Cameron Dick, Belinda Hassan commit $5m to Resources Centre of Excellence, gas plant for Emerald

One of Mackay council’s election priorities will receive funding if Labor wins as the state agrees to kick in millions — now the mayor wants the LNP to match the promise.

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick, Mackay candidate Belinda Hassan and Resources Centre of Excellence CEO Steve Boxall announce a $5m commitment to the centre. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Just over one month from the state election Labor have upped their commitment to Mackay offering to kick in millions to fund a crucial mining test site while hinting at more to come.

Queensland Labor have committed the $5m needed to fully fund stage two of the Resources Centre of Excellence.

The new works would include an expanded mineral processing plant, common use ‘Class A Laboratory” and four tenancies for innovative and industrial businesses to occupy.

Belinda Hassan, Mackay council former deputy mayor and Labor candidate for Mackay, said she was keen to see further state funds for the Resources Centre of Excellence.

“When this project came back to council we realised there was a bit of a shortfall in funding,” Ms Hassan said.

“It’s fantastic to now know that our government, if re-elected, is going to commit that additional $5m.”

Labor has committed to kicking in an extra $5m in funding to Stage 2 of the Resources Centre of Excellence if re-elected.

A number of other priorities announced by council, including road extensions to ease congestion on the Mackay-Bucasia Rd and funding for the next stage of the Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Trail have yet to receive commitments from either party.

When asked if there was a reason funding had been prioritised for the Resources Centre of Excellence Ms Hassan said she’d put all of council’s priorities to the state government.

“Everything I’ve put up is being assessed,” she said.

“We’re just very fortunate this was the first cab off the rank.”

The Resources Centre of Excellence will also be a vital piece of infrastructure in the training of workers for the pumped hydro project. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Mackay mayor Greg Williamson said the money was “exactly what we asked for”.

“It shows a good commitment to our area for resources. Until this, we were only able to fund two stages of a five-stage process”.

For Mr Williamson, the LNP matching the commitment is now crucial.

“It would give us confidence this will go ahead regardless of who wins the government benches,” he said.

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick announced the new funding at the Resources Centre of Excellence at the same time as announcing the second allocation of funding from the Low Emissions Investment Partnership fund.

“Our government is a strong supporter of the resources industry,” Mr Dick said.

“Always have been and we always will be.”

From the $520m fund, $38m will go to Kestrel Coal Resources, which is planning to build a waste gas to energy plant at their mine in Emerald.

The plant captures methane from the mine and converts it into electricity which Mr Dick estimates will power 40,000 Queensland homes.

“That’s a big win,” he said.

“The LEIP program will ensure our MET coal industry can decarbonise.”

Ms Hassan said she was proud to see the funding committed after her advocacy.

“We know strong our mining industry is … we punch well above our weight in providing the economic benefits to the whole of Queensland,” she said.

“I’m really proud to announce this for our region.”

Mr Cameron said there were “plenty of election commitments to come” for the region with just 39 days before the election.