Introducing Toowoomba

Published: June 2017 www.capitalwealth.net.au ph: 1300 559 183

2 Table of Contents Welcome to Toowoomba ...... 4 - towns and localities ...... 5 Location ...... 6 Getting here and around ...... 8

Demographics Key Facts ...... 10

Infrastructure Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC)...... 14 West Wellcamp Airport ...... 15 Grand Central Shopping Centre ...... 20 Toowoomba Enterprise Hub ...... 21 Toowoomba Railway Parklands Priority Development Area ...... 22

In the News Hospitals, council, TSBE work to strengthen health sector ...... 24 400M AgTech Investment Forum 2017 ...... 25 Mayor backs Toowoomba passenger rail line proposal...... 26 JOBS: $35 million factory wins council approval ...... 27

Education Education ...... 30

Entertainment & Tourism Attractions ...... 32 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers ...... 34 Contact Us

3 Welcome to Toowoomba

Toowoomba Regional Council area is part of and the productive The area of the Toowoomba Region is 12,973 km². It is also the gateway to the resource-rich Surat Basin Energy Precinct. The region is made up of many towns and localities, the largest one being Toowoomba City. Perched high on the Darling Downs, the lofty heritage city is Queensland’s largest inland town. Due to its elevation, even on the hottest Queensland days the residents can relax with a cool evening breeze. In fact, you’ll feel all of the seasons here: there’s a true winter with fog and , an autumn of golden falling leaves, and a spring of non-stop colour. Known as Queensland’s Garden City, come spring, it’s a riot of perfume and colour just in time for the annual Carnival of Flowers. The City has long been famed for its beauty, but these days it’s also known for its excellent quality of life, low unemployment and great schools. The face of Toowoomba is constantly changing with the city in the midst of a massive construction boom all the while maintaining its charming mix of distinguished buildings, elegant parks and breathtaking views of the .

Source: realestate.com.au, Wikipedia

4 Toowoomba Region - towns and localities

Toowoomba Birnam Prince Henry Cawdor Blue Mountain Heights Cecil Plains Meringandan West Heights Rangeville Clifton Millmerran Centenary Heights Redwood Condamine Mount Tyson Charlton Rockville Crows Nest Nobby Cotswold Hills South Toowoomba Domville North Branch Cranley Spring Bluff Djuan Oakey Darling Heights Toowoomba City East Greenmount Pampas Drayton Top Camp Evergreen Pechey East Toowoomba Torrington Felton Pilton Finnie Vale View Pittsworth Glenvale Wellcamp Glencoe Ravensbourne Gowrie Junction Wilsonton Goombungee St Helens Harlaxton Wilsonton Heights Gowrie Mountain Southbrook Harristown Regional Grassdale Springside Highfields Acland Greenmount Tummaville Hodgson Vale Athol Haden Turallin Kearneys Spring Aubigny Hampton Upper Yarraman Middle Ridge Biddeston Hodgson Vale Westbrook Mount Kynoch Bowenville Jondaryan Wyreema Mount Lofty Bringalily Kings Creek Yandilla Mount Rascal Brookstead Kingsthorpe Yarrama Newtown Cabarlah Lavelle North Toowoomba Cambooya Lemontree

5 Location The Toowoomba Region is a local government area located in the Darling Downs part of Queensland. The Region is situated on the , at the intersection of three major highways. • Warrego • New England • Gore It connects, , , Brisbane and Darwin. The actual is located 125km west of Brisbane by road.

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Toowoomba

The Darling Downs is a farming region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland. The Downs are to the west of South East Queensland and are one of the major . The name is applied to a wide region comprising the Southern Downs, Western Downs, Toowoomba and local authority areas.

7 Getting here and around

Air

Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport (Toowoomba): The gateway to Toowoomba and Southern Queensland Country. This airport is serviced by the following airlines: • QantasLink • Regional Express (Rex) • St George Airport: • Regional Express (Rex) offer services to St George from Toowoomba and Brisbane. Coach Regular bus services operate between Brisbane, Toowoomba, Warwick, Stanthorpe and beyond, with connections to air, rail and local buses.

Rail operate into the region. This scenic journey from Brisbane travels across the Great Dividing Range to Toowoomba, through the rich farmlands of the Darling Downs and continues through the Western Country to its final destination of Charleville.

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8 Demographics

9 Key Facts

Population

• 2011 Census Usual Resident Population of Toowoomba was 151,188, living in 63,202 dwellings with an average household size of 2.50. • 2016 Estimated Resident Population was 164,469, with a population density of 0.13 persons per hectare.

People In 2011, of people in Toowoomba the median age group is 37 years old.

Of the families: • 41.8% were couple families with children • 41.2% were couple families without children • 15.5% were one parent families • 51.5% were married • 11.5% were either divorced or separated.

Education: • 29.8% of people were attending an educational institution. • 31.8% were in primary school • 23.1% in secondary school • 18.0% in a tertiary or technical institution.

10 Private dwellings in Toowoomba

• 85.6% were separate houses • 4.1% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc • 9.7% were flats, units or apartments • 0.5% were other dwellings. • 33.1% were owned outright • 33.2% were owned with a mortgage • 30.4% were rented.

