More than $1.9 billion in proposed private investment across three Queensland steel and manufacturing projects is set to target local steelmaking, recycling and processing capacity, according to the Queensland Government.
The Alter Steel Mill, Swanbank Steel Mill and Sims Metal Pinkenba Redevelopment projects have been declared Prescribed Projects by the Queensland Government, with the developments expected to support more than 2,000 construction jobs and more than 550 operational jobs.
In a news release, the government said the projects would strengthen Queensland’s domestic steel supply chain and reduce reliance on steel sourced from interstate and overseas suppliers.
The three projects include a proposed $1.05 billion steel recycling and manufacturing facility by Equest Steel at Pinkenba, a $640 million steel manufacturing facility by Future Forgeworks at Swanbank, and an approximately $215 million staged redevelopment of Sims Metal’s existing Pinkenba site.
The Alter Steel Mill Project is expected to create up to 600 construction jobs and 216 operational jobs, while the Swanbank project is expected to generate more than 400 construction jobs and up to 200 operational positions. The Sims redevelopment is expected to support approximately 1,090 construction jobs and 140 operational jobs.
Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the projects represented the type of private investment the government wanted to attract.
“These projects are exactly the kind of private investment Queensland needs to grow our economy, strengthen our industrial base and create thousands of Queensland jobs,” Bleijie said.
The government said the projects could also reduce reliance on imported steel and improve supply chain resilience, with Queensland currently importing a significant proportion of reinforcing steel and other steel products from interstate and overseas suppliers.
Alter Steel CEO Paul Zuckerman said the proposed Pinkenba facility would add recycled scrap-based steelmaking to Queensland’s existing reinforcing steel supply network.
“The Alter Steel Mill will strengthen Queensland’s steel supply chain by adding locally, recycled scrap-based steelmaking,” Zuckerman said.
Future Forgeworks Managing Director and CEO Rohan Richardson said the Swanbank project was intended to supply reinforcing steel locally from 2028.
“The Swanbank Steel Mill Project is a significant investment in Queensland’s sovereign manufacturing capability,” Richardson said.
The proposed Sims redevelopment would focus on expanding metal recovery, processing and logistics capacity at Pinkenba. Sims Chief Project and Business Development Officer John Glyde said the project was intended to strengthen the state’s circular economy.
“The proposed Sims Metal Pinkenba Redevelopment Project is intended to strengthen Queensland’s circular economy by expanding our capacity to recover, process and supply recycled metal feedstock for domestic manufacturing,” Glyde said.
The Prescribed Project declarations activate the Coordinator-General’s powers under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 to support coordination of the projects’ approvals and infrastructure requirements.
Queensland Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan said the status would not remove existing statutory approval requirements.
“Prescribed Project status does not remove the need for statutory approvals, but it does provide a clear framework to help projects progress efficiently while maintaining all relevant assessment requirements,” Coggan said.
The Queensland Government said each project would continue to be assessed on its individual merits. If delivered, the projects are expected to support the state’s domestic steel supply chain and recycling capacity while supplying materials for housing, construction, transport and major infrastructure projects.
