Local leaders have raised their concerns about the future of North Queensland’s copper industry at the 2025 Townsville Enterprise Mining and Critical Minerals Forum this week.
Glencore’s Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery could be the next to go, if the Queensland or Federal Government doesn’t intervene as global competition threatens Aussie smelters.
Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said safeguarding the future of copper in the North must be treated as a strategic national priority.
“The North West Minerals Province is a national asset,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
“At stake right now is a regional ecosystem responsible for more than 17,000 jobs and contributing 16 per cent to North and North West Queensland’s Gross Regional Product.
“The future of Mount Isa’s copper smelter, Townsville’s copper refinery, and a broader corridor of interconnected mining and processing operations is on the line,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
Mount Isa City Council Mayor Peta McRae from the heart of the North West Minerals Province, say mining is the lifeblood of their region.
“Copper is the key to securing our future, and I am 100 per cent committed to that future being one of prosperity for these industries, but also equally for our towns that service them.
“Without the smelter, there is no refinery in Townsville and if we’re not mining, smelting or refining, then we’re not using our port to the extent we should or could be.
“If just one of these components go down, it all goes down in the North West.
“The government, both State and Federal, need to address this bigger picture and play their part to make the North West as attractive as possible so we can have stability restore to our region and can reap the benefits for decades to come.”
The state government says it is working with the mining giant, to find a solution.