The houses here are distinctive and filled with character, with charming colonial styles and Federation homes, as well delightful Queensland bungalows. While there are some apartments and units close to the CBD, as you move further from the city centre, single storey brick homes are more common. Source: realestate.com.au

11 Employment

There were 72,255 people who reported being in the labour force in the week before Census night in Toowoomba. • 60.6% were employed full time • 28.9% were employed part-time • 4.7% were unemployed. Occupation: • The most common occupations included: • Professionals 17.7% • Technicians and Trades Workers 15.4% • Clerical and Administrative Workers 13.9% • Labourers 12.6% • Managers 12.5% Area of employment: • 6.4% worked in School Education. • Hospitals 4.7% • Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.8% • Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming 3.3% • Road Freight Transport 2.5%.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2011, note that 2016 Census results due out in October 2017, realestate.com.au

12 Infrastructure

13 Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC)

14 Photo courtesy of McNab Vegetation clearing is complete and works are now starting on key structures among the 24 bridges that will form part of the Second Toowoomba Second Range Range Crossing Crossing Project – Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey The route is designed to increase freight efficiency and significantly improve road The Toowoomba Second and driver safety by removing heavy vehicles from Toowoomba’s CBD. The • grade-separated interchanges Range Crossing is the largest TSRC will create a faster and more at West, Australian Government efficient route for connecting freight to Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road major ports and markets. and the funding commitment to a single road project in The Toowoomba Second Range • grade-separated connections to Crossing will: Mort Street and Boundary Street Queensland’s history. The $1.6 billion project is • reduce travel time across the • an approximately 30m deep cutting Toowoomba Range by up to 40 minutes at the top of the Toowoomba Range a 43km road bypass route for heavy commercial vehicles to the north of Toowoomba. • an 800m long viaduct built east from • avoid up to 18 sets of traffic lights the , crossing over the existing Queensland Rail line When finished, it will connect • relieve pressure on local roads by redirecting trucks away from the Warrego Highway at The project has been separated into Toowoomba’s CBD three areas: east, central and west. Helidon Spa in the east to Construction work is being carried • increase freight efficiencies the Gore Highway at Athol out at multiple sites concurrently. The key features of TSRC are: in the west via Charlton. The east section is from the • four lanes from Warrego Highway East Warrego Highway at Helidon Spa to the Interchange to Warrego Highway West New England Highway at Mt Kynoch.

For construction, traffic updates, maps and careers visit Nexus TSRC www.nexustsrc.com.au or call 1800 198 878 tsbe.com.au with theAustralian andQueensland into aPublic-Private Partnership Nexus Infrastructure hasentered Highway West interchange. Plains Roadinterchange andWarrego Junction works, Toowoomba-Cecil the Gore Highwayinterchange, Gowrie Cranley to Gore Highway,Atholincludes The west sectionfrom BoundaryStreet, Street interchange. Mort Street interchange andBoundary New EnglandHighwayrealignment, Boundary Street, Cranley includes the The central section,from MtKynoch to East interchange. Road overpass andWarrego Highway It includestheviaduct,MurphysCreek Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Project training andskills development. supply chainopportunities,aswell as region’s economy, employment and The TSRCproject willdevelop the expected to be open to traffic in late 2018. Construction began in April2016andis and maintain the TSRCinAugust 2015. contract to design,construct, operate Nexus Infrastructure wasawarded the operation andmaintenance contract. and underground services, plusa25-year road andpavements, cuttings,structures construction ofthetoll road, including This cost covers thefulldesignand an 80:20fundingsplitarrangement. the delivery ofthe$1.6billionproject on Governments, whoare jointly funding tsbe.com.au

1702137 Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport

Wellcamp Airport: A brave move saw a wheat farm turn into a hub for agriculture exports BUILD it and they will come. That was the mindset that drove John Wagner and his family from Toowoomba in Queensland and their bold decision to plough $100 million of their own money into transforming a wheat farm into ’s newest major airport and freight hub for agriculture exports.

DYNASTY: Joe, Henry, Neil, John and Denis Wagner on the runway site back in 2013. “The local governments didn’t have the vision or the money, the State Government wasn’t really interested, it has taken the feds 40 years to try and make a decision on (Sydney’s second airport at) Badgerys Creek,” Toowoomba businessman John Wagner recalls. “So we decided to get in and do it ourselves.” Welcome to Wellcamp Airport, 15km west of Toowoomba in the heart of Queensland’s Darling Downs food bowl, where a decision by the Wagners — a prominent local construction family and regular BRW Rich Listers — to put their money where their mouths are has opened up a whole new market for farmers. Opened in 2013, Wellcamp (officially Brisbane West Wellcamp, despite being 150km from Brisbane’s CBD) is Australia’s first privately funded major airport and the biggest airport development in the nation since Melbourne’s Tullamarine was completed in 1970. It comes complete with an 8000 square metre terminal and a 2.98km runway capable of handling 747 jumbo jets. In just over two years, it has grown to include 68 passenger flights a week, to five destinations, and has capitalised on its location on the Darling Downs (home to a quarter of Queensland’s agricultural output) by freighting more than 60 tonnes of local fresh produce direct to Hong Kong on a scheduled weekly flight. And that, Wagner says, is just the tip of the iceberg. He envisions the airport processing one million passengers annually within five years and hosting daily or twice daily freight flights, opening up exciting opportunities for farmers to market their produce to lucrative Asian markets in light of recent free-trade agreements with China, Korea and Japan.

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Come fly with me: Wagner chairman John Wagner at Wellcamp Airport, Toowoomba. “I’m an eternal optimist but we’re going to have to create the market,” Wagner says. “Because the infrastructure is here and at their disposal, farmers can now see the bigger picture. “It is really about them looking outside the square and getting out of their comfort zones, and taking advantage of it.” Wagner says the idea for the airport came about at the start of this decade when the family experienced problems attracting national and international tenants to its planned business park, adjacent to the airport site, due to “connectivity” issues. “(Potential tenants) kept saying to us ‘How do you get there?’ and we’d say ‘You’ve got to get the Greyhound bus up (from Brisbane)’,” Wagner says. “It really made us think that we had to do something. We needed an airport and what Toowoomba had was only a little airport that could handle small planes.” Wagner says the family was confident Toowoomba — Australia’s second-biggest inland city with more than 110,000 residents, a major centre for health and education and a gateway to the oil and gas fields of the Bowen, Surat and Cooper basins — had the capacity to support such a venture from a passenger perspective. Furthermore, its potential as an export hub was significant given its location in the middle of the Darling Downs, which according to Wagner, is “one of the biggest agriculturally producing regions in the country” — that boasts horticulture, viticulture, dairy and “the biggest concentration of feedlot cattle in the southern hemisphere”. In April 2012, the Wagners agreed to proceed with the project on a 5000ha farm they had owned since the 1980s. They presented their application to the local council two months later. By December they had received approval and work started on the airport in early 2013. “And it was built in 19 months and 11 days,” Wagner boasts proudly. This was in no small part helped by the Wagners employing their own workers (creating 350 jobs), and sourcing all product for construction — “the quarry materials, the concrete aggregates, the asphalt aggregates” — from quarries on the property and made on site.

