The Australian government has announced a new specialist hub for electric and hydrogen-powered trucks will be built in Townsville, North Queensland, at a cost of AU$18.79 million.

The Defence and Hydrogen Maintenance Hub is to be built in the Cleveland Bay Industrial Park, within the Townsville State Development Area.

The hub will boost North Queensland’s renewable energy supply chain and is being supported by the Queensland Government’s Industry Partnership Program. Around 65 jobs will be created as well as training in EV and hydrogen vehicle maintenance.

The hub will 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.

Construction is expected to start in late 2024 with the hub anticipated to be completed in late 2025.

“The Defence and Hydrogen Maintenance Hub is another exciting opportunity coming to regional Queensland thanks to our state’s clean energy transformation,” said Acting Premier Steven Miles.

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.

Miles said the hub will put North Queensland and Townsville on the map as a key location for new-generation heavy-vehicle fleets.

“The hub will also provide skilled jobs and training for workers in the growing industry of green-fuelled heavy transport,” he said.

The project 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.