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Greater Whitsunday Region

Mackay Isaac Whitsunday bannerMackay Isaac Whitsunday banner

The Greater Whitsunday region covers 90,354 square km. Comprising of the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday local government areas, the Greater Whitsunday Region is encompassed by St Lawrence in the south, Gumlu in the north to Clermont in the west and the Great Barrier Reef Whitsunday’s group of 74 islands to the east.

The region is one of the most naturally beautiful and resource-rich locations in Australia contributing more than $74.363 billion in economic output to the Australian economy. From the largest coal mining deposits in Australia, the Bowen and Galilee basins, the iconic Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands and boasting a diverse agricultural industry which provides over almost $2 billion to the Queensland economy, the region is an economic powerhouse that is key to Queensland’s economy. (REMPLAN 2023)

The regions First Nations groups include: Yuwi, Barada Barna, Barada Kabalbara, Yetimarala, Gia, Gaangalu, Western Kangoulu, Koinmerburra, Jangaa, Juru, Birrah, Darumbal and Widi.

Key Feature of the Greater Whitsunday Region

Population

186,643

(Source: Estimated Residential Population Queensland Government Statisticians 2024)

Employment

  • 4.1% unemployment
  • Labour force 108,796

(Source: Queensland Government Statisticians Office, December quarter 2023)

Industry Strengths

  • One of the world’s most diverse economic regions with a gross regional product estimated at $45.122 billion, across key industry sectors such as mining, manufacturing, health care and social assistance, tourism and construction. (REMPLAN 2023 Release 2).
  • Strong forecast of development activity with approximately $14 billion worth of construction work across more than 150 projects in the pipeline (Cordell Connect, Oct 2023).
  • Key infrastructure includes three regional airports, two deep water seaports, three bulk shipping terminals, and a reliable freight service rail network.
  • The largest mining services industrial precinct in the southern hemisphere, the Paget Industrial Estate, is home to over 500 mining and manufacturing businesses.
  • Majority of Queensland’s prime coking coal is mined in the Bowen and Galilee Basins.
  • Access to higher education and research opportunities through Central Queensland University, and the QUT Biocommodities Pilot Plant.
  • Biofutures  Mackay State Development Area (SDA) at Racecourse and Rosella - brown field and green field investment opportunities, QUT Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant and Wilmar Bioethanol refinery.
  • An emerging industrial biotechnology and biomedical research sector with expertise in research and development (translational and clinical). The Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation, and the Coral Sea Clinical Research Institute.
  • A strong and diverse agricultural sector:
    • Sugar cane contributes an estimated $564 million.
    • the largest horticultural winter produce growing region producing more than $290 million in output.
    • The livestock beef cattle industry is the largest agricultural production contributing an estimated valued at $718 million.
  • A burgeoning aquaculture sector with annual production rates growing to almost 5,000 tonnes in 2020-21 with a total production value reaching $73 million in value.
    (Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences 2020, Agriculture Sector in Mackay Region, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, 20 May 2024).
  • Tourism attracts approximately two million domestic and international overnight visitors annually (TEQ, Year ending 2023).
  • Areas like the Finch Hatton Gorge, Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Trails, Eungella National Park and Cape Hillsborough are driving innovation and promoting the region as a world-class ecotourism destination.

Energy In Region - Renewable 

  • As the energy system shifts to renewables, the Greater Whitsunday Region has significant potential for new renewable energy projects, renewable hydrogen industries, and the electrification and decarbonisation of mining and other existing industries.
  • With large-scale and emerging energy projects across the Greater Whitsunday, the region is powering forward with 16 existing projects and many more in the pipeline.
  • From solar, wind, hydro, hydrogen, bagasse and waste coal mine gas, these types of energy have an overall capacity of close to 800+ megawatts (MW).
  • As the energy transformation gathers momentum investment in region since 2015 has established more than $1 billion in renewable energy projects.
  • Investigations for a potential pumped hydro energy storage facility in the Western Pioneer Valley, located 70 kilometres west of Mackay is being undertaken. The Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project could be the largest in the world with the potential of up to 5 gigawatts and could play a key role in ensuring a reliable and secure energy system for the future.
  • Completed renewable projects driving the regions green energy super grid include the Collinsville Solar Power Station, Daydream Solar Farm, Middlemount Sun Farm and Whitsunday Solar Farm representing some of Queensland’s largest solar energy producers.
  • Other renewable projects under construction include Clarke Creek Wind and Solar Farm with Lotus Creek Wind Farm in the pipeline to commence.
  • Mackay Sugar Ltd Mills - Racecourse, Farleigh and Marian, Wilmar Mills - Plane Creek and Proserpine produce electricity from cane fibre for mill operations with the Cogeneration Plant at Racecourse Mill producing energy for the Racecourse Refinery all year. Further to the above, there are two waste coal mine gas projects at German Creek and Moranbah North.