16 “We kept about 350,000 trucks off the road, we could work 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we didn’t have any issues like contractual disputes because there were no contracts,” Wagner said. “That really allowed us to fast-track the construction. And, of course, because we built it ourselves, everything was done at cost.” Wagner piloted the first plane to land at Wellcamp in November 2013, a year before the family’s dream for passenger flights from Toowoomba became a reality when Qantas began a regular service to Sydney. Regional Express added Wellcamp to its seven-hour western route, from Brisbane to Mt Isa via Charleville, Quilpie, Windorah, Birdsville, Bedourie and Boulia, at the start of 2015. Flights from carrier Airnorth to and Melbourne began in March last year with services kicking off in November. Wellcamp hosted its first international flight last October when a chartered passenger plane carrying 250 local businesspeople as part of a trade mission departed for Shanghai in China. Ben Lyons, chief executive of Toowoomba-based Food Leaders Australia, described the airport as “catalytic” in regards to “what it has done to confidence to the local business community and the community as a whole. I think Australia had been lacking a bit of entrepreneurial spirit or examples thereof, but this has really taken care of that,” Lyons says. Food Leaders Australia is an arm of the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, a 480-member economic development group that supports export and business development. It has a full-time employee based in Shanghai and, according to Lyons “95 per cent of what she deals with is around food exports, particularly perishables”.

Wellcamp has positioned itself as a major hub for the export of perishable agricultural goods direct to Asia, product that otherwise would have been shipped in passenger jets from Brisbane or on freight planes from Sydney, Wagner says. Cathay Pacific began a 747 weekly freight service to Hong Kong last November. The plane originates in Melbourne and allows room for 60-70 tonnes of goods, including chilled and frozen beef, nuts, mangoes, chicken and lettuce, to be collected at Wellcamp en route. Wagner says it was not just a case of getting local product to market quicker (a direct flight from Toowoomba to Hong Kong takes about eight hours) adding “it’s also money, it’s efficiency, it’s easier doing business — it is big picture and it’s a long-term play”. He says it’s not about targeting one particular market, such as Hong Kong — where prices for meat are often more than double those in Australia and per capita consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables is thought to be among the highest in the world — but “Asia as a whole”. Lyons, a former deputy chairman of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, says the airport and regular flights to Hong Kong have come at the right time for the region’s farmers, with recent free- trade agreements opening up significant opportunities not seen before.

17 “I think if it was built any earlier it might have struggled … without FTAs and without the recent China (boom) of the past five to 10 years,” Lyons said. “The beauty of an infrastructure player like this is that it brings that Asian consumer much closer to production. “We’re in a once-in-100-year change in the paradigm of agriculture, and food exports particularly. You’ve got a multitude of platforms in places like China to buy this stuff and you’re going to see a multitude of providers to those platforms.” Australian farmers have been quick to capitalise on the China-Australia free-trade agreement, signed in 2015, with dairy one of the biggest winners. In the first nine months of last year, exports of infant formula to China alone were valued at $233 million — more than quadrupling the $53.2 million achieved in the corresponding period in 2015. Similarly, milk powder sales more than doubled to $155 million while the value of table grapes, cherries and oranges rose 560 per cent, 130 per cent and 55 per cent respectively. Under ChAFTA, most tariffs on fruit, vegetables and nuts will be removed by 2019, on beef products by 2024 and on dairy products by 2026. Lyons says the diversity of food grown around Toowoomba and the Darling Downs stands the freight side of the airport’s business in good stead for growth. As well as fruit and vegetables “you’ve got 97 feedlots between Toowoomba and Roma”. “There are four China-accredited processors within an hour of that airport — that is the only airport in the world that has that,” he said. On the dairy front, construction of a $35 million infant milk formula factory will begin at the Wellcamp Business Park, adjacent to the airport, next month. Incorporating a local dairy farm, the factory will have the capacity to produce 30 million tins of milk powder a year to be exported to China. Wagner says stage two of the project, which will start construction next April, involves the export of fresh milk “that will need to be flown out of here daily” on two 747s. But it appears Queensland farmers will not be the only players to benefit from the airport, with the Wagners signing a memorandum of understanding with the Deniliquin Airport in southern NSW last year. Under the agreement, freight will be flown out of an upgraded Deniliquin airport to Wellcamp, and then on to Asia. Deniliquin real estate agent and Edward River Council administrator Ashley Hall describes Wellcamp as a “visionary project” and “one of Australia’s greatest aviation success stories”. “It has given Toowoomba’s economy a huge economic boost and the possibilities that are presented through our association have the potential to also provide our economy with a multi-million-dollar annual injection,” Mr Hall said. Wagner says he is currently in discussions with “a few” other regional airports looking at entering similar arrangements.

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Looking ahead, Wagner says he would like to see passenger flights from Wellcamp expand to “the eastern states, maybe , Mackay, , and some of those bigger centres in regional NSW, as the demand grows”. Given time — with 344,000 people in the airport’s catchment, which stretches from the west of Brisbane to Roma, south to Goondiwindi and north to — he envisages regular direct overseas flights, adding that one of the attractions about Wellcamp is its curfew-free status which means flights can come and go at any time of day and night. Airport curfews are enforced at Sydney, Adelaide, Coolangatta and Essendon airports between 11pm and 6am due to their close proximity to homes. In the meantime, “we will keep building here and investing”. The Wagners also want to potentially open up the airport for the growing number of livestock being shipped out of Australia by air. “For us it started as a property play and now it’s a property play and a real operational business and we’re very happy with the way it’s going,” Wagner says. “It’s just softly, softly. We’ve got to make sure that whatever we do is sustainable.”

