Regional Development Australia

Mackay Isaac Whitsunday

Transport Conference Brisbane 25 July 2012

Regional economies driving regional transport ...

Themes presented.....

• Regional economies driving transport and

infrastructure needs

• Resource communities in regional Australia as

driving forces in Qld and Australian economies

• Need to support transport and connectivity to

allow for economic growth

Regional Development Australia

RDA

• National network of 55 committees across Australia

• Partnership between the Australian, Queensland and

Local Governments to grow and enhance the regions of

Queensland

• Committees made up of diverse range of representatives of

the community

Governance

Charter

- Partnership between all levels of government

and the community

- Provide strategic advice and support

- Key focus is on social, economic and

environmental issues

- Identify priorities, solutions and plan for action

- Grow and develop regions

•12 RDA QLD Committee’s

Integrated Planning Framework

Regional Roadmap

Statutory Regional Plan

Regional NRM Plans

Other regional plans....

Mackay RC Community

Plan

Isaac RC Community

Plan

Whitsunday RC

Community Plan

Regional overview

• The Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday Region is made up

of the three regional council areas of Mackay, Isaac and

Whitsunday, on the east coast of North Queensland.

• One of the fastest growing economies in Queensland.

• Population growth is strong and the estimated resident

population of the region was 179,093 in June 2011, or

3.9% of the state’s population.

• According to medium-series projections, the region’s

population will be 255,000 to 279,000 in 2031.

• (source: OESR and REDC)

Fast Facts

Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region

• Generated almost $18bn in economic value in 2010/11,

an increase of 8.4% on the previous year

• More than $94bn in investment projects recorded at the

end of June 2012

• Despite having just 3.9% of Queensland’s population,

the region contributed approximately 6.6% of the Gross

State Product in 2010/11

• Has an unemployment rate of 3 .3% (December 2011) -

lower than Queensland’s 5.2%(Source: REDC March 2012)

2 significant drivers

impacting on transport

• rate of economic growth

• rate of population growth

Economic diversity and growth

• Mining

• Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing

• Tourism, Accommodation & Food Services

• Transport, Postal & Warehousing

• Construction

• Other Services, especially mining support services

• Due to the region’s rapid population growth, other

‘second tier’ industries are emerging and growing

including retail, administrative and support services, arts

and recreation and health and social services.

Primary Economic Areas

Mining

• The region includes one of the largest coal mining deposits in

Australia (the Bowen Basin) supplying Queensland with about

half of all coal produced and three quarters of the total value of

coal exports.

• There was a total of 103.5 mega tonnes of saleable coal

production in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region in 2010-11.

• A total of 102.9 mega tonnes of coal was exported via coal

terminals in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region in 2010-11.

(source: REDC March 2012)

Construction

• Region has a robust construction industry buoyed by

rapid and sustained population growth and the mining

sector.

• Residential building approval numbers for the Mackay-

Isaac-Whitsunday region increased by 16% in the six

months to December 2011 totally $228M.

• Non - residential building approvals in the Mackay-

Isaac-Whitsunday region totalled over $152m in the

six months ending December 2011, which was a

77.9% increase from the previous December 2010

results.Source: ABS and REDC March 2012)

Agriculture

• The region has a long history of agriculture production,

producing beef cattle, sugar cane, fruit, vegetables and

seafood.

• The region is one of the largest contributors to sugar

cane production in Australia with the total value of sugar

cane crushed in the region at $427m in 2011.

• A total of 6,696,078 tonnes of cane was crushed in the

region in 2011, an increase of 2.5% on the previous

year. (Source: Mackay Cane Growers and REDC 2012)

Source: Bundaberg

Sugar 2012

Agriculture continued

The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Region also produces.

Commodity Value $M 2009-10

• Beef - $ 293 M

• Cereals for Grain - $ 62 M

• Vegetables (human consumption) $134 M

• Fruit $ 27.7M(Source: ABS Value of Agricultural Commodities Australia 2009-10)

Tourism

• In 2011, 1,298,000 visitors to the region, (233,000 were

overseas travellers )

• Tourism in Mackay is supported by business travellers

• Occupancy has remained strong during the business

week with many Mackay accommodation providers

averaging 90%+ from Monday to Thursday, with a yearly

average of 67%.

• Accommodation takings in the region totalled more than

$42.7m in the June quarter 2011.

• Major airlines, have added extra flights to the region due

to the significant increase in mining sector numbers.(source: REDC Tourism Qld March 2012)

FIFO - DIDO

Output distribution network

Input distribution network

Regional Priorities

• Upgrade of Bruce Hwy

• Upgrade of Peak Downs Hwy

• Long term affordable water supply strategy

• Central Queensland Dual Sector University

• Long term electricity and energy generation supply

• Resource sector royalty program

• Long term North Qld Infrastructure Plan

• Upgrade of Alpha Clermont Road and Proserpine to

Collinsville road

• Development of multi-functional port facilities

• Raise the profile of the region

• Telecommunications

Connecting Communities

through roads and transport

Community Engagement

Federal Government

State Government

Local Government

Private Enterprise

and other key stakeholders

Working with our Partners

• Through preparation and consultation on

roadmap

• Identify and talk to key partners – Bulk Ports,

REDC, RAAG, Queensland Transport,

Infrastructure Australia....

• Local Government Leadership Forums to talk

about priorities

• Regional Politicians Forum

• Stakeholders group eg Mining companies

• Alliance of RDAs

North Qld Strategy – four themes

MIW Integrated Regional

Transport Plan

• Draft Connecting Mackay Isaac

Whitsunday 2031

• Its vision is to promote efficient and cost

effective passenger and freight movement,

support economic growth, and care for

natural and built environments; while

recognising and supporting the

uniqueness of the region and its lifestyle

Royalties for Regions

• $495 million over four years to help communities build

new and improved community, road and floodplain security

infrastructure, seize economic opportunities and encourage

growth.

• Resource Community Building Fund – delivering

improved community infrastructure, such as education and

health facilities, community centres and sporting facilities

• Roads to Resources – enhancing safety, connectivity and

capacity of roads servicing resource communities

• Floodplain Security – for flood mitigation – building levees,

flood bypasses, flood mitigation dams, flood retention

basins and other key projects to protect Queensland

communities from flooding.

Regional Infrastructure Fund

• $6 Billion over 11 years

Stream 1: Regional Infrastructure Fund

Stream 2: Economic Infrastructure projects

and regional infrastructure Planning

project

Stream 3: Regional Development Australia

Fund

Connecting Communities

through roads and transport

Community Engagement

Federal Government

State Government

Local Government

Private Enterprise

and other key stakeholders

Thank you

Nicole Duguid

CEO

Regional Development Australia Mackay Isaac Whitsunday

07 4967 0822

ceo@rdamackaywhitsunday.org.au