Upgrade gets big push

A KEY North Queensland regional development group has backed growing calls for the Federal Government to fund the Port of Townsville channel upgrade.

Chair of the Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone ( MITEZ) group David Glasson said it “makes sense” for the Government to divert part of the $ 150 million allocated for the proposed Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor ( TEARC) to other projects associated with the supply chain.

A business case for the TEARC delivered earlier this year found there was not enough demand for the project at this time. The $ 193 million Port of Townsville Channel Capacity Upgrade is already partially funded, with $ 75 million from the State Government and $ 43 million from the port. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten committed the needed $ 75 million to the project should Labor be elected, but the funds have not been matched by the Federal Government.

Mr Glasson said TEARC was part of MITEZ’s 50- year plan for the Mount Isa to Townsville supply chain.

“The concern of our members is that if the TEARC project is not proceeding at this time that the $ 150 million already committed by the Commonwealth should be diverted to other projects associated with our supply chain.”

Mr Glasson said the funds needed for the project would ensure North Queensland had a competitive freight gateway for the benefit of the region.

“This is the critical first stage of the Port Expansion Project, which will ensure capacity to grow trade volumes over the next 30 years,” he said. Herbert Labor MP Cathy O’Toole said the calls from MITEZ to back the port channel upgrade showed how widespread the impact of the project would be for North Queensland.

“What it shows is that regionally in Northern Queensland people are taking a very holistic view at the development of our state within the development of Northern Australia,” she said.

Ms O’Toole said it was time to “get on with” the port upgrade as TEARC did not yet stack up.

“How much more pressure does the Federal Government need placed on it to understand what the regional community from Townsville to Mount Isa is saying,” she said.

“It’s unbelievable that it’s taken this long.”

But the LNP candidate for Herbert Phillip Thompson said the Federal Government needed to perform “due diligence” on the business case for the port project.

“The Government received the business case only nine weeks ago,” he said.

Mr Thompson said the Government would not just “throw around money” without full consideration.