New & Future Developments
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Future Developments
Townsville North Queensland offers a diverse, resilient and prosperous economic base that thrives on growth.
With more than $13.6 billion in projects committed to development in the regions pipeline and a forecast of approximately 50,000 new jobs required in the next decade, Townsville North Queensland is on the cusp of significant economic prosperity and will further cement its position as the Capital of North Queensland. Townsville Enterprise continues to be at the forefront of the region's development, working alongside our members and regional leaders in securing the future of North Queensland.
Great Barrier Reef Aquarium Redevelopment
Great Barrier Reef Aquarium is the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium and has received funding to upgrade exhibits, the façade, predator tank, coral reef exhibit, turtle hospital and back of house facilities. The Aquarium is currently in refurbishment phase and scheduled to reopen in 2026.
Townsville Airport Redevelopment
Townsville Airport upgrades are currently underway with an $80M redevelopment to transform the airport into a modern and efficient facility through terminal refurbishments, access enhancement and infrastructure upgrades included lounges, seating areas and retail space.
ARDO
A luxury five star hotel is under construction next door to The Villle Resort – Casino, boasting some of the best views in all of Queensland.
The new hotel will include 132 hotel rooms and suites, a day spa, and a Japanese restaurant on the ground floor. The rooftop will feature a show-stopping infinity pool, large outdoor bar and a seafood and steak restaurant, all with panoramic views over the Coral Sea to Magnetic Island, across the marina, and stunning Castle Hill.
Future plans for the precinct also include a superyacht marina. The new marina hopes to take advantage of an influx of superyachts in the North Queensland region which currently bypass Townsville because there’s nowhere for them to dock.
The hotel development will provide a major boost to Townsville’s tourism sector, providing outstanding accommodation, dining and entertainment options for locals and interstate visitors alike.
Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA)
The Museum of Underwater Art is a globally significant project for Townsville, the surrounding regions and more broadly to Queensland and Australia. The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) is the only underwater art museum in the Southern Hemisphere and is being developed by world renowned artist Jason DeCaires Taylor. The project sees a series of artistic sculptures placed on the ocean floor as a dive and snorkel attraction.
The four sites at The Strand, Magnetic Island, Palm Island and John Brewer Reef, The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park send a powerful visual message representing the stories of the region and represent a beautiful blend of art, science and culture. MOUA will provide an immersive experience providing all visitors a greater understanding of the science and conservation efforts linked to the Reef, as well as the region’s Indigenous and cultural heritage.
CopperString 2032
The CopperString 2032 project is a 1,100 km high-voltage electricity transmission line from Townsville to Mount Isa that will connect Queensland’s North West Minerals Province (NWMP) to the national electricity grid. The $5 billion expanded project will include a 500-kilovolt (kV) line from Townsville to Hughenden to connect the NWMP to the North Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (NQREZ), the largest renewable energy zone in the nation. CopperString 2032 is the largest ever economic development project in North Queensland, and the largest expansion to the power grid in Australia. The North West Minerals Province contains one of the world’s richest deposits of critical minerals worth an estimated $500 billion. Critical minerals are the essential components for production of emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy products and storage and low-emission power sources.
Defence
A recent announcement will see Townsville become Australia's Army capital with hundreds of troops set to be relocated to north Queensland.
Townsville University Hospital Expansion
The expansion of the Townsville University Hospital will deliver around 143 extra beds to the region by 2026. The expansion will include a significant boost to beds for rehabilitation and surgical patients, additional day-procedure spaces and the relocation of the helicopter landing pad to the roof, freeing up that space for a new clinical building.
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In the spirit of reconciliation, Townsville Enterprise and Townsville North Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout our region and Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Townsville Enterprise a not-for-profit organisation and is the official Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) and economic development body of the Townsville North Queensland region, extending from the Burdekin to the Hinchinbrook, west to Charters Towers, and including the central section of the Great Barrier Reef and its island communities of Magnetic Island and the Palm Island group.
