Miles Doing What Matters: More Queensland bush businesses blooming with support

Published Monday, 30 September, 2024 at 05:56 PM

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment
The Honourable Cameron Dick

  • Miles Labor Government announces support for 17 more regional, remote and rural businesses
  • Backing Business in the Bush Fund has now supported 35 small and medium sized enterprises
  • Regional businesses set to thrive with funding for a wide variety of new projects.

The Miles Labor Government has confirmed support for an additional 17 regional businesses under the $50 million Backing Business in the Bush Fund.

This second tranche of announcements brings the total number of bush businesses to 35 that have been supported under the fund.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) from Flinders to Fraser Coast will receive financial support ranging from $500,000 to up to $2 million each.

The latest round of funding will support companies’ growth plans, expanding current facilities, purchasing new manufacturing equipment and machinery, and implementing specialist technology and automation systems.

The projects will also help position some of the companies to expand into new domestic and international markets, providing valuable job opportunities within their regional communities, and boosting local economies.

Quotes attributable to the Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick:

“We are proudly backing homegrown Queensland bush businesses, providing funding support so they can do what they do best – grow their regional economies and create good jobs.

“It is important that small business across our vast state, including in regional, remote and rural Queensland, receive the support they need to meet the specific challenges they face and to capitalise on new opportunities.

“With fund recipients coming from industries including agriculture, food processing, engineering, mining equipment, technology and services (METS), transport and manufacturing, they reflect Queensland’s incredibly diverse economy.

Quotes attributable to Australian Prawn Farms Senior Manager Tony Charles:

“This funding will allow us to equip our aquaculture farm in Issac with advanced automatic feeding technologies, boosting feeding efficiency, production, and environmental benefits.

The on-farm connectivity component of this project will modernise and future-proof our operations, enabling seamless integration of innovative AgTech and digital solutions across our hatchery, grow-out farm, and processing facilities.

Quotes attributable to Data Farming Managing Director Tim Neale:

“DataFarming services over 45,000 farms globally, and we are seeing a shift in the way farmers use fertilisers.

“DataFarming, an AgTech business based out of the regional city of Toowoomba, are developing digital tools for farmers, agronomists, and fertiliser companies to rigorously test new sustainable fertiliser products on their own properties.

“The tools aim to increase demand for these products, making farmers more profitable and sustainable.”

Explainer/fast fact and or further information:

  • The Backing Business in the Bush Fund is a $50 million investment program supporting SMEs undertake projects in regional Queensland.
  • The Backing Business in the Bush Fund is supporting SMEs in mostly traditional industries like agriculture, manufacturing, transport and mining equipment, technology and services (METS).
  • Learn more about each of these projects and the Queensland Government’s investment programs and support for business.

 

Successful fund applicants as of 27 September 2024

 

Company

Local Government Area

Project

Australian Prawn Farms

Isaac

Automatic feeding technology and related infrastructure in existing production ponds

Brolga Cranes & Equipment

Gladstone

Heavy machinery upgrades to better service the transport and logistics and mining sectors

Brown’s Express

Rockhampton

Expansion of existing freight and logistics business

Caamano Farms

Mareeba

Purchase new equipment and upgrade existing coffee growing site

Carr Farming

Southern Downs

Develop organic granulated poultry fertiliser and replace use of imported fertiliser

Cavalier Engineering and Budget Seel

Gympie

Two new welding robots to produce cattle handling equipment

Cleveland Bay Chemical Company

Townsville

Production facility for dicalcium phosphate used for animal feed supplement

DataFarming

Toowoomba

Digital infrastructure linking fertiliser companies directly with growers to increase adoption of sustainable fertiliser products and practices

Eco-Growth International

Toowoomba

New fertiliser manufacturing facility and equipment that will specialise in rock mineral processing

G3 Engineering

South Burnett

New machinery to improve productivity and provide high precision engineered products

Hollimans Group

Flinders

Expand Viper Water Solutions' capacity with new pipe production lines

Integrity Ag

Toowoomba

Develop an automated database for analysing livestock greenhouse gas emissions for agricultural supply chains

Jurgens Produce

Whitsunday

Two new robotic units to improve operational efficiency and environmental impact

Mort & Co

Toowoomba

Expansion of existing organic fertiliser with additional granulators and an automated batching system

Obadare Group

Toowoomba

Mining rig manufacturing facility upgrade and expansion to better service the resources sector

Oztec Manufacturing

Toowoomba

Install advanced manufacturing precision capabilities

Selected Seeds

Toowoomba

Introduce automated seed processing and bagging equipment and update warehouse