Source: Published in The Weekly Times by James Wagstaff; 23rd March 2017

19 The airport is well positioned as a major economic driver for the Toowoomba and Surat Basin regions, contributing livability, economic opportunity and cementing the region as a Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport trade and logistics hub.

Qantaslink operates 30 flights between The combination of passenger business Sydney and WTB weekly and provides growth and the opportunities created by Brisbane West Wellcamp passengers with global connectivity to the cargo connection out of WTB continue Airport (WTB) located over 180 destinations via the Qantas to encourage regional economic growth in Toowoomba provides Emirates affiliate network. Airnorth and significant investor interest both operates over 20 direct services across nationally and internationally. interstate, intrastate and three destinations: Melbourne, Cairns international connectivity for and Townsville. WTB also provides Immediately adjacent to the airport and connectivity to Western and North aviation precinct is the Wellcamp Business the Darling Downs, Granite through services Park. This 500 hectare land estate is Belt, Surat Basin and Southern provided by Regional Express, which links being developed into a modern business park which will become the commerce Downs regions. Now with rural communities such as Charleville, St George, Mt Isa and Birdsville. and industry hub of Toowoomba and over 70 weekly passenger regional south east Queensland. flights and an international Cathay Pacific operate a weekly freighter service from WTB to Hong Kong, With a resource industry, manufacturing, freighter service, Wellcamp supporting WTB’s ambition to become transport and aviation focus, Wellcamp Business Park is already creating interest Airport provides access and Australia’s Newest Air Cargo Hub. The Tuesday evening service connects from industry around Australia and opportunities for communities local exporters directly to Hong Kong, internationally. Wellcamp Business Park across Southern Queensland, and via Hong Kong, to Cathay Pacific’s will be a destination, in its own right, with wide landscaped streets, parklands improving the livability of global cargo network. Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport looks forward to and first class presentation of buildings, the region, and facilitating supporting Australian exporters to access all leading to a modern regional airport investment, business and opportunities created through the China terminal. This combined with the ideal Australia Free Trade Agreement and location for road and airfreight makes trade opportunities. various other trade agreements and Wellcamp Business Park the premier relationships around the world. business address outside of Brisbane.

Explore Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport here tsbe.com.au WTB’s aviation infrastructure includes:

No curfew International flight Uncontrolled airspace handling capabilities and border agency support

Ground handling teams and extensive GSE to Licensed cargo terminal suit both passenger (licensed for perishables and freighter aircraft handling also)

Aviation fire fighting services available on request

Under-wing and over-wing 36,000m2 apron refueling, including JetA1 and Avgas. 200,000L fuel farm A 2.87km long 40m wide code 4E runway

Freighter ground handling services and cargo terminal operations through Menzies Aviation

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Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport Grand Central Shopping Centre Grand Central Shopping Centre is a retail shopping centre in Toowoomba. It is owned by the Queensland Investment Corporation and it is the largest shopping centre in the Darling Downs.

Below: before and after Grand Central’s expansion

20 Our vision is to create a magnetic destination for the community that embodies the pride, tradition, culture and opportunity of Toowoomba Grand Central Redevelopment and the Darling Downs region and will complement the existing dynamic retail offer.

The Grand Central site will grow from – Managing Director 46,000m2 to an unrivalled 90,000m2 of QIC GRE, Steven Leigh QIC’s $500 million redevelopment in the Toowoomba CBD.

redevelopment of QIC owned a half stake in Grand Central Grand Central has redefined during its development in 1994. In 1996, The initial stage of the development was QIC bought out partner Coles brought forward in time for the busy the retail sector in the Group to own the centre outright. end of year trading period and opened Toowoomba CBD, adding in September 2016, incorporating a QIC then bought Gardentown Shopping primarily fashion-focused offering with up to another 160 specialty Centre for $30 million in 2009, an about 40 stores. retailers to the centre. investment that represented the firm’s long-term confidence in the region. The two-level retail galleria extends The redevelopment, which In May 2013 Toowoomba Regional over Dent Street, the railway line, councillors approved the redevelopment, West Creek, and Street. commenced in November making it Toowoomba’s biggest The shared vision for the development development proposal in 30 years. QIC 2014, demonstrates the will be realised in 2017 when QIC unveils and TRC worked to develop the shared further stages during the year. The next growth of Toowoomba as vision for Grand Central in line with significant portion of the development is an important regional city. council’s City Centre Master Plan. expected to open prior to Easter. The staged development Grand Central is the first commercial The redevelopment is designed development extending over a rail line in is being progressively to reduce the loss of local retail Queensland since 1983. unveiled throughout 2017. expenditure as shoppers travel to Probuild secured the tender for Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the the redevelopment. Gold Coast.

Explore Grand Central tsbe.com.au Region benefits An additional To power the redevelopment and other nearby sites, the Toowoomba 1500 1000 2000 central substation received a jobs created during the local retail and car parks in the construction phase hospitality jobs CBD, with a total created to service the new stores and centre mUPGRADE 4000 $28 in the centre on completion

 Partnership with TAFE Queensland South West to provide subsidised practical, industry-relevant retail and hospitality training in the Toowoomba region, representing a significant investment in skilling local residents to boost their employment prospects – whether that be at Grand Central or at another retail or hospitality business in Toowoomba.

tsbe.com.au 1702017

Grand Central Redevelopment Toowoomba Enterprise Hub Toowoomba now houses one of the most significant transport, logistics and business hubs to be seen in Australia: The Toowoomba Enterprise Hub

