Electricity Supply Options for the North West Minerals Province Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement to be released
A key step in securing reliable power for the North West and its potential connection to the national electricity market will be released today.
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A KEY step in securing reliable power for the North West and its potential connection to the national electricity market will be released today.
The state government will release the Electricity Supply Options for the North West Minerals Province Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (CRIS), which will set out the key details and potential impacts of power proposals and seek feedback.
Treasurer Cameron Dick said the government was committed to delivering reliable, affordable energy in the North West to unlock new mining opportunities and create regional jobs.
“Our government is a long-term supporter of the CopperString 2.0 project, and the release of the CRIS is a necessary step towards delivering this project,” Mr Dick said.
“The CRIS demonstrates the need for the federal government to deliver financial support towards CopperString 2.0 to ensure no impact on other Queensland energy users.”
The federal government has invested more than $16m in CopperString.
State Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said to ensure the North West could meet demand for new economy minerals needed to produce advanced electronics and renewable technology, the government wanted to hear from industry and locals on how the region could be powered. Proposals include business as usual, assessments of connecting CopperString to the national electricity market and the region’s local renewable potential.
“The three proposed options aim to provide the region with a reliable, potentially lower emissions electricity supply and consider local generation opportunities, privately owned infrastructure and publicly owned infrastructure,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Any decision will also carefully consider costs and benefits for the North West and Queensland as a whole and this paper offers an opportunity for all stakeholders – including current and proponent miners and other energy users – to provide input.”
He said the price the region paid for their electricity would remain aligned with those in South East Queensland.
Resources Minister Scott Stewart said growing the North West was important for building Queensland’s economy for the future.
Have a say on the CRIS at www.qld.gov.au/northwest-electricity-supply from December 17, 2021 to February 28, 2022.
NQ community to get new pool with millions in funding
TWO major North Queensland projects will share in $8.8m in funding from the Queensland government and the resources sector.
The Kennedy Regiment Memorial Pool in Charters Towers will be replaced and expanded, and the AEIOU Foundation will establish a centre to support children with autism and their families as part of the Round 1 $100m Resource Community Infrastructure Fund.
Charters Towers Regional Council applied for the grant, and will receive $7.8m to totally redevelop the pool which was built in 1969.
Another 18 projects were awarded funding under the grants program.
Charters Towers Mayor Frank Beveridge said the redevelopment of the pool would have a huge impact on the liveability of the community, while also fixing long-term water leaks.
“This new aquatic centre will make a marked difference to our community, opening up new opportunities for sporting events, exercise and community gatherings” Cr Beveridge said.
“The upgrades to the new pool will also make it much more accessible and safe for all of our community, ensuring everyone can enjoy summer’s best recreational activity, swimming.”
AEIOU Foundation Chief Executive Officer Alan Smith said the purpose-built facility in Kirwan would be for young children on the autism spectrum.
“The new, state-of-the-art centre will include up to four classrooms, a motor skills room, therapy rooms and engaging play spaces for children,” Mr Smith said.
“Families and community members caring for children with autism will also be afforded greater access to support. This centre will feature space for training and education, telehealth and meeting rooms.
“With the facilities and space this centre will offer, AEIOU also looks forward to adding new services for children with autism in the region, and their families.”
Mundingburra MP Les Walker said both projects would help support North Queensland families.
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said the investment in the aquatic centre could mean a Charters Towers swimmer could represent the country in the 2032 Olympics or Paralympics games.
“The project will deliver a contemporary accessible aquatic facility, new free form toddlers pool and wet play area, new pool water filtration system, refurbished amenities, enhanced spectator seating, a new lighting system and improved visitor carparking,” Mr Harper said.
In Round 1 of the grant process, 20 projects within 15 resource communities were awarded more than $47m.
Resources Minister and Townsville MP Scott Stewart said the fund was a voluntary partnership between the Queensland government, resource companies and the Queensland Resources Council.
“These communities are critical to rebuilding Queensland’s economy. And these new community infrastructure projects will create more jobs and more opportunities for regional Queenslanders,” Mr Stewart said.
“Not only will the 20 projects support even better facilities for their regions, they will also create more employment, creating an estimated 186 jobs for Queenslanders during construction.”
NQ given decade to prepare for high waste costs
THE state government will continue to offer rebates to local councils to save ratepayers millions in landfill fees.
The Queensland government has announced it will fast-track the state’s transition to a zero-waste society through a new $2.1bn waste package.
This new package includes the rebate for the waste levy set on household bins for the next financial year.
Last week, Townsville City Council revealed the free tipping weekend put on annually could cost ratepayers about $40,000 if the rebate was not continued.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill has been pushed for this rebate to be extended to give councils time to prepare for the future.
“We now have some certainty around what is going to happen with the levy but we also know that we’ve got to hurry along our plans for improving recycling and other alternatives to landfill,” Cr Hill said.
She said North Queensland now had to develop solutions specific for the area.
“We’ve done a bit of work around recycling, we’re working on food and garden organics to keep them out of landfill,” Cr Hill said.
“We need to see what further work we can do with things like building waste and we currently encourage people to bring their green waste to us and we take it free.
“The area of waste management is constantly evolving and I believe within the next ten years there will be suitable solutions to the bulk of our waste within the city.”
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the fund would support increased household recycling, help build new resource recovery infrastructure, and create more jobs in more industries.
The new funding also includes $1.1bn for a Recycling Jobs Fund.
“This is the largest investment in waste management and recycling in Queensland’s history,” Ms Scanlon said.
“It will accelerate job growth in the regions, build new recycling and remanufacturing infrastructure across Queensland and better protect our parks, waterways and the Great Barrier Reef from plastic pollution.
“The package also includes $1 billion in municipal solid waste (MSW) rebates for councils to continue offsetting the cost of the waste levy on household bins. This is a phased, sustainable 10-year transition to help households reduce their waste and increase recycling.”
The funding injection follows a review of existing waste levy arrangements.
“The Queensland Government has been consulting with the Local Government Association of Queensland and the Council of Mayors (South East Queensland) to determine a pathway that both protects households while also increasing recycling rates and reducing the amount of waste going into landfill,” Ms Scanlon said.
“This pathway includes a commitment to continue the advance payments to councils at 105 per cent for another financial year before those payments begin to taper as industry gears up to help Queenslanders divert more rubbish away from the red lid bin.
“The advance payments will taper off over 10 years, reducing to a final 20 per cent in ongoing payments to cover rubbish that we expect will still have to go to landfill.”
The state government did not initially fund the rebate past the end of the 2021-22 financial year.
Originally published as Electricity Supply Options for the North West Minerals Province Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement to be released
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