WHITSUNDAY INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS Introduction from the Mayor The Whitsundays is about lifestyle, opportunity and prosperity. In the heart of tropical Northern Queensland situated sustainable and universally between the major towns of Mackay and Townsville, recognised as the region we boast a nationally and internationally recognised where people want to live, ‘Whitsunday brand’ that has established our region as work, learn and invest. a tourism and boating mecca in the heart of the The future for the Great Barrier Reef. Whitsundays is exciting with The region has economic resilience with the Gross strong investment, business Regional Product of the Whitsunday LGA estimated at and industry opportunities approximately $2.46 billion in 2017. With over $4.7 billion and I invite you to be a part of it. We are inviting in major projects planned or under construction, the region government and commercial proponents to make the is expecting rapid growth over the next 10 years. Whitsundays your global region of choice for investment in our Agricultural, Resource and Tourism industries. Council owns and operates the Whitsunday Coast Airport which is one of the fastest growing regional airports in Major infrastructure developments, commercial, industrial Australia with passenger numbers doubling in the last and tourism investment and expanded community facilities five years. To cater for this incredible growth Council has will provide business opportunities in the Whitsundays invested $40 million in the 2017/18 financial year to ensuring future economic growth and sustainability. improve infrastructure with a runway upgrade and airport This has always been at the core of my agenda as Mayor. terminal expansion. I am Mayor of a proactive Whitsunday Regional Council I invite you to make the move and be a that is committed to attracting investment by ensuring that part of the region’s promising future. this development and growth is supported by strategic I hope to see you here soon! economic and social infrastructure. Council’s vision is to ensure that we create a region that is strong, resilient, Andrew Willcox Port of Airlie Marina, Airlie Beach www.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au Tomato harvesting Proserpine water treatment plant Flagstaff Hill, Bowen Through innovation and growth in a diversity of sustainable industries, the Whitsunday Regional Council area will be a region of choice in which to live, visit, work and invest. WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL COUNCIL 1 WHITSUNDAY INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS Perfectly Placed Region Ports for Growth The Whitsunday region encompasses a total land area of 23,862 square kilometers and includes the major townships of Airlie Beach, Bowen, Cannonvale, Collinsville and Proserpine, with Port of Abbot Point numerous rural and coastal communities and residential areas scattered throughout the area. The Port of Abbot Point is Australia’s most northern coal export The region is home to over 34 thousand people and attracts reputation for its relaxed lifestyle, beautiful island and port and one with remarkable potential for trade growth. 786 thousand visitors each year. Fueled by business mainland beaches, rainforests and large tracts of national In naturally deep water, the port is located 25 kilometres north of Bowen and opportunity and lifestyle advantages, the population has parkland. incorporates the Adani Abbot Point Terminal (AAPT) with a current export capacity of been growing steadily at 1.5% p.a. for the past 16 years. While the region is rural and coastal in its nature, residents 50 million tonnes per annum. The port currently has two operational bulk coal loading berths and two shiploaders Population growth estimates adopted by Council form the and visitors alike enjoy access to contemporary facilities 2.75 km offshore. NQBP own and operate the newly refurbished Marine Offloading Facility (MOF). This infrastructure is a basis of our regional planning, with the “All Growth including museums, art galleries, cafes, hotels and common-user, multi-functional facility and allows for safe and efficient cargo loading and unloading operations. Scenario” circ. 50 thousand people by 2036. restaurants, entertainment facilities and cinemas. As the port authority, North Queensland Bulk Port’s vision for Abbot Point is that it continues to grow as a key strategic The Bruce highway is the major transport corridor running The region has a well established transport hub including coal port and, over time, leverages benefits from the adjoining State Development Area to become a hub for import, from Mackay in the South to Townsville in the North, and the the local government owned and operated Whitsunday processing, manufacturing and export activities of other industries of regional, state and national significance. region is less than 2 hours by