21 The TEH is now a well- established and performing location and has gone from strength to strength following Toowoomba Enterprise Hub the collective investment of over $350m by the three major stakeholders and the The site has three major stakeholders: State and Local Governments. Wagners’ Brisbane West Wellcamp The Toowoomba Enterprise Airport and Wellcamp Business Park, Hub (TEH) is one of the most FKG Group’s Witmack Industry Park and Charlton Logistics Park and Freight significant transport, logistics Terminals Pty Ltd’s InterLinkSQ. and business hubs in Australia, Brisbane West Wellcamp Business Park offering the synergy of a Wellcamp Airport central location encompassing This 500 hectare industrial and Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport commercial estate surrounds an internationally capable located in Toowoomba provides Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport airport and a major freight interstate, intrastate and international and is fast becoming the commerce and industry hub of Toowoomba and facility with more than connectivity for the Darling Downs, , Surat Basin and regional south east Queensland. 2000 hectares of industrial Southern Downs regions. Wellcamp Business Park offers land at the western outskirts Now with over 70 domestic passenger unparalleled access to world 1 class road and air transport of Toowoomba. flights, through 3 airlines and an infrastructure, providing a range international freighter service, of opportunities to a variety of Wellcamp Airport provides access businesses and industries. This gateway position enhances and opportunities for communities, the trade role of the Toowoomba businesses and organisations Its location combined with economy and the region’s agricultural across Southern Queensland, landscaped streets and exceptional and resource sectors are likely to improving the livability of the region, connectivity makes Wellcamp benefit from this growing freight and facilitating investment and Business Park the premier business and logistics role. business opportunities. address outside of Brisbane.

Find out more about Toowoomba Enterprise Hub projects tsbe.com.au 2. 1. Toowoomba Enterprise Hubhttp://www.toowoombaenterprisehub.com.au/ early 2017. Construction commenced onStage 1in $1.075 billionintheoperational phase. the construction phaseandafurther to theQueenslandeconomy through are expected to contribute $110million Centre andInterLink Industrial Park, including theInterLink Global Industrial The completed InterLinkSQ project, Industrial Park to theLogistics Centre). internal Type 2road train access from the Global Logistics Centre (including accessible andadjoiningtheInterLink and industrial estate, fully road-train master-planned, logistics, warehousing The InterLink Industrial Park isa to improve supply chainefficiency. options includingrail, road, sea andair intermodal terminal offering transport Inland RailRoute) andanopen access RailLine(thepreferred features a3kmfrontage ontheexisting The InterLink Global Logistics Centre configurations upto 36.5mlong. Type 1road trains includingB-triple access from theWarrego Highwayfor train network andwillprovide asofright at theeastern extent oftheType 1road efficiencies. InterLinkSQ ispositioned to maximise freight and supply chain cost and logistics centre, strategically located InterLinkSQ isanintermodal transport InterLinkSQ Toowoomba Enterprise Hub regions/regional-capitals-fund/1298-toowoomba-enterprise-hub-stimulus-project DepartmentofState Development https://www.s tatedevelopment.qld.gov.au/index.php/regional-development/regional-economic-development/building-our- with top soilremoved, fully serviced 2 to 5hectares. Thesites are levelled, size industrial land parcels from land developments andoffers large Toowoomba’s largest industrial Logistics Park –WIPisoneof Witmack Industry Park andCharlton Witmack Industry Park transport andlogistics operators. Range Crossing, CLPiswell suited for combined witheasyaccess to theSecond Due to itsWarrego Highway location hectare sites attheheartofTEH. and provides level andfully serviced 2 is themost recent additionto theTEH Charlton Logistics Park (CLP)–CLP 300 data racks. first stage ofthecentre willcomprise connectivity resilience. The$20million secure data storage andahighlevel of and research facilities thatrely on the site to potentially attract innovation a modernTechnology Park adjacent to The centre provides theopportunityfor systems to TierIIIclassification. energy connections andbackup sophisticated cooling, securityand be highly scalable andprovide The development isdesignedto construction ona4haindustrial site. Centre thathasbeenapproved for $100 millionToowoomba PulseData One business situated inWIPisthe and available for occupation.

$6,779,700 project. Infrastructure EnablingProject worth provided $1million for theSteger Road $9.225 million.Thecompany hasalso Network EnablingProject worth $225,000 towards theSewerage Freight Terminals hasalsoprovided about 30jobs. completed byDecember 2017andcreate project construction isexpected to be Terminals PtyLtd(InterlinkSQ). of industry funding through Freight $5.4 millionthrough TRCand$500,000 Building OurRegionswithanaddition in State Government fundingthrough Stimulus Project received $4.5million The Toowoomba Enterprise Hub Funding a fulllinetruckstop andtravel centre. BP Toowoomba Westbound Truckstop, The first stage oftheCLPwas tsbe.com.au 2 The The

1702093 Toowoomba Railway Parklands Priority Development Area On 28 January 2016, the Toowoomba Railway Parklands PDA development scheme was approved by the .

1. Toowoomba North State School 2. Village Fiare Shopping Centre 3. Grand Central Shopping Centre 4. Toowoomba Railway Station 5. 6. Defiance Flour Mill 7. Willowburn Oval 8. Queens Park

22 The PDA is expected to Image supplied by Toowoomba Regional Council deliver 1200–1500 new dwellings worth $680 million and support an estimated 3000 jobs Toowoomba Railway Parklands over 20 years. Priority Development Area

