Mackay’s High Amp Maintenance scores manufacturing grant

One Mackay manufacturer has been the beneficiary of hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment, allowing them to improve energy efficiency and hire more workers. But another business has blasted the government over rising energy costs.

Manufacturing Minister Glenn Butcher and ALP candidate Belinda Hassan met with Lachlan Nielsen at High Amp Maintenance. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Hundreds of Mackay businesses could be eligible for thousands of dollars in state government grants.

The Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program will deliver more than $6.2m in manufacturing grants to 22 projects creating and supporting more than 500 jobs in Mackay.

High Amp Maintenance was the recipient of $176,000 to buy new equipment like this industrial laser. Photo: Fergus Gregg

One beneficiary is the leading Mackay welding and fabrication business High Amp Maintenance, who received $176,000 from the state government, allowing them to purchase a new laser cutter.

High Amp Maintenance Director Lachlan Nielsen said thanks to the grant and their new equipment they would be able to grow the business.

“It saves a lot of time manually cutting the material and has decreased our waste by 20 per cent,” Mr Nielsen said.

“Without the grant it definitely would have been a lot more challenging process to get this machinery.”

High Amp Maintenance will be adding 10 full time employees to their team. Photo: Fergus Gregg

As well as increasing their efficiency and expanding their business to support another 10 jobs, the new equipment has come at no cost to their energy expenses.

“It’s actually fairly energy efficient in comparison to the machine we had we had beforehand,” Mr Nielson said.

Manufacturing minister Glenn Butcher said that businesses like High Amp Maintenance were the backbone of Queensland.

“Unfortunately, the LNP plan to cut our successful programs,” Mr Butcher said.

“They have no plan to continue our grant programs.

“Their Right Priorities document doesn't even mention the word manufacturing once.”

Andrew Willcox MP has decried Labor’s focus on renewables and said “the government has no plan”. Picture: Supplied

But LNP MP Andrew Willcox, speaking at Blue River Ice, said that the biggest obstacle for local businesses was the government's focus on renewables.

“This Government has no plan and no idea. They have some serious questions to answer on what they expect hard working, tax paying Australian businesses to do,” Mr Willcox said.

“When power bills skyrocket from $10,000 per month to $25,000 per month – I am not a mathematician, but I sure know you can’t pass this onto consumers and businesses can’t absorb this hike.”

Owner of Blue River Ice, Francis Vigliante said he has to pass on the increased price of energy to the consumers.

Businesses are eligible to have energy efficient lighting upgrades reimbursed for 100 per cent of the cost and businesses can also apply to receive up to $50,000 for upgrades to machinery.

Similar grants are also open to small and medium sized businesses outside of the manufacturing sector.

Sitting Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert disagrees with Mr Willcox’s assessment and said that Labor has a great jobs and energy plan, setting them apart from the LNP.

“We have to make sure we drive down prices as we have been through rebates through our coal royalties,” Ms Gilbert said.

“We also have to look forward to what is going to make power cheaper for our industry and that cheaper power will come from green energy.”

Originally published as Mackay’s High Amp Maintenance scores manufacturing grant