For close to two decades North Queensland business leaders have been pining for the Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor (TEARC) to take the freight locos out of the CBD and on a more scenic route to Townsville Port.
With an eye to expansion of the North West Minerals Province, the lack of local processing facilities (excepting SunMetals and Glencore) and a cargo corridor unencumbered by city traffic proves an issue that reverberates all the way to the Northern Territory border.
So there is little wonder that in spite of a June 2024 State Government funding injection of $2m to review the project, Townsville Enterprise (in collaboration with regional councils) has placed TEARC at the northern end of their 2025 Federal Election Unlock the North Priorities wishlist. The Australian Government is on standby with funding commitments subject to the outcomes of the business case and, undoubtedly, subject to a 2025 federal election.
“TEARC will not only support the growth of industries like mining but will also strengthen the region’s economic resilience by streamlining logistics and ensuring competitive access to global markets,” Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said.
At this stage, the government’s have more of an eye to preserving the TEARC.
A Queensland Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesperson said the Australian and Queensland Governments have committed $12.5 million, jointly funded on a 50:50 basis, to preserve the TEARC.
The spokesperson said this funding has been allocated in the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) 2024–25 to 2027–28.
“Along with the Australian Government, the Queensland Government recognises the importance of preserving the TEARC for the future, to ensure the Queensland Government is best placed to construct the freight line when demand supports it,” she said.
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads is continuing planning to assist in preserving the TEARC. In 2018–19, TMR completed a review of land requirements for the project to determine the extent of required land acquisitions.
“TEARC is not funded for detailed design or construction.”
According to the spokesperson, over the next few years:
- TMR will undertake land acquisitions along the TEARC to prevent further development within the corridor.
- Has allocated an additional $2 million in QTRIP (for financial years 2026-2027 to 2027-2028) to re-examine an earlier business case that was delivered for the project.
The business case, which was completed in 2017, found that while the proposed freight line is strategically important to future development of the Port of Townsville, its construction was not supported by current demand. - The Queensland Government will consider the need for this business case review in due course.
Since the original TEARC business case in 2017, additional development has occurred that was not then considered. These developments include:
- Delivery of the CopperString project, triggering new development in the North West Minerals Province, as well as the Hughenden Renewable Energy Project.
- Qld Government’s commitment to the development of a critical minerals industry, seeing the future development of mining operations around Richmond and Julia Creek.
- Development of Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct.
- Development and operation of Queensland Country Bank Stadium in the Townsville CBD, with a view to further development in areas constrained by existing rail infrastructure and operations.
Don’t miss the other insightful features in our Townsville growth series to see how the city is evolving – discover what’s driving innovation and growth in the area! Check it HERE and HERE.
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