator will kick start the expansion of Northern Australia’s aquaculture industry to deliver $1.34 billion per year export industry. This is an important opportunity to entrench Queensland’s position as the epicentre of aquaculture in Australia and globally.

The $79.5 million Accelerator will combine James Cook University’s (JCU) global expertise in aquaculture innovation, research and commercialisation with entrepreneurial and expanding industry partners including Ornatas, Mainstream Aquaculture and Seafarms. The Aquaculture Accelerator will be located within the TropiQ Intelligence and Health Precinct.

The Accelerator will catalyse this landmark industry-facing initiative by providing tanks, laboratories, training and support for innovation that will enable the aquaculture industry to do the critical on-going research it needs to meet current demand and continue to grow, including:

▶ Domesticating new species, such as tiger prawns

▶ Enhancing quality, disease resistance and growth rates with genomics-driven breeding

▶ Creating new low net-waste production systems

▶ Devising new quality control systems that can match every prawn against market expectation.

Aquaculture is set to be Australia’s second largest argi-food export by 2050 with demand for high quality seafood protein set to be worth $12.8 billion by 2050. Northern Australia aquaculture is set to increase production fivefold within a decade and exceed $1.34 billion each year.

This project will unlock 1.2 million hectares of land value in our region. As a result of several years of planning by JCU with consultants Oceanis and AEC this project is shovel ready with work ready to start.

WHAT WE NEED

▶ $26.5 million from State Government to match the $26.5 million from JCU and $26.5 million from the Federal Government.

$2.6B CONTRIBUTION TO GRP

11,227 JOBS BETWEEN 2023-24 AND 2034-35

2.7 Ayr Industrial Estate Expansion

Burdekin Shire Council has purchased and is developing additional land for industrial purposes in Ayr. Work on the project has commenced with Council funding part of the development costs in its 23/24 budget.

The Stage 1 expansion of the Ayr Industrial Estate will create 25 (of 45) allotments in a fully serviced employment precinct.

Initially developed in the 1980s, Ayr’s existing industrial estate is at capacity. Adjoining land adjacent to the existing Ayr Industrial Estate was purchased in 2019 for expansion purposes.

Providing additional serviced industrial land in Burdekin Shire supports the objectives of the North Queensland Regional Plan (March 2020), which identifies a shortage of suitably sized and located industrial land in the region.

The need has also been highlighted as a priority in the Townsville and North West Queensland Economic Recovery and Growth Strategy, which was prepared on behalf of Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland.

BENEFITS:

Stage 1 expansion will create 25 new businesses in the district with an estimated construction activity worth $54.1 million. Once constructed, it is estimated new, existing and expanding businesses will provide 176 direct jobs (on-site) with an indirect demand for intermediate goods and services across related industry sectors resulting in an estimated additional 174 jobs and the creation of a further 36 jobs as a result of consumption impacts.

The expanded Ayr Industrial Estate will improve the livelihoods of residents by supporting more people to participate in productive employment and apprenticeships as well as on-the-job training.

Social benefits would be improved through a reduction in social isolation, improving wellness, ensuring residents stay in the community, addressing mental health issues, and improving environmental impacts by, for example, reductions in emissions in residential areas.

STATUS:

Construction of Stage 1 has commenced with earthworks underway. Water and sewerage infrastructure is planned to be installed on 20 June 2024. Funding for the construction of internal roads, stormwater drainage, power and data infrastructure requires funding support.

225

176

$54.1M

174

2.8 Magnetic Island Koala Hospital

The Magnetic Island Koala Hospital is a not-for-profit registered charity. The Hospital has been operating since 2003 and was established for the rescue and rehabilitation of injured, sick, and orphaned koalas. The Bee Family have been operating the Koala Hospital as volunteers out of their private home, and over the years have supported more than 360 injured koalas.

The increased demand for wildlife care on Magnetic Island, particularly for injured and sick koalas, means the Magnetic Island Koala Hospital needs to look towards expansion.

The Magnetic Island Koala Hospital has a vision to offer an immersive, educational, and inspiring experience for visitors and the community which supports the rescue, rehabilitation, veterinary care and subsequent release of injured, sick, and orphaned koalas and other wildlife.

BENEFITS:

▶ An economic output of more than $13M and employment for more than 20 people during construction and in the first 5 years of operation.

▶ Expediated response to wildlife care on Magnetic Island and improved services that reduce travel requirements for injured animals.

▶ Addressing the anticipated increased demand for wildlife care services on Magnetic Island due to the impacts of Climate Change.

▶ Educational opportunities for students, locals, and visitors.

▶ Opportunity for the local community to volunteer with a meaningful organisation and make a difference to the environment.

▶ Prime opportunity to positively profile Magnetic Island and the region nationally and globally through an immersive and regenerative tourism experience

▶ Opportunities to work with First Nations people to share their culture and demonstrate the connection between first nations people, koalas and other native wildlife.

PERMANENT EMPLOYEE’S $13M IN ECONOMIC OUTPUT

WILDLIFE CARE

▶ $3.5 million from State or Federal Government to develop a visitor facing Magnetic Island Koala Hospital.