⚒️ The $500B minerals hub begins
2025 Touch Cup highlights | Eris rocket launch postponed | Internet finds out what paprika actually is.. blows minds | Townsville dumper fined and heaps more!
G’day and welcome back to another Townsville Times Thursday, it’s May 22.
Today's newsletter is 1,080 words and a 4.5-minute read.
In today's email:
One Big Thing: Townsville launches $500B Minerals Hub
Healthy habits take: Root at Collinsville School
Townsville talent shines: At the 2025 Youth Touch Cup
Trending: Magnificent Townsville
Around the web (Snippets): Data breach hits 69K Coinbase users, pick of the crop at Collinsville, Trump backs deep-sea mining leases and heaps more
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One Big Thing: Townsville breaks ground on $500B critical minerals hub
What’s Happening: Construction has kicked off on the Queensland Resources Common User Facility in Cleveland Bay, Townsville, Australia’s first shared site for testing and advancing critical mineral processing.
Why It Matters: Critical minerals are a hot and trending topic right now, especially amid recent global developments in the sector, and this project will position Queensland at the forefront of global critical minerals innovation, cutting delays and boosting investment in mining.
By The Numbers:
$500B – will be the value of critical mineral reserves in North Queensland
40+ jobs – will be created through construction and operation
2026 – is the expected opening date for the facility
Local Impact: Townsville will become a key hub for vanadium, cobalt, and rare earths, driving regional growth and new job opportunities to the region.
Full Steam Ahead: With Sedgman Pty Ltd leading the build, the facility starts with vanadium and will expand to other high-demand minerals.
What The People Say
“We’ll see advances in manufacturing, defence and research,” – Dale Last, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
What To Look For Next: The full article below 👇
2. Townsville talent shines at 2025 Youth Touch Cup
What’s Happening: Six Townsville representatives took part in the 2025 Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup, held 15–17 May at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe.
Why It Matters: Their selection shows Townsville’s growing influence in national and international Touch Football pathways.
By The Numbers:
🌏 10 nations competed
🏆 6 divisions played
💚 6 Townsville reps: 3 players, 1 coach, 2 referees
Local Impact: Townsville’s athletes and officials stepped up on the global stage, boosting local pride and inspiring juniors.
Rising Tides, Local Pride: Bailey Fraser debuted for the Philippines, while Lachlan Carey refereed the U20 Women’s Grand Final.
What the People Say
“A fantastic opportunity… part of our high-performance pathways.” — Marcus Ashcroft, TFA CEO
What To Look For Next: Townsville’s youth now prepare for Nationals, with international eyes on August’s Atlantic Youth Cup in Ireland. Read the full article 👇
3. Healthy habits take root at Collinsville School
Students at Collinsville State School are growing healthy habits through Pick of the Crop, a Health and Wellbeing Queensland initiative delivered with Bowen Gumlu Growers Association.
Now in its fifth year at the school, the program teaches kids where their food comes from and how to eat more fruit and vegetables.
Students recently visited Lower Don Organics in Bowen, learning from farmer Jessica Volker and exploring protected cropping techniques to apply in their school garden.
With 96.9% of Queensland children not eating enough vegetables, the program aims to build lifelong healthy eating habits. Collinsville’s garden will soon be fitted with shade structures, as Pick of the Crop continues to expand across the state.
Read more in the full article 👇
4. Trending
5. Around The Web (Snippets)
Mater Private Hospital Townsville: celebrates National Volunteer Week by honouring 60 volunteers who give thousands of hours each month.
Gilmour Space has postponed its: Eris Test Flight 1 launch from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland.
Wait, paprika’s made from what? The internet just found out, and it’s blowing minds
A man has been fined: After remote cameras caught him illegally dumping rubbish in Townsville’s Town Common Conservation Park.
$15M in disaster recovery funding announced: with $15K grants for flood-affected small businesses to cover essential costs.
Boxes full of Nazi propaganda have been: Discovered in the basement of Argentina’s Supreme Court
Mount Isa’s Indigenous Rodeo Championships: return this August 2025, with nominations now open and a free clinic added.
Coinbase said this week that at least: 69,461 customers had personal and financial information stolen during a months-long data breach
Volunteer call-out begins for Ephemera 2025: Trace-less, as artists prepare eco-conscious works exploring connection to Country.
The Trump administration said this week that it’s: Beginning the process of selling deep-sea mining leases after a request from startup Impossible Metals
Dive in and get snapping as MOUA launches: a national underwater photo comp ahead of World Ocean Day—entries close 5 June 2025.
6. Upcoming Events
🎉 Disco Fever Party: May 24, 2025 – Otherwise Bar, Flinders Street, Townsville. Get ready to boogie to 70s, 80s, and 90s hits at this retro-themed party.
🎷 Townsville Jazz Club – The Reg Braun Quartet: May 25, 2025 – The Metropole Hotel, Townsville. Experience an evening of smooth jazz with The Reg Braun Quartet, presented by the Townsville Jazz Club.
🚚 10th Anniversary Convoy for the Cure: May 25, 2025 – Domain Central, Townsville. Join the convoy to support The Cure Starts Now Foundation, featuring a mega raffle with $60,000 in prizes.
🏉 State of Origin Game I Watch Party: May 28, 2025 – Tiny Mountain Brewery, Townsville. Cheer on your team during Game I of the State of Origin series, streamed live and loud.
🎤 King Parrot – A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot Album Launch Tour: May 30, 2025 – The Warehouse Townsville. Experience the high-energy performance of King Parrot as they launch their latest album.
🍻 May Friday Night Kick-Starters: May 30, 2025 – The TapHouse Townsville. Kickstart your weekend with great drinks, food, and live entertainment.
Community Contributor - Thought for the week
You're arguing, so whose right, whose wrong??
We know there are two sides to every story, but did you know there are always three? Yours, the other, and the truth.
One or the other, mostly neither, is anywhere near a valid reality! Truth deals with 4+ dimensions, our argument deals with 1, mostly ‘effects’.
So, pause momentarily, use this interlude to ‘turn in’ and listen silently. Emotions rage and distort, breathe them away. Then ask yourself, what’s back of this? What else are you observing? One day, you’ll see more than appearances, and thus, the journey of true relations begins.
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