ABBOT POINT STATE DEVELOPMENT AREA MOVES A STEP CLOSER

Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland, Craig Wallace, said today that the proposed Abbot Point State Development Area was a step closer to reality.

Mr Wallace said the public consultation period had just ended with more than 50 submissions received by the State Government on the large-scale industrial and minerals processing development near Bowen.

Mr Wallace will speak at a meeting today, organised by Bowen Shire Council and Bowen Collinsville Enterprise Inc, where progress on the State Development Area and Northern Economic Triangle will be outlined.

“As part of a commitment to the local community the Department of Infrastructure and Planning took out ads in newspapers, sent letters to land owners affected by the SDA, conducted public information sessions and erected displays at local shopping centres,” Mr Wallace said.

“The department also met with individual land owners, briefed Bowen and Whitsunday shire councils and fielded dozens of queries from a toll-free number or via email.

“This Government’s commitment doesn’t stop there as we will continue to brief affected landowners as the project progresses.

“The Coordinator-General will include relevant information from the submissions in his recommendation to the Deputy Premier and early next year the boundaries of the SDA should be finalised,” Mr Wallace said.

The Northern Economic Triangle Strategic Plan 2007-2012 nominates Bowen, Townsville and Mount Isa as key players in future industrial development and mineral processing,” Mr Wallace said.

“The most pronounced benefit for Bowen will be the Abbot Point SDA, with around 5000 ha of greenfield industrial area situated between 10km and 25km from the Bowen Township.

“Up to 15,000 ha of land has been set aside as a buffer area between these large-scale industries and other land uses while infrastructure corridors between the SDA and the Port are an essential part of the plan.

“Crucially industries will have to demonstrate environmental best practice and show they can manage potential impacts to gain approval for individual developments.

“The SDA will have a development scheme to govern planning, transport, and other infrastructure needs so industrial development can occur in a coordinated manner and within community and environmental guidelines.”

The boundaries of the planned SDA extend from the port of Abbot Point in the north to Mt Roundback in the south, and from Euri Creek in the east to beyond Wilmington in the west.

It is strategically placed on the eastern coast, near a deep water port which can be expanded and close to transport links like the Bruce Highway and existing rail infrastructure.

Other initiatives for Bowen to support the SDA and Northern Economic Triangle plans are upgraded gas and electricity supplies, the Water for Bowen project to pipe up to 60,000 megalitres a year from the Burdekin River to Bowen and urban planning initiatives to make sure population growth is supported.

The State Government announced last week it would also provide a further $27 million to accelerate the development of the Northern Missing Link rail system so Central Queensland coal can be shipped from the Abbot Point port. The link is due to be completed and operational by 2010.

Earlier this month the Premier also officially opened the Port of Abbot Point X21 project which increased coal export capacity to 21 million tonnes per annum. Planning has been completed for a further expansion to 50 million tonnes per annum.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.