Townsville is set to receive an $18.79 million development hub for clean powered trucking fleets and ADF heavy vehicles, boosting the area’s renewables supply chain.
Supported by the Queensland Government, RGM Maintenance will build the Defence and Hydrogen Maintenance Hub in the Cleveland Bay Industrial Park.
The hub is expected to sell, repair and maintain new-generation EV and hydrogen heavy vehicles and be a major link in North Queensland’s growing renewable energy supply chain.
It will also ensure ADF heavy vehicles have a bigger and better specialist facility for maintenance and repairs.
The hub will also support training and additional skilled jobs in renewables transport maintenance.
Construction is expected to start in late 2024 with the hub anticipated to be completed in late 2025.
Acting Queensland Premier, Steven Miles, said that the Defence and Hydrogen Maintenance Hub is another exciting opportunity coming to regional Queensland thanks to the state’s clean energy transformation.
“This will be the first North Queensland centre specialising in end-to-end sales, repair and maintenance of clean, green EV and hydrogen heavy transport,” Mr Miles said.
“The hub will put North Queensland and Townsville on the map as a key location for new-generation heavy-vehicle fleets.
“It also reinforces Queensland’s position as Australia’s khaki state offering essential services to support ADF ground transport operations.
“The hub will also provide skilled jobs and training for workers in the growing industry of green-fuelled heavy transport.
Mr Miles said that the project is supported by the Queensland Government’s Industry Partnership Program and aligns with its new-industry development strategy, which is developing the industries that will be in demand as the world decarbonises.
“This is a further step forward for the local hydrogen industry and builds on Queensland Government assistance previously provided by the Hydrogen Industry Development Fund (HIDF).
The HIDF has helped locally based hydrogen fuel production and trucking fleets gain traction through support provided to Ark Energy in Townsville.
“Ark Energy is developing the SunHQ hydrogen hub, a renewable hydrogen production and refuelling facility at the Sun Metals zinc refinery and will be trialling five hydrogen fuel cell electric prime-movers in the Sun Metals fleet.
“Other heavy vehicle opportunities are also being investigated in the Townsville region that would also benefit from the Hydrogen Maintenance Hub.”
RGM Director, Greg Jackson, said that the Defence and Hydrogen Maintenance Hub is a huge step forward for next-generation heavy transport in North Queensland.
“There is enormous potential for EV and hydrogen vehicles in the heavy transport sector and the hub will help put Townsville at the forefront of this expanding sector,” Mr Jackson said.
“The hub will take the lead as a complete end-to-end centre for the sale, repair and maintenance of these green-fuelled heavy vehicles.
“It will also provide a bigger and better facility for servicing ADF ground transport fleets.
“The hub is expected to create 65 new jobs, in addition to the existing 62 staff now employed at our existing Townsville operations.”
RGM has heavy vehicle operations throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory and is an existing service provider to the ADF.
