The dust has barely settled on the State election and already stakeholders are sniffing at what’s to come with the federal election which must be held before mid 2025.
It is not just the children putting together their wishlists this season, peak bodies are also busy scribing but in this case addressing their letters to future federal leaders and not Saint Nick.
Townsville Enterprise, in collaboration with regional councils, has unveiled its 2025 Federal Election Unlock the North Priorities outlining critical infrastructure requirements for the region.
Townsville Enterprise CEO, Claudia Brumme-Smith said Townsville North Queensland’s unique geographic and industrial strengths position it as a national leader in sovereign manufacturing, renewable energy generation and transmission, future fuels production, critical minerals mining and processing, and defence capability.
She called on all political parties to commit to further investments in nation-building projects, housing solutions, liveability infrastructure, and immigration to sustain the region’s unprecedented growth.
“Townsville North Queensland is uniquely positioned to establish sovereign manufacturing and high-value supply chains globally – but only with the infrastructure and policy support necessary to realise this potential,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
“North Queensland is rapidly becoming Australia’s most important green energy and critical minerals corridor and a strategic hub for national security. Investment in our rail, road, and port infrastructure is essential to supporting these transformative industries.”
Unlock the North priorities at a glance:
- Made in North Queensland – Unlocking sovereign manufacturing, production, future fuels, energy security and critical supply chains
- Port expansion project
- Townsville eastern access rail corridor
- Queensland’s transmission network
- Green energy and fuel incentives
- Flinders Highway upgrades
- Bruce Highway upgrades
- Defence: Supporting Northern Australia’s forward mounting base
Port Expansion Project:
The $1.6 billion Port Expansion Project (PEP) is a long-term development plan for the port. It includes capital dredging for channel widening, land reclamation to develop a new outer harbour, wharves, and associated infrastructure.
Stage one of the Port Expansion Project is the $251 million Channel Upgrade project which will deliver a wider shipping channel and a 62 hectare port reclamation area.
- The shipping channel will be widened from 92 metres to 180 metres at the inshore (Port) end, then taper to 120 metres at the seaward end.
- The channel needs to be wider at the inshore end, as this is where wind and currents have the greatest impact on a vessel’s manoeuvrability.
- All capital dredge material will be brought back to land for beneficial reuse in the new reclamation area, in accordance with the Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 and Australia’s UNESCO 2050 commitments.
- The wider shipping channel will allow vessels up to 300 metres in length to safely access the Port, instead of bypassing Townsville.
According to the Port of Townsville, it is northern Australia’s largest commercial port but at 92 metres wide, its shipping channel is one of the narrowest in Australia, meaning only ships up to 238m long can access the Port.
“Ships are getting larger, so the channel must be widened to allow vessels up to 300m long to safely access the Port, instead of bypassing Townsville.
The Channel Upgrade project will result in a wider shipping channel and the construction of a 62 hectare port reclamation area.
The shipping channel will be widened to 180 metres at the inshore (Port) end, then taper to a width of 120 metres in the Sea Channel.
The port reclamation area will be protected by a rock wall. All capital dredge material removed during channel widening will be transported to the mainland to be beneficially reused in the reclamation area.
Once complete, cruise, commercial and naval vessels of up to 300m long will be able to safely access the Port of Townsville.”
The $251 million funding for the Channel Upgrade project (Stage 1) breakdown:
- Federal Government: $75 million
- Queensland Government: $105 million
- Port of Townsville: $71 million
The Townsville Times has requested comment and information on Stage 2 of the Port Expansion Project and is awaiting information from Townsville Enterprise and Port of Townsville.
