SuperGrid Training Centre and Transmission Hub announced for Townsville
Earlier today, Townsville Enterprise were pleased to meet with Hon Michael (Mick) de Brenni, Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs ahead of the latest Copperstring announcement, which will see more jobs secured for Townsville-based apprentices and the development of a dedicated Transmission Hub.
Minister de Brenni has also confirmed that shovels would be in the ground this year to formally commence construction on Australia’s largest transformational energy project.
Following this meeting, another major announcement for North Queensland will see development of a SuperGrid Training Centre and Transmission Hub - a permanent 10-hectare Hub to be based at Cleveland Bay Industrial Park. This new training facility ultimately duplicates what is currently available in South East Queensland (SEQ), cementing Townsville as an energy hub.
It is the first time that a training facility of this scale has been announced outside of SEQ, building capacity in North Queensland long-term to source, train and retain local talent; offering ongoing opportunities to work in the energy sector for generations to come.
Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs, Mick de Brenni said, this is a huge year for CopperString and Townsville and the North Queensland community, with the benefits of the Queensland SuperGrid already starting to show.
The State Government also remains focused job creation with an additional 22-strong workforce announced for Townsville, adding to the growing team at Powerlink which also marked the commencement of 35 new apprentices today.
[L-R] Hon Michael (Mick) de Brenni, Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith, Regional Development and Investment Director Paul Holden, Powerlink Chief Executive, Paul Simshauser
We thank the State Government for their ongoing commitment to a project of this scale in North Queensland. This 10-year advocacy win will deliver 10-fold with a continued focus on the benefits that can be realised now, but future-proofing these benefits for generations to come.
Over the coming days Minister de Brenni will tour the proposed CopperString route to learn more about how the mammoth project will benefit the north and north-west regions, create new jobs, and protect existing ones. Townsville Enterprise recognises - and continues to advocate for two priority areas of challenge, which include infrastructure audits of the Flinders Highway, and water security for communities along this corridor.
Call to honour commitment to Flinders Highway
In November 2023, Townsville Enterprise attended Queensland Parliament to call for a full infrastructure audit of the Flinders Highway to make sure it can meet the high-load demands that will come from the growth in critical minerals, refining and renewable projects in North and North West Queensland.
Having received a commitment from Minister Bailey to undertake this audit, we now call on the new Minister of Transport, Main Roads and Digital Services, Minister Bart Mellish to honour this commitment and deliver for North Queensland.
The expected growth in freight demand created by the development of Copperstring, new wind and solar projects, new critical mineral mining developments and the influx of new critical mineral refining projects around Townsville will see huge demands placed on the Flinders Highway corridor. A review of this important infrastructure asset is needed now to ensure billion dollar developments aren't jeopardised long-term by the inadequate state of this highway.
Water in Hughenden
With CopperString soon to commence, access to water continues to be the looming question over the project. In October last year, Townsville Enterprise called on the Federal Government to support shovel-ready water projects - such as the Hughenden Offstream Storage project in their Mid-Year Budget Review. This project remains a key priority and will form part of a full regional advocacy plan to the State and Federal Government in the coming weeks through its Unlock the North platform
