Community
Solquartz and Private Energy Partners (PEP) — are proposing to build a co-located Supernode North Battery Energy Storage System (Supernode North) and Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility near Woodstock.
The Projects will boost the regional economy by employing local people and procuring goods and services from local businesses and contractors, where possible, during construction, operation and decommissioning. The expected lifespan of Supernode North is about 30 years. The expected lifespan of the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility is 30+ years.
Listening to and working with local communities is important to us. Accepting feedback and addressing reasonable concerns as they arise is a priority to ensure we are a good neighbour. Importantly we will also strive to provide regular updates on each stage of the projects.
Solquartz and PEP will collaborate with the community to establish a Community Partnership Program that provides ongoing benefits for local people. We welcome and encourage any suggestions from the community as we develop this program.
You can contact us at info@solquartz.com.au, call us on 1800 975 039, or visit our website www.solquartz.com.au.
Thank you to those people who attended the Private Energy Partners and Solquartz community drop-in session on Wednesday 23 July 2025 at the Woodstock Sport and Recreation Club.
We appreciate the time taken to hear about our proposed projects and, most importantly the local views shared about how we can deliver the projects with minimal impact and maximum benefit to the Woodstock district.
The topics that were raised at the session are detailed below, along with how we will use the information shared with us.
Potential impacts relating to flooding, ground water, noise, air quality, visual amenity (24-hr lighting)
We are undertaking preliminary studies on these and other topics and developing reports, which will outline potential impacts along with suggested mitigation measures to minimise and manage these impacts. These reports will be included in our Development Application, which will be lodged soon with Townsville City Council for assessment. Council may also propose conditions relating to these matters if they approve the Development Application.
We will continue to share new and updated information with you via future community information sessions and our website as project planning progresses.
Water supply
We anticipate minimal water will be required for the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – Supernode North. We expect water usage to increase for the first stage of the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility, which is proposed to be supplied via a pipeline solution to the industrial precinct.
Townsville City Council is working on connecting the industrial precinct to a water supply. These details are yet to be confirmed and we have asked Council for more information so we can share this with the community.
Housing and accommodation during construction and then for operational workers
We know Woodstock, Townsville and the broader North Queensland regions are experiencing low housing supply and high demand pressures. PEP and Solquartz have engaged a social planning specialist to undertake a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) to identify and quantify those constraints and the impact our projects might have on housing in the area. This assessment will include seeking input from the community. If you would like to nominate to be part of this consultation, please email community@private-energypartners.com to register your interest.
Woodstock State School support
We heard some great suggestions about how the project team can support the school including by sharing their knowledge and information about our projects as part of the STEM curriculum, giving presentations and updates at P&C meetings, and making donations to the Woodstock County Fair and other school events. We will work with the school to see how we can progress these ideas. In the meantime, we’ll be donating a prize at this year’s Fair for the auction/raffle.
Woodstock community
Some session attendees reported a lack of a community hub or town centre in Woodstock, particularly since the shop closed and the Post Office was removed. We are considering how the project might be able to support the town and would welcome your suggestions on this.
Feedback about Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct
We received a range of feedback about the LEIP more generally with regards to roads, water and development timeframes. We have shared your feedback with Council and they have committed to following up the issues raised over the coming weeks.
Next steps
We will work with the local community to identify and mitigate project impacts and deliver benefits that are the most meaningful and represent what the community would like to see. This will include ongoing consulting with locals regarding our proposed Community Partnership Program.
We will continue to seek feedback about our projects and share information as it becomes available through our project planning. We would love to hear more views and ideas from the community and will plan more information sessions in the future.
We’ll let you know when the next drop-in session is planned and, in the meantime, we welcome your ideas and feedback at any time.