Jobs to soar thanks to rocket launch site plan

JOBS in a range of different areas would be up for grabs under a multi-million-dollar plan to build a rocket launch site at Abbot Point.

The LNP last week pledged $15m towards the construction of the governmentowned orbital rocket launch site.

The project is estimated to create 300 jobs, including 100 jobs in construction and 200 secure jobs when anchor tenant Gilmour Space Technologies operates its monthly launches.

But state opposition leader

Deb Frecklington believes the site could provide up to 6000 jobs by 2036.

Gilmour Space Technologies co-founder and CEO Adam Gilmour said many workers from the Bowen area would be needed.

Workers would be required in areas such as site management, machinery operation, telecommunications, transport and logistics, Mr Gilmour said.

“I think there will be quite a few people working for Gilmour Space that are living in Bowen and in the area,” he said.

Mr Gilmour said his company had already grown from three people to 55 in about three years and the bulk of the staff were Australian.

Burdekin MP Dale Last said the launch site would provide a different stream of employment opportunities for Bowen residents.

“It’s not linked to the ag sector, it’s not linked to the mining sector, it’s a standalone industry which is going to create literally hundreds of permanent jobs,” Mr Last said.

It would also create career opportunities for students in Bowen and across North Queensland as well as drawing high-skilled workers to town, he said. The rocket launch site will be used by companies to send satellites and cargo into orbit.

Abbot Point has been identified as the ideal site for a launch site as rockets are generally required to launch along a coastline to avoid flying over populations.

Launching east is also preferable as it allows the rockets to accelerate with the earth’s rotation to leave the atmosphere.

After extensive research into the coastline, Abbot Point was identified as the only place that could be done, Mr Gilmour said.

“Abbot Point is the place where you can launch to more places in space safely than any other place in Australia,” he said.

The first rocket they would be looking to launch would track bushfires, but Mr Gilmour said satellites played a role in many aspects of everyday life.

This included using an ATM, paywave, looking at three-day or longer weather forecasts or using digital maps.

The new site could also have tourism appeal because as many as 20,000 people could attend its launch, Mr Gilmour said.