Council backs State Govt on Lansdown road and rail deal
Date published: 12 July 2021
The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct development has reached an important milestone with Townsville City Council formally agreeing to partner with the Palaszczuk Government to deliver a suite of road and rail projects to enhance access to the site.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government is delivering on its election commitment for the area.
“Leading up to the October 2020 election, we committed $12 million to improve truck access at the Lansdown Industrial Precinct, and this agreement moves us closer to delivering it,” Mr Bailey said.
“This is about backing Lansdown as the new home for manufacturing in Townsville to support Queensland’s energy industry.
“There is an amazing economic opportunity for North Queensland to be an advanced manufacturing and renewable energy powerhouse, and we want Townsville to be at the centre of it.
“Projects like Lansdown will help to drive Queensland’s economic recovery from Covid-19.
“As will building infrastructure around these projects, that’s why the Palaszczuk Government has made a record $27.5 billion roads and transport investment over four years, which is creating 24,000 jobs.”
Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said the Palaszczuk Government’s $12 million commitment would deliver road upgrades to improve access for trucks travelling to and from the increasingly busy precinct.
“Developing the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct has the potential to support 160 construction jobs, and around 1,600 ongoing jobs in stage one alone,” Mr Harper said.
“Building this enabling infrastructure now will ensure we unlock the precinct’s full economic potential, which will benefit North Queensland for decades.
“We’ve already delivered a $5 million upgrade to create new turning lanes and improve safety on the northern approach to the precinct on the Flinders Highway, so this is the next step for this project.
“We’ve also got substantial Bruce Highway upgrades happening north and south of the city and have now started work on Townsville Ring Road Stage 5.
“The Palaszczuk Government is investing in local road upgrades to support growing communities.”
Mayor Jenny Hill said it was pleasing to see the State Government deliver on the October 2020 election commitment.
“I commend the Premier and her government for delivering on their commitment and providing this funding now to allow Council to bring this exciting, jobs-generating precinct to fruition,” Cr Hill said.
“Council has formally agreed to enter into a formal agreement with the State Government to get the ball rolling on this work, the cost of which will total $16 million.
“The State Government will contribute the lion’s share of the funding, with a $12 million commitment. Council will contribute $2 million and a further $2 million will come from the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.”
The works will facilitate safe access to the precinct and include an intersection realignment at Jones Road and the Flinders Highway, internal precinct roads, relocation of a rail passing loop and relocation and upgrade of a level rail crossing.
The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct will be Northern Australia’s first environmentally sustainable advanced manufacturing, technology and processing hub.
The precinct will realise the objectives of the Townsville City Deal, a tri-partisan agreement spanning 15 years and all levels of government, to activate industry and export growth for Townsville and its regional partners as the Industry Powerhouse of the North.
Three companies, Queensland Pacific Metals, Edify Energy and Imperium3 Townsville have signed up to establish themselves at the precinct, with DriveItNQ already establishing its driver education and motor sport facility adjacent to the Lansdown precinct.
Council is continuing to lobby the Federal Government for additional funding, which has become available under the Townsville City Deal, to install additional enabling infrastructure at the precinct and ensure it is ‘turn-key ready.’
“Council and the State Government have proven their commitment to Lansdown and the jobs and economic benefit it will provide to Townsville and North Queensland,” Cr Hill said.
“Momentum is clearly building behind Lansdown and we continue to hope that the Federal Government will come to the table soon so this project and its economic benefits can be fully-realised.”
