THARGOMINDAH is set to play an increasing role in the development of weapons systems in support of Australia’s multi-billion dollar defence industry.
As reported in our LOCAL NEWS on 4RR-FM this morning, a large-scale testing site near ‘Thargo’ is being established by Queensland’s Black Sky Aerospace.
The company has secured $7.5 million in State Government funding to help deliver the ‘MaxQ’ project, which has been welcomed by the Bulloo Shire Council.
Speaking on-site this week, Mayor ‘Tractor’ Ferguson says it’s a much-needed economic shot in the arm for his sparsely-populated part of the world.
“It’ll be good. It’ll make Thargomindah a good place,” Cr Ferguson told Nine News alongside Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and Black Sky’s Blake Nikolic.
“We need industry. We need people…that’s what these little small communities are lacking at the moment.”
Once operational, the facility will be Australia’s first and only privately owned horizontal launch and guided-weapons test and evaluation range.
State funding, via the Sovereign Industry Development Fund, will deliver a 2.5km runway, fixed and mobile launch infrastructure and secure explosive storage.
The project is expected to create around 60 jobs including construction and ongoing operational roles whilst strengthening regional supply chains.
Construction on the three million acre site will commence later this year, with operations expected to get underway in 2028.
PHOTO: A rocket blasts off from the soon-to-be-developed MaxQ rocket range near Thargomindah.
POSTED: Thursday, July 23, 2026