Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill is urging both the Federal Government and Opposition to commit their support to the proposed lithium-ion battery plant to help secure up to 1000 direct jobs for our city.
Cr Hill is calling for both sides to commit $50 million in funding to build trunk infrastructure and improve access to the site at Lansdown near Woodstock.
"A lot of money if going to be promised right across our country during this Federal Election and it's more important than ever for the North to get its fair share," Cr Hill said.
"With all the benefits this project will bring to Townsville and the North Queensland region, it's imperative that both sides of politics commit to supporting it with federal funding."
Townsville City Council has partnered with the Imperium3 consortium to progress a state-of-the-art battery manufacturing facility at Lansdown near Woodstock.
Cr Hill said the battery plant would charge Townsville's economy for decades and position the city as a national leader in advanced manufacturing.
"This has the potential to completely transform the city's manufacturing industries and create thousands of spin-off jobs in a rapidly growing sector," Cr Hill said.
"This is a project that has the potential to foster a new era of prosperity for Townsville and the North."
Cr Hill said revitalising Townsville's advanced manufacturing sector was a key component of the City Deal.
"All levels of Government agreed to work together to rebuild our advanced manufacturing capability and attract new industries to Townsville," Cr Hill said.
"Townsville secured Australia's first City Deal and after the unprecedented monsoon, it is more critical than ever that all levels of Government work together to spark the city's economic revival."
Council has partnered with the Imperium3 consortium to provide land for the project and the Queensland Government has provided $3.1 million to develop a full feasibility study.
Cr Hill said she was hopeful to secure bipartisan support for this game-changing project during the Federal Election campaign.
"One of the companies involved in the consortium has updated the stock exchange that the feasibility study is progressing well and initial findings are favourable for the project," Cr Hill said.
"This project also has the opportunity to create an advanced manufacturing precinct with other high-value minerals processers expressing interest in being co-located on the site.
"The benefits from this project will transform the city's economy and position the North at the forefront of the of the most rapidly growing industries on the planet."
