General News
2 July, 2025
Council agrees to offload batch plant for $405,000
The vote was unanimous amongst councillors.
Mount Isa City Council no longer owns and operates a batch plant.
After last month’s special budget meeting, councillors gathered behind closed doors to vote on the future of the beleaguered plant following an extensive Expressions of Interest process.
North West Weekly understands that the council received just one offer to purchase the batch plant, despite receiving half a dozen expressions of interest.
Councillor Travis Crowther moved the motion that “council enters an asset sale agreement with Isa Quarry Pty Ltd for the nominal value of $405,000 (exc GST) for council’s batching plant, vehicles and equipment and delegate authority to the CEO to negotiate and finalise the agreement”.
The motion was seconded by councillor Kim Coghlan and supported unanimously by the six councillors in attendance.
The sale marks an end to the rollercoaster history of the batch plant.
Built due to a lack of competition in Mount Isa, the facility was once a big money maker for the city.
However, the plant started to lose money under the previous term of council.
The current crop of councillors tasked the council staff to stem the bleeding, but the plant was ultimately unable to turn a profit.
COUNCIL CEO TO STAY ON
Meanwhile, Mount Isa City Council chief executive officer Tim Rose will likely stay on for another 12 months.
Originally hired as an interim CEO, Mr Rose elected to extend his contract to give the council stability following the announcement of the Mount Isa Copper Operations closure.
Councillors will vote this Thursday to extend the CEO’s contract, but it appears to be a foregone conclusion.
Mr Rose said he was enjoying his time in the North West and was happy to stay in the role for another year, providing more stability on the back of the appointment of two new council directors.