A suite of measures including a $10 million North Queensland mineral demonstration processing plant will drive the North-West's growth as part of a draft 30-year resources plan.
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Speaking at the first forum examining the draft Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan in Townsville, Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the sector was a key economic driver for the city.
"The North West Minerals Province has the minerals that will be needed for the world to build clean energy systems, which means more jobs for regional Queensland," Mr Stewart said.
"When the North West Minerals Province rocks, Townsville gets rolling. That's why it's important to look to the future so we can continue to develop the resources sector which will benefit all of Townsville."
Mr Stewart said the release of the draft Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan came the same week as the Palaszczuk Government announced funding for a demonstration processing plant in Townsville.
The plant will support mine proponents - particularly those around Julia Creek - to demonstrate their processing of vanadium for market testing, as construction is to start on Queensland's first vanadium mine next year at Saint Elmo.
"This demonstration plant positions Queensland for future commercial-scale onshore minerals processing and lays the foundation for a potential new battery manufacturing industry in North Queensland," Mr Stewart said.
The new economy minerals package includes $10 million for the vanadium plant in Townsville, a new Queensland Battery Industry Strategy, extending the Collaborative Exploration Initiative until 2024, to provide grants to help explorers find more potential deposits, using new technology to re-open old mines, potential rent deferral for new economy minerals projects and international marketing of potential new economy mineral projects to investors.
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Minister Stewart said the Collaborative Exploration Initiative generated $1.45 in private sector investment for every government dollar.
The government now wants feedback on the draft plan which has 43 actions that address six key focus areas: growing and diversifying the industry, strengthening ESG credentials and protecting the environment, fostering coexistence and sustainable communities, ensuring strong First Nations partnerships, building a safe and resilient workforce and improving regulatory efficiency.
The plan is open for consultation until February 2022 with the final plan due for release in mid-2022.
The Queensland Resources Council welcomed the release of the plan which was unveiled at the QRC annual lunch in Brisbane.
QRC CEO Ian Macfarlane said the draft plan was the result of 12 months of industry and community consultation.
"The resources sector is one of Queensland's driving forces. We have seen that again today with the release of QRC's latest economic contribution data which showed the resources sector adds $84.3 billion to the state's economy and supports more than 422,500 jobs," Mr Macfarlane said.
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