Initially the Ruthven Street Streetscape In January 2016 the Toowoomba Railway redesign (almost $5 million) will be Parklands PDA development scheme The northern end of completed in early 2017 and will extend was approved by the Queensland the look and feel of the northern CBD Government. Toowoomba Regional Toowoomba’s CBD has with additional landscaping, parking and Council will manage the planning and improved footpaths. The award-winning development assessment of the site in recently seen significant Outer Circulating Road Project build line with the City Centre Master Plan. extending Victoria Street ($50 million) redevelopment, bolstered The development scheme includes a now also allows traffic to bypass the land use plan, an infrastructure plan by Toowoomba Regional CBD via a bridge. and implementation strategy in line with Council’s vision for The next major redevelopment for the Economic Development Act 2012. revitalization of heritage the area is the Toowoomba Railway The PDA covers a total area of Parklands, a site given Priority 51.3 hectares bordered by Russell sites to re-open them Development Area (PDA) status in Street, Ruthven Street, Mort Street and December 2014 at the request of to residents. Bridge Street. The site will embrace its Toowoomba Regional Council. geographic location to create industrial, heritage, residential choices and valuable The site is a key urban renewal and urban parklands through efficiently economic development opportunity and connected movement corridors providing is designed as an active, high quality unique civic and social functions.1 mixed density urban village to reinforce and frame the CBD. It will create strong Recently, $5 million from the appeal for residents, visitors, workers Queensland Government’s ‘Building Our and investors. Regions’ program was matched with

Watch the 3D fly-through here tsbe.com.au Image suppliedbyToowoomba RegionalCouncil Sources: in Mayandbecompleted byMay2018. create 31jobswith construction to begin commercial andcultural interests. Itwill a first-class flexible space to attract Railway GoodsShedtransformed into old unusedheritage-listed Toowoomba The $10millionwillseethe120-year- Railway Parklands development. Regional Councilfor Stage 1ofthe a further$5millionfrom Toowoomba Toowoomba Railway Parklands Priority Development Area PDA include: Other key segmentswithinthe others areas ofthePDA. with bridgeinfrastructure linkingto incorporating open spaces and recreation regionally significant community asset railyards site transformed into a the PDA, which willseetheformer Railway Parkland component within first stage ofthebroader $50million The GoodsShedrefurbishment isthe Artist impression -MillsPrecinct

2. 1. economic-development/building-our-regions/regional-capitals-fund/1296-toowoomba-railway-goods-shed-,repair Department ofStat planning-building/planning-development/planning-scheme-old/11022-toowoomba-railway-parklands Too woomba Railway Parklands PriorityDevelopment Area Development Scheme,2016http://www.tr.qld.gov.au/ e Development, 2016http://statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/index.php/regional-development/regional- 2

entertainment hub. to evolve asabusiness, cultural and to therailway station withpotential Includes properties inclose proximity The Rise commercial usage. as mediumdensityresidential and remediated andready for redevelopment Old industrial site recently fully The Gasworks that linksthePDA to theCBD. Residential, business andretail usage The Link level retail andcommercial use. medium densityresidential withground site isplanned to beredeveloped into operated from 1899until2011.The The historic Defiance Flour Millthat The Mill Image suppliedbyToowoomba RegionalCouncil in retail andprofessional services. attract development andnew business grow housingmarkets inthearea and The PDA willcreate jobsinconstruction, events aswell asanurbanparkland. for multi-functionuseandcommunity It willalsoprovide revitalised heritage-sites over thenext 20years. increase bymore than50,000people expanding population,projected to housing optionsfor Toowoomba’s will provide sought after inner-city Once completed, theRailway Parklands surrounding community. importantly actasaconnection to the ground level retail andcommercial and developed as medium density residential, Metal Technologies, plannedto be Toowoomba Foundry andToowoomba Heritage listed buildingformerly the The Foundry [email protected] Council on131872or Toowoomba Regional the PDA please contact For anyenquiriesabout tsbe.com.au

1702089 In the News

23 Hospitals, council, TSBE work to strengthen health sector

WORKING TOGETHER: Signing the MOU are (from left) Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network commissioning general manager Peter Lacey, St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba CEO Ms Kathryn McKeefry, Mayor Paul Antonio, Darling Downs Health Service Chief Executive Dr Peter Gillies, St Andrew's Toowoomba CEO Ray Fairweather and TSBE executive chairman Shane Charles.

SEVERAL signatures marked a new and exciting beginning for Toowoomba's health sector. Toowoomba Hospital, St Vincent's Private Hospital and St Andrew's Hospital today officially partnered with Toowoomba Regional Council and Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise under a Health Industry Partnership Memorandum of Understanding. The city's three major hospitals will expand their state-of-the-art centres, collectively spending about $65 million. The agreement states that all parties agree to work co-operatively to promote and strengthen the health- care sector in Toowoomba. St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba CEO Ms Kathryn McKeefry described the hospitals as "trailblazers". "We're doing this because although we agree to stick to our own individual light, to attract good conditions and good services and to expand services, it's too difficult in a regional area to try and do that as a stand- alone entity. “But between the three of us, we have nearly 1000 beds, a massive amount of employment and we can offer opportunities between public and private, education and offer extended pieces to our other areas as well." Mayor Paul Antonio said Toowoomba's position as a regional health leader was well known. "I think it's quite unique and a clear indication of the importance of health in the economy," he said. "We are a centre of excellence in health and this is about building on that. This is just simply a MOU which is legally non-binding. There's no financial commitment been made by anyone - it's simply a commitment to work together to build the health industry in our region." TSBE executive chairman Shane Charles said the health sector continued to be a major area of business growth and was the region's largest employer with 10,743 people working in health over 2014/15. "We will be working together to not only to promote Toowoomba as a centre of excellence for health, and improve awareness of the extensive capability that exists, but also to attract the best and brightest health professionals to relocate here," he said.

Published in The Chronicle by Charlotte Lam, 8th Jun 2017

24 400M AgTech Investment Forum 2017

The 400M AgTech Investment Forum was held in Toowoomba on 18th May 2017. It was organised by Food Leaders Australia, an initiative of TSBE.