air from the Queensland state Coast Airport located 10 minutes’ drive from the rural centre of Proserpine, and a number of smaller aerodromes capital of Brisbane. in Bowen, Collinsville and Mt Coolon. Privately owned The Whitsundays boast a successful and established airports are located on Hamilton Island and at Shute tourism industry, with an internationally renowned Harbour. Whitsunday Coast Airport Whitsunday Coast Airport (WCA) is centrally located within the Great Barrier Reef Whitsunday region of Queensland. WCA is primarily used by To Townsville Abbot Point tourists visiting the region but does also serve as a hub for Bowen industries such as coal within the Bowen basin and agriculture. NORTHERN Hayman Is Whitsunday Islands TERRITORY Whitsundays Airlie Beach Whitehaven Beach There are three airlines operating at WCA (Virgin, Tiger and Jetstar) with direct flights to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. QUEENSLAND Daydream Is The runway was recently upgraded with a $25M reseal project and the terminal is currently being expanded with $15M of Shute Harbour Hamilton Is Long Island works to be completed by early 2019. Proserpine Collinsville The airport has experienced enormous passenger growth over the past three years with close to 500,000 passengers now WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA Galilee using the facilities. The next stages of growth are focused on increasing inbound international visitors with the potential of Basin Bowen Basin direct international services occurring in the medium term. The location of the airport to rail and major road NEW SOUTH WALES networks make it well suited for the location of a major freight/trading centre. To Mackay VICTORIA BOWEN – TOWNSVILLE = 200KM BOWEN – COLLINSVILLE = 82KM PROSERPINE – BOWEN = 75KM TASMANIA PROSERPINE – MACKAY = 125KM AIRLIE BEACH – PROSERPINE 25KM The Whitsunday region is a diverse and sustainable region underpinned by three major industries of Agriculture, Mining and Tourism. These markets are well serviced from this ideal location, just 20 sailing days to major markets in China and 23 days to India. WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL COUNCIL 2 3 Whitsunday INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS Key Figures Economy As the gateway to the world renowned Great Barrier Reef and the magnificent 74 Whitsunday Islands, the Whitsunday region has one of the fastest growing populations in Queensland. Boasting a strong and diverse economy driven by the tourism, region, connection with international markets and investment agriculture and mining industries, the Whitsunday region opportunities. has the potential to become the economic powerhouse of North Queensland. The Whitsunday Regional Council Economic Development Population of GRP of Area Strategy 2017–2021 documents a plan of action for Council 2 3500+ Whitsunday Regional Council is creating a new economy 34,831 $2.4B 23,863m Businesses which will see massive capital investment into the Whitsunday and its partners in government, industry and the community Coast Airport, the redevelopment of Shute Harbour, a premium to facilitate change towards a prosperous future for the Marine Centre of Excellence, water security for the entire Whitsundays. $6B regional economy Key goals for the next Population Mining is 18 schools Exports increase to 50% of GRP the largest 786,000 Glencore Mine, Collinsville target by 2036 visitors per four years: economic 3 hospitals 50,000 annum spending output in the region $758M $657M Increase jobs to 15,000 Workforce of Tourism Australia’s tropical 74 is the largest islands 19,500 largest employer winter growing island vegetable 7 resorts 19.6% region Brahman cattle Glencore mine worker Hamilton Island Race Week Solar Farm Canefields, Proserpine WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL COUNCIL 4 5 Whitsunday INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS Infrastructure Development Major Projects Worth $4.7B Project Whitsundays Regional Council is committed to ProjectValue Est. Est. PROJECT Value$M Proponent Status ensuring it has infrastructure in place to support and $M Start Complete 30 attract industry growth. Papua Mining – Copperhead Project – Gold, copper, silver, zinc 30 Private Proposed Cooper to Abbot Point Liquid Natural Gas (Caplng) Facility – 15001500 Private Proposed Well planned existing infrastructure provides reliable transport, energy, INING Liquified natural gas – plant, pipelines, marine loading facility water and connectivity for businesses to work in domestic and international M QCoal/Jfe Steel JV - Byerwen Project – Open cut mine, hard coking coal, thermal coal 17601760 Private Proposed markets. 100 Hayman Island Resort – Resort redevelopment 100 Private Underway N 86 There is over $161M in infrastructure projects planned and underway to O 86 Private 2018 Underway Daydream Island Resort and Spa – Resort redevelopment