Unlocking Our Regional Wealth

2019 WIDE BAY BURNETT Gayndah 2024 Economic Development Strategy Maryborough Cherbourg Gympie The Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils (WBBROC) is a partnership of the six councils of Bundaberg, North Burnett, , Cherbourg, Fraser Coast and Gympie. Covering 48,600 square kilometres, and home to approximately 300,000 people, the Wide Bay Burnett boasts a diverse range of industries.

The region is the largest population base outside of SEQ, with the southern border of the region just a two-hour drive north of . While rich in natural assets and opportunities, the Wide Bay Burnett is currently one of the lowest socio-economic areas in Australia.

This strategy has been developed to provide a roadmap for WBBROC, State and Federal Governments, and Industry. In actioning these strategies, the economic potential of the Wide Bay Burnett region will be unlocked, improving the socio-economic position of our communities, and delivering jobs and economic benefits to . VISION To be a Thriving Regional Economy Bundaberg

Hervey Gayndah Bay

Maryborough PURPOSE Gympie Deliver Increased Regional Wealth Cherbourg

Kingaroy WBBROC ROLE Enabler Enable Business, Government, and Stakeholders to grow the WBBROC economy

REGIONAL CONTEXT

Port of Bundaberg Largest population mass south of Great Barrier Reef allowing outside of SEQ (296,849) for future development High Unemployment 7.62% compared with State Development Area (SDA) located Produces 28% of Qld’s 6.0% for Qld (Mar Quarter 2019) Fruit and Nut Production adjacent to Port of Bundaberg Medium total personal income Vegetable production represents Proximity to Markets 17% of Qld’s production $24,897/year compared with Qld Regional and local airports $34,320/year (2016) Mining & Mineral Resource Potential Available Workforce $100M-$345M per annum (2018-2035) Low GRP growth 2012-2018, (eg. Bauxite, Silica Sand, Ilmenite, Limestone, Universities – CQU (Bundaberg), WBB Region 4.76% Zinc, Nickel, Coal, Cobalt, Copper, Kaolin, University of the Sunshine Coast Regional Qld 12.92% Bentonite, Diatomite) (Gympie & Hervey Bay) Fastest growing Negative Local Industry GRP Health Care and Social Assistance Tourism Industries in Qld -17.63% highest level of employment (16.8% compared with 13.9% for Qld)

Sources: Queensland Regional Profiles: Resident Profile: Wide Bay Burnett region (June 2019) Building The Future Trade Potential of the Wide Bay Burnett (Oct 2018) RDA (Wide Bay Burnett) Economy.id (June 2019)

CURRENT ECONOMIC STATISTICS

QLD, QLD Regional & WBBROC Real Term GRP % Variation - 2012 to 2018

14.00%

12.00%

10.00%

8.00%

6.00%

4.00%

2.00%

0.00%

-2.00% 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Queensland GRP Growth 2012 to 2018 (6 Years) GRP (CUMULATIVE GROWTH, 2012-2018) Wide Bay Burnett GRP Growth 2012 to 2018 (6 Years) Regional Queensland - 12.9% Wide Bay Burnett - 4.8% Regional Queensland GRP Growth 2012 to 2018 (6 Years) Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2018

CURRENT ECONOMIC STATISTICS

WBBROC Real Term Total GRP & Local Industry GRP % Variation - 2012-2017

10.00%

5.00%

0.00% 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

-5.00%

-10.00%

-15.00%

-20.00%

WIDE BAY BURNETT (CUMULATIVE GROWTH 2012-2018) Wide Bay Burnett GRP Growth 2012 to 2018 (6 Years) Wide Bay Burnett Local Industry GRP Growth 2012 to 2018 (6 Years)

Total GRP / 4.8% Local Industry GRP / -17.6% Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2018

CURRENT ECONOMIC STATISTICS

2016 Median Household Income By Region

$1,600

$1,400 $1,392 $1,200 $1,259 Regional Qld $1,000 Qld $970 $936 $936 $800 $910 $922 $925

$600

$400 $371 $200

$- Bundaberg Fraser Gympie North South Cherbourg* Wide Bay Regional Qld Coast Burnett Burnett Burnett Qld

* Cherbourg figures are not included in cumulative 2016 Figures Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2018

