Queensland’s new government has turbocharged a half-billion-dollar mining project that will create hundreds of jobs from quarry to port in a single stroke.
The Crisafulli Government has fast-tracked a $515 million critical minerals project expected to create 600 construction jobs and 140 ongoing jobs across North and Far North Queensland.
The LNP government confirmed that it had officially declared the Sugarbag Hill Ultra High Purity Quartz Sand Project a “prescribed project” in a major boost to the economy.
The project includes a quarry at Sugarbag Hill, 17 kilometres from Forsayth west of Hinchinbrook, and pre‑processing at Mount Garnett in the Tablelands.
Further processing of the critical material is proposed at the Lansdown Eco‑Industrial Precinct south of Townsville, with a pilot facility in Stuart and chemical storage at the Port of Townsville.
The project will also allow high‑quality quartz sand to be exported through the port.
“Queensland is open for business, and we are providing the certainty needed for major projects to plan and progress,” Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said.
“After years of Labor inaction that left resource projects languishing, the Crisafulli Government is driving progress, creating jobs, and strengthening Queensland’s position as a world leader in critical mineral extraction and processing.”
He said declaring the development a prescribed project ensured the development moved forward “without unnecessary delays”.
“This project will help strengthen Queensland’s critical minerals capability, inject hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of investment and create hundreds of jobs in North and Far North Queensland.”
Subject to approvals, High Purity Quartz Ltd is targeting a final investment decision in early 2027 and commencement of const Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development Dale Last said the project would create hundreds of jobs from “the quarry to the processing facilities and at the Port of Townsville”.
“With the Queensland Resources Common User Facility and Graphinex’s Battery Anode Hub just down the road, we’re committed to building sovereign capacity right across the critical minerals sector,” the Burdekin MP said.
“We’re serious about cutting red tape, driving faster approvals and delivering certainty to investors so they can get on with creating local jobs.”
Queensland Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan said his office would continue to work closely across government, local councils and High Purity Quartz Ltd to keep the project moving “without unnecessary delay”.
“This declaration allows us to work closely with all parties to deliver the economic and strategic benefits this project promises for Queensland.”
High Purity Quartz Limited CEO Stuart Jones said the declaration provided certainty for the project.
“We welcome the Queensland Government’s support, which reinforces the strategic importance of our project to the State’s Critical Minerals Strategy,” he said.
“This declaration allows us to progress project approvals more efficiently and with greater certainty as we move through the Detailed Feasibility Study and Engineering stage.”
Mr Jones said the project recognised the importance of establishing a Queensland-based supply of globally-scarce ultra-high purity quartz sand that was critical for solar PV silicon wafer manufacturing.
“This aligns with the state’s ambition to build world-leading sovereign capability in this future-focused industry.”