About the Forum 400M is based on the reality that we have a finite arable land resource of 400 million hectares. 400M is held in Toowoomba, the heart of the Darling Downs and the centre of the largest Agricultural producing region in Australia. The region is one of the largest beef value adding and production regions in the world, has significant broad acre cropping to the west from Dalby to Roma, stone fruit, vineyards and apple production to the south at Stanthorpe, large citrus growers to the north in the Burnett and some of Australia’s largest horticulture companies in the Lockyer Valley to the east. With such a large production base the region has always had a strong culture in innovation and technology. Local AgTech companies that are part of the AgTech fabric in our region include the well established Farmscan Ag, AgBitech, Ag DNA, and AgDATA. The region has a history in AgTech with one of Australia’s leading agriculture research institutions in the University of Southern Queensland being located here. Recently opened Brisbane West Wellcamp airport has direct daily flights with QANTAS and AirNorth to Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, and Townsville; and a weekly 747 freight flight to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific.

25 Mayor backs Toowoomba passenger rail line proposal

A PASSENGER rail linking Toowoomba to Brisbane as part of the build would push the project along and resolve future planning issues, but priority should remain on the freight system. It's a view of Toowoomba civic and business leaders in response to overwhelming support for plans called for by public transport advocate Robert Dow at the weekend. Mr Dow said the Federal Government's $8.4 billion equity injection for Inland Rail would open up the passenger rail option. "The travel time efficiency savings flowing from the track improvements will make rail highly competitive with cars for the journey from Toowoomba to Brisbane," he said. Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said the Inland Rail funding presented the "opportunity for us to do something, not only for freight", and discussions had been held with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council and South East Queensland Council of Mayors. "We think it's time to advocate for a proper connection, time to advocate for a proper rail line," Cr Antonio said. "It's very idealistic and the Council of South East Queensland Mayors is backing a study into it." The passenger line, he said, would benefit the Toowoomba and wider Lockyer Valley area with increased tourism access. "Toowoomba could then become the Blue Mountains of Queensland," he said. Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise executive chairman Shane Charles said plans for a passenger rail line should be included in the region's development list, but focus and priority must be given to major projects including the bypass and Inland Rail. "Our region has received funding from both state and federal governments over recent times which is far in excess of what other regions have achieved," he said. "An effective passenger rail network connecting to Brisbane would be fantastic and we love the idea of it. "Indeed we, and community leaders, have spoken about it for some time. The reality is that passenger rail is a very hard piece of infrastructure to convince a government to build. "Our view is that it should be on our wish list but lets get the Range bypass finished, and Inland Rail built and then we potentially have some of the infrastructure that will position us better for passenger rail."

Source: Published in The Chronicle by Tara Miko, 16th May 2017

26 JOBS: $35 million factory wins council approval

An artist's impression of the Toowoomba Integrated Milk Project. A $35 million factory planned for Toowoomba has been approved by council, paving the way for construction work to begin. The Toowoomba Integrated Milk Project is a joint venture between Au Lait Australia and Nature One Dairy. It's expected the project will create hundreds of jobs throughout the region. The plant will be constructed on land on International Dr, in the Wellcamp Business Park and directly across from Wellcamp airport.

The Toowoomba Integrated Milk Project will be built in the Wellcamp Business Park.

27 Managing director Steve Laracy said construction work could start as soon as February 2017. The first stage, approved by Toowoomba Regional Council yesterday, is for a $35 million infant formula manufacturing facility with a capacity of 30 million tins a year The second stage will process ultra-high-temperature milk, fresh milk, milk powder and other products for domestic and international markets. Mr Laracy said a funding process for the second stage could be completed within the next several weeks. Once that is complete a further development application will be lodged with council early next year. The company will also be seeking to establish a dairy farm in Texas to supply the factory. Mr Laracy said the company was not seeking to import milk from Victoria, but rather source its milk locally. He said there would be 100 direct employees at the factory and more at the dairy, slated as a barn-style farm rather than open pasture. The director said China was an obvious market, particularly for the infant formula, but he's also targeting south-east Asian countries like Vietnam and Indonesia. Inquiries have been made from as far afield as the Middle East and Panama. Mr Laracy, who just returned from the AccessChina'16 delegation to Shanghai, said Australia was seen a "safe food haven". "The clean, green factor is very real," he said.

Source: The Chronicle by Andrew Backhouse, 18th November 2016

28 Education

29 Education Toowoomba has been famous for its high quality schools since the first was built here over 150 years ago. It is a major education centre. With 32 primary schools, 18 secondary schools, the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE and a University of Southern Queensland (USQ) campus, education is one of Toowoomba’s greatest assets where one-third of the population is engaged in formal education “The garden city is ideally suited to adopt the profile as an education hub with its beautiful environment, quality lifestyle and plenty of room to expand for families and businesses. Toowoomba the is perfect for students. Source: realestate.com.au, Minister for Education, Training & Employment The Honourable John-Paul Langbroek, August 2012

USQ main campus is located in Southern Queensland Institute Toowoomba. of TAFE is the largest provider There are over 4000 students of vocational education and enrolled at the Toowoomba training in Toowoomba. In addition to the government- campus studying in the areas of run TAFE, there are a number Business, Communication, Creative of private providers offering Arts, Health, Humanities, Education, vocational courses to Engineering and Spatial Science, international students. Source: studyqueensland.qld.edu.au Information Technology, Law and Sciences.

Source: usq.edu.au

30 Photo: University of Southern Queensland Education Sector

The education sector in Toowoomba Region encompasses 86 primary and secondary schools, including 8 boarding schools. The Toowoomba Region is known as an education The 86 schools in the Toowoomba Region capital, with thriving primary, currently are made up of: 15 secondary and tertiary campuses as well as a wide range of education public primary schools 13 support services. private primary schools Education and Training plays public secondary 51 an important role for the wider schools private secondary 7 region and is a major employer schools in Toowoomba Region with around 8,075 jobs in 2014/15. Compared to Queensland, In 2017, Wilsonton State High School Queensland and TAFE Queensland was formed, becoming a school in its it has relatively high share South West. In 2014/15, the tertiary own right, after breaking away from education sector generated around in primary, secondary and the Toowoomba State High School $65 million of international exports, 1 – Mt Lofty campus. tertiary education. highlighting the increasing importance In tertiary education, Toowoomba of international education in the offers The University of Southern Toowoomba Region economy.1

