Role to unlock mineral riches

TOWNSVILLE could become the home of a new deputy coordinator-general focused on unlocking the North West Minerals Province.

The LNP will today unveil a plan to base the new position in the North if the party wins on October 31.

It’s understood the deputy co-ordinator-general will have sweeping powers to fast-track and bring government departments together to resolve bureaucratic hold-ups and coordinate approvals.

The region, which contributes more than $6bn to Queensland’s economy each year, has been heralded as a lifeline for the state’s economy in the wake of coronavirus and the LNP believes a deputy coordinator-general will help unlock even more potential.

It is one of multiple initiatives designed to help open up the “powerhouse” of North Queensland.

The party has committed $8m for mineral exploration and has plans to cut electricity costs for the minerals sector and promised to fully implement the major transmission line project Copperstring 2.0.

LNP spokesman for North Queensland Dale Last said Townsville was the gateway to the richest mineral deposits on earth. “The LNP will capitalise on the province to make North Queensland an economic powerhouse, and more importantly create local jobs,” the Burdekin MP said.

“Developing the province will generate hundreds of billions of dollars for the economy and create an additional 3560 secure jobs in North Queensland over the next three decades.

“Projects in the province will be co-ordinated from right here in Townsville, not Brisbane.”

Under an LNP government, the deputy co-ordinator-general would have powers including declaring a project coordinated, acquiring land or easements, overseeing development and more.

Mr Last said the Queensland Resources Council had asked for increased leadership and the LNP had listened.

“We are hearing from industry that there is no clear strategy for developing the North West Minerals Province under Labor and that’s not good enough,” Mr Last said.

Leader Deb Frecklington said the LNP’S plan for the region would “take the shackles off” and create a jobs boom.

“Demand for batteries and solar farms is growing rapidly and I will seize the opportunity for Queensland,” Ms Frecklington said.

“The LNP’S deputy co-ordinator-general will be charged with unleashing the minerals province to supercharge the economy and create thousands of jobs.”