Funding from Federal, State and Local Governments in Queensland has been announced to support the Townsville City Deal, a 15-year agreement to support the development of community infrastructure.
The investment includes:
- $12 million for enabling infrastructure to support the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct – Northern Australia’s first environmentally sustainable, advanced manufacturing, processing and technology estate powered by locally generated renewable energy. This is in addition to a $12 million commitment from the Queensland Government and $4 million from the Townsville City Council.
- $2 million to fully fund a detailed business case for the proposed a concert hall, which will guide further funding investment for the project under the deal.
- $2 million for a feasibility study into the supply of re-use water for the growing green hydrogen industry in Townsville.
Funding for these projects has been allocated from the Federal Government’s $195 million commitment to the Haughton Pipeline Stage 2, which is now being delivered by the Queensland Government and Townsville City Council outside the Townsville City Deal.
A further $124 million in Commonwealth funding remains to be reallocated under the Townsville City Deal, with deal partners in discussions on priorities for this funding.
Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, said, “This commitment ensures that our original $195 million contribution to the Haughton Pipeline Stage 2 will remain in Townsville and will now support three important new projects.
“These new projects add to the $55 million announced in July for Reef HQ ($40 million) and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) ($15 million).
“Of the $124 million in Commonwealth funding that remains to be reallocated, it is the mutual intention of the parties that an amount of $100 million will be committed to the Concert Hall, subject to the outcomes of the business case being satisfactory to all parties.
The Townsville City Deal is a 15-year agreement between all three levels of government to develop community infrastructure that will help revitalise the city, enhance liveability and support the growth of industry and enterprise.
Following on from this agreement, a City Deal for South-East Queensland (SEQ) was proposed in 2019, aiming to deliver critical infrastructure across the region.
A list of projects under the SEQ have been agreed to by the Council of Mayors.
Mr Fletcher said it was now up to the Queensland Government to come to the table to finalise the Deal.
“The SEQ City Deal has been in negotiations for over two years and it is time to get the deal done,” Mr Fletcher said.
“The deal presents an opportunity for all three levels of government to work together to deliver more local jobs, greater investment, better connectivity and improved liveability across SEQ, from Maroochydore to Toowoomba to Scenic Rim.”
Further information on the SEQ and Townsville City Deal is available at: https://planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/planning-issues-and-interests/city-deals.