For a list of schools in the region, explore TSBE’s Live Magazine

1. .id report for Toowoomba Regional Council, 2017 tsbe.com.au 1,800 More than different countries from Employs nearly USQ: in Australia for graduates infull-time Rated asthenumber oneuniversity both domestically andinternationally. across amultitudeofprograms offered enrolment ofnearly 30,000students 100,000 students and hasacurrent The University hasgraduated more than providing education worldwide. teaching andresearch institution become aprominent multi-campus In less thanfiftyyears USQhas programs inAustralia. and online(distance) education leading providers of on-campus reputation asone ofAustralia’s Queensland (USQ)hasforged a (USQ) TheUniversity ofSouthern The University ofSouthernQueensland Tertiary Education Education Sector 2. www.usq.edu.au 3.www.tafesouthwest.edu.au 66 100 people Photo: Tafe QueenslandSouthWest different languagesare spoken bythestudent population courses visitwww.usq.edu.au More information onenrolments and integrity andexcellence. along withthevalues ofrespect, education, research andenterprise it continues to focus on thepillars of welcome graduates ofthefuture as study. TheUniversity continues to empowering USQstudents through students for generations to come; inspire transformation inthelives of USQ’s purposeisto continue to for onlinestudy. in thetop three universities inAustralia online experience, andare even ranked committed to providing anunmatched other Australian universities. USQis in theirfirst jobcompared to most finding work quicker andearningmore rates USQgraduates amongthose employment, Government data also population are of thestudent international representing nationalities more than 17% students different 120 2

www.tafesouthwest.edu.au For more information please and furtherqualification levels. certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, a broad range ofstudy optionsacross TAFE QueenslandSouthWest offering Australia andrespected worldwide, with Qualifications are recognised across training andblended delivery. methods, aswell asthrough workplace classroom, distance andonline of modesincludingtraditional Training isoffered through avariety practices andprepare graduates for work. programs alignwith latest industry in consultation withemployers to ensure TAFE Queenslandcourses are designed across 500program areas eachyear. relevant-training to over 180,000 students Queensland providing practical, industry vocational education andtraining in and most experienced providers of Queensland network; oneofthelargest of sixregions thatmake uptheTAFE TAFE QueenslandSouthWest isone TAFE QueenslandSouthWest call 1300

914 Photo: TAFE QueenslandSouthWest

754 orvisit tsbe

.com.au 3

1705024 Entertainment & Tourism

31 Attractions

The heritage-listed Woolshed at Jondaryan is the oldest and largest operating Woolshed of its kind in the world with over 150 years of history. The Toowoomba Region is the perfect getaway to relax, enjoy the fresh air and savour the history of the region. There are many historic buildings with a story to tell within Toowoomba’s boundaries such as the Jondaryan Woolshed, and numerous natural attractions including stunning parks and country areas.

Cobb & Co Museum Cobb and Co operated stagecoaches in the late 19th century. Part of the , the Cobb & Co Museum is home to the National Carriage Collection which features nearly 50 horse-drawn vehicles and galleries noting the natural and cultural history of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs. From blacksmithing and silversmithing to leadlighting and millinery, there is much to see at the museum.

Crows Nest Falls Crows Nest National Park is home to Crows Nest Falls which plummets 25 metres. Beyond Crows Nest Falls Lookout, lies Koonin Lookout. Here, you will find a spectacular view over a deep gorge known locally as the Valley of Diamonds.

Newtown Park State Rose Garden The State Rose Garden in Newtown Park has more than 1500 roses. The rosarium is being continually upgraded as a living memorial to the people of the city. Of special interest to historians is the Entrance Pavilion where the history of the park, the roses and its people (since 1912) is displayed on brass plaques in an artistic and easy-to-read form.

32

Japanese Garden One of the most beautiful parks in Toowoomba is the university's - Australia's largest traditionally designed Japanese stroll garden. Opened in 1989, it comprises 3km of paths, 230 species of Japanese and Australian native trees and plants, and beautifully landscaped lawns. About 2500 azaleas are planted as a representation of hillsides in Japan where azaleas grow wild. The red bridges, the Central Lake, a waterfall and ducks compliment this stunning garden.

Bunnyconnellen Bunnyconnellen ("convivial pleasures") is a niche gourmet food emporium which has won a total of 29 medals at the prestigious Sydney Royal Fine Food Competition since 2006. Bunnyconnellen produces premium quality extra virgin olive oil, table olives, olive related products, fine and other gourmet foods, plus they have a cellar door. Wander among the vines and olive trees and enjoy the abundance of flora and fauna found on the 252 acre property.

Empire Theatre Toowoomba's Empire Theatre is a heritage listed art-deco venue that provides a variety of performing arts for every taste. The Empire is Australia's largest regional performing arts complex and stages shows by leading national and international performers as well as showcasing a wealth of local talent. Whether it is popular music, ballet, comedy or any live performance, the lavish art-deco venue makes for a memorable experience. The theatre also offers historical tours.

Source: courier mail March 2012, Toowoomba Regional Council and Jondaryan Woolshed

33 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

It was Toowoomba's status as the "Garden City" which inspired Essex Tait to suggest the city hold an annual carnival in order to help promote business within the city. The event first premiered in the Spring of 1950 and was such a resounding success that it has been held every year since. It is now the longest running event of its kind in Australia, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is a celebration of flowers as well as food, wine and all things spring! Features include a huge street parade, residential and commercial garden competitions, sideshow alley, free entertainment, the Food and Wine festival and live concerts. The Carnival is held in the last full week of September and the locals love it and visitors travel from all over the country to be part of it. Now in its 68th year the award-winning Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers continues to grow.

Source: Toowoomba Regional Council, toowoomba.org and tcof.com.au

34 Contact Us

Capital Wealth Managers Ph: 1300 559 183 Fax: 1300 858 013 [email protected] www.capitalwealth.net.au

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