Australia’s ‘carbon capital’ Gladstone ready for change

The “engine room” of Queensland has, until recently, been driven by heavy industries. But major trading partners are decarbonising their economies and we need to adapt, writes Gladstone Mayor Kahn Goodluck.

On the doorstep of the southern Great Barrier Reef, the turquoise waters surrounding Gladstone in Central Queensland are rich in marine life. Sea turtles nest on our beaches during the summer months and the fishing is unparalleled.

It’s little wonder Gladstone boasts one of the highest levels of recreational boat ownership in the nation. But unenviably, our region also has one of the highest levels of emissions in the country. In 2012 and before he became prime minister, Tony Abbott visited Gladstone and called it “the carbon capital of Australia’’.

He was not wrong. As a boilermaker by trade, I’m proud of our region’s industrial heritage and the families and community it has supported.

Gladstone, the “engine room” of the state, has until recently been driven by heavy industries like alumina, ammonia and LNG exports.

Aerial view of Gladstone.

But a decade on from Tony Abbott’s visit, the landscape has changed. Our major trading partners are decarbonising their economies and making historic investments in clean energy and industries in the race to net zero.

This offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create new industries and exports, revitalise existing manufacturing and create jobs in regional areas. With the right support and investment, Central Queensland can become a leader in renewables and clean industry.

Gladstone Regional Council Mayor Kahn Goodluck. Picture: Supplied

As the decade progresses, the world will demand more green hydrogen, more green alumina and more green ammonia and that means more jobs for our region. It’s not just about capitalising on the opportunities that come with new industries, but also about decarbonising our existing industries and protecting, sustaining and even growing those jobs in a post-2050 world.

The clean wheels are already in motion here in Central Queensland. We have some of the biggest industry players in the world, and they’re betting big on this region to enable them to decarbonise.

But we can’t leave it to industry and business alone. We need government policies and investment to transform the region into Australia’s “clean engine room”.

My vision for Gladstone in the next 10 years is that we’ve been successful in transitioning our economy and setting ourselves up as a clean industry powerhouse. That doesn’t mean transitioning away from our traditional sectors. We can show the world how it’s done. Failure is not an option.

Kahn Goodluck is deputy mayor of Gladstone