Former resources minister Ian Macfarlane has called on the federal government to help pay for a coal-fired power station to be built in north Queensland.

Former resources minister Ian Macfarlane has called on the federal government to help pay for a coal-fired power station to be built in north Queensland.

Mr Macfarlane, the chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council, wants the Turnbull government to use part of its $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund to fund the building a power station near Townsville.

Mr Macfarlane, the chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council, wants the Turnbull government to use part of its $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund to fund the building a power station near Townsville.

Currently there is no coal-fired power station north of Rockhampton in central Queensland and Mr MacFarlane said the region needed a stable, base-load power source.

Currently there is no coal-fired power station north of Rockhampton in central Queensland and Mr MacFarlane said the region needed a stable, base-load power source.