PROFILE HIGHLIGHTS ADVANTAGES OF INVESTING IN ATHERTON

The Atherton Tablelands is primed to become a major hinterland hub for business and leisure according to a new economic profile to be released today.

Minister for State Development John Mickel will launch the Cairns Highlands Investment Environment at the Halloran’s Hill Observation Building, The Lookout, Atherton at 12.00pm. The profile provides an overview of the advantages of living, working and playing in the burgeoning Far North Queensland region.

“The aim of the document is to highlight to prospective investors and those interested in establishing businesses the major ways that the Tablelands is growing, and the potential for further expansion,” Mr Mickel said.

“It identifies several prime catalysts for development in recent years and growth areas to be tapped into including the Tablelands’ tropical expertise, biodiversity and water abundance.

“The region’s short distance to Cairns, affordable housing, low cost of living, beautiful location and tropical climate are big drawcards for new people looking to the area to work or live.

“The Cairns Highlands Investment Environment indicates the Atherton Tablelands region is flourishing and its growth shows no signs of slowing.”

Mr Mickel said tourists, retirees and those making a ‘tree change’ continued to flock to the region.

“Cairns attracts more than two million visitors each year and its population is estimated to increase by 70 per cent in the next two decades,” he said.

“The $500 million upgrade to the Kuranda Range Road, the main access road from Cairns, will help in drawing more of these people to the Tablelands.”

Mr Mickel said the abundance of water in Far North Queensland was a major asset.

“The area accounts for 26 per cent of Australia’s water run off and the average rainfall is 1400 millimetres,” he said.

“And like the rest of Far North Queensland, there are also phenomenal market opportunities in tropical science, knowledge, research and innovation.

“The region, for example, has almost double the varieties of native plants than anywhere else in Australia.

“Industries are also working smarter and taking advantage of waste from the some 40 different crops available locally to make pharmaceuticals, biofuels, fibres, resins and other high-tech products.

“The Malanda Dairy Farmers factory for instance is now extracting proteins from whey for use in a health drink that boosts the immune system.”

In June Mr Mickel announced tropical expertise as one of the first industries, along with aviation, to be targeted under Cairns and the Far North’s Centre of Enterprise Initiative.

“The region is the only advanced economy in the world in the tropics. And with more than 40 per cent of the global population living in tropical zones of the world, the potential customer base for Tablelands firms is huge.”

The Department of State Development has allocated $50,000 through the Regional Business Development Scheme (RBDS) Cyclone Larry special funds to the Tablelands Futures Corporation (TFC) to complete the profile.

“I encourage prospective investors and business owners to read more about some of the great opportunities available in this beautiful part of Queensland,” Mr Mickel said.

Copies of the Cairns Highlands Investment Environment profile can be downloaded from www.tablelandsfutures.com


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MEDIA ALERT

MINISTER FOR STATE DEVELOPMENT IN CAIRNS

Minister Mickel will tomorrow (Thursday 16 Aug) visit the Cairns Marlin Marina and tour the Cairns Slipways from 8.30-9.00am and Norship Marine from 9.15-10.15am.

The Department of State Development recently announced funding of $30,657 to the Super Yacht Group – Great Barrier Reef for a Cairns-based study to identify problems affecting the Queensland super yacht industry.

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Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784

August 15, 2007