Additional Key Industries

  • Aviation
  • Beef processing
  • Biobased products
  • Education
  • Energy production / renewable energy
  • Food and beverage
  • Manufacturing / engineering
    • Craft brewing
    • Fabricated metal production
    • Food manufacturing
    • Light industries
  • Marine
  • Retail trade

Key projects

  • Mackay State Development Area - Racecourse and Rosella sites
    • The Mackay State Development Area (SDA) was established to provide a unique opportunity to diversify economy-boosting industrial development in the Mackay region, including renewable energy and biofutures industries, creating jobs and strengthening the Greater Whitsunday economy.
    • Declared in February 2024, the 907 hectare Mackay SDA incorporates two distinct areas:
    • the Racecourse area, comprising 137 ha is centered around the established Racecourse Mill, approximately 5 kilometres (km) west of Mackay
    • the Rosella area features 770 ha and is located 10 km from Mackay and south of Paget.
    • For investment enquiries for the Mackay SDA area please contact mackay@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au
  • Abbot Point State Development Area
    • Declared in 2008, the 16,885-hectare Abbot Point State Development Area (SDA) is located approximately 20 kilometres north-west of Bowen, in North Queensland.
    • The Abbot Point SDA offers the ideal location for industrial and port-related development that requires a large footprint, proximity to a port and separation from sensitive receptors.
    • For investment enquiries for the Abbot Point SDA area please contact mackay@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au
  • Walkerston Bypass
  • Mackay Base Hospital expansion
  • Eden Lassie Agave Distillery
  • Lotus Creek Wind Farm
  • Capricornia Energy Hub
  • Boomer Green Energy Hub
  • Broadsound Solar Farm
  • Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro energy storage facility

Regional Projects Funded

  • Mackay Base Hospital expansion
  • Mackay Port Access Road
  • New Moranbah Hospital
  • Clermont replacement police facility
  • QUT Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant Expansion
  • AJK/ Vereco / Lerev Capital
  • CQU Country University - Isaac Regional Council
  • Early Works - Qld Hydro

Local business services and support

The Greater Whitsunday regional office is one of 11 regional offices across Queensland ensuring economic prosperity and liveable communities.

We develop strategic alliances to catalyse private sector investment and develop industry supply chains. We do this by pursuing new private sector projects in priority industries including renewable energy, critical minerals, hydrogen, biofuels, and waste management.

We increase Queensland content in the supply chains of major projects by providing local businesses with full, fair, and reasonable opportunities to participate in government and non-government projects across Queensland. This is done by delivering a range of activities to support local businesses find project opportunities, compete for work, and improve their tendering and supply chain capabilities. View all upcoming events and opportunities in the region on the events page.

We maximised local business participation in the following major projects:

CPB Contractors $497.3 million Mackay Ring Road (Stage one)

More than 80% of people involved in this project were from the Greater Whitsunday Region including builders, suppliers, landscapers, engineers, and traffic workers.

Goldwind Australia $1 billion Clarke Creek Wind Farm

Connected more than 380 regional business with Goldwind Australia via industry briefing sessions.

Looking to strengthen your regional supply chain?

Please contact us to discuss how we:

  • Assist major contractors and subcontractors to develop local content strategies for Major Projects in the region
  • Build regional supply chain capability and capacity
  • Assist regional businesses to prepare effective capability statements
  • Advise regional businesses on government and private-sector tendering processes
  • Link regional industry with project information
  • Connect industry with government support

Phone: 07 4898 6800  Email: mackay@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au

Last updated: 03 Jun 2024