• United interagency • Ideally located south of collaboration and support Port of Great Barrier Reef allowing Regional Bundaberg for future growth and • Wide Bay Burnett /State expansion Regional Organisation Partnerships Development of Councils (WBBROC) • State Development Area cooperation Area (SDA) (>6,000 ha) confirms opportunity for future growth adjacent to the Port

• Affordable coastal and rural greenfield land supply • Strategically Affordable located with • Appetite and & Available Competitive Proximity capacity for to Markets emerging future large areas Land Supply connections to of industrial Advantages domestic and (including for international hard-to-locate markets industries)

• Provides enviable work life • Growing businesses based balance to raise & grow a family Lifestyle & Agribusiness on a diverse economy • Most equitable climate in Environment Australia rating 5th in the world alongside Hawaii

Waste & Food & Materials Agribusiness Efficiency

Health Care Future Mining Industries

Advanced Tourism Manufacturing • Wide Bay Burnett is the leader in agricultural Ag-tech technology in Australia, attracting talent and precinct/national investment to the region centre of • Enhanced use of technology & data leverages • Wide Bay Burnett excellence the region’s natural advantage in agriculture grows niche and high value crops, value adding in region to maximise return • New export on investment High Value International markets secured in domestic/ & Niche Crop Market • Agricultural international Opportunities markets Markets storage, transport and Food & treatment facilities funded Agribusiness reducing transportation time and cost

• Wide Bay Burnett’s Leading agricultural potential and Promotion & Australia in • Agricultural sector skill capability enhanced Upskilling agricultural positioned to diversify to meet the future needs Opportunities waste to energy into energy production of the sector production through better use of agricultural waste • Communities welcome, • High quality, validated and benefit deposits attract national from mining and international Investment Social developments investment for Attraction License through development partnership • Project facilitation and investment supports investment in community being secured facilities and projects • Wide Bay Burnett communities are Mining educated on, and supportive of, sustainable mining occurring in region

• Private and public • Local and regional Recognise infrastructure economic significance Mineral Infrastructure supports efficient of industry understood Region and sustainable and supported opportunities • Evidence based analysis determines Research & when regions work together Analysis

• Collaborative • Collaboration marketing delivers greater Marketing Strategic delivers enhanced Partnerships tourism value regional benefits and benefits Tourism

• Infrastructure needs are Access to Infrastructure • Regionally significant prioritized to support & Experience projects funded and tourism opportunities Markets Development delivered • Infrastructure planning is data driven, with • Supply Chain Supply Chain Enabling opportunities opportunities maximised Expansion Infrastructure identified, delivering enhanced prioritized and opportunities for the delivered to sector support economic growth • Infrastructure required to support advanced Advanced manufacturing opportunities is Manufacturing identified and prioritised

• Highly skilled • Advanced manufacturing Key Workforce and innovative sectors promoted and Skills workforce supported Sectors Development secured to meet future needs of the sector • Local/regional stakeholders/ broader community deliver Health & improved health and well being Well Being outcomes

• Grow Your Own workforce opportunities results in fewer • Connected Health secondary and accessible students public and Care leaving the private region infrastructure to meet current Infrastructure/ Workforce • Skill attraction & future health Service Needs Planning & retention demands strategies delivered position region to meet demand • Strategic planning development at an LGA, WBB and QLD Planning & Partnership level is coordinated Partnerships and has an economic focus • Investments to manage waste focus on maximising economic benefit and resource recovery

• Precinct • Waste planning is management captured facilities are Waste & in regional regional, and planning deliver highest Materials documents economic benefit Efficiency • Investment • Waste to Energy attraction and Circular economic infrastructure Regional Economy is an economic Infrastructure development driver, enabling Development strategies are investment informed by an understanding of the waste opportunity • Wide Bay Burnett’s high quality, resilient transport assets deliver freight efficiency and enable Transport economic development, growth and investment • Wide Bay Burnett’s social • Strategic sites and corridors are infrastructure identified, protected and preserved is accessible, through planning instruments adaptable and responsive to demographic change

• Social • Energy and infrastructure Enabling & telecommunications supports infrastructure community Supporting supports the resilience economic growth to natural Infrastructure of the region disasters and climate change, • Upgrades to water mitigating and Social Utilities storage and supply managing risks infrastructure are to the regional evidence based and economy deliver security to support regional economic growth and investment