Published Wednesday, 29 October, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
$10M State Government funding helps attract big guns to Fitzroy & Central West
Attracting major players in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial services to the Fitzroy and Central West region will be bolstered by an additional $10 million in State Government funding to strengthen regional economies.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle announced the funding as part of a new scheme to boost Queensland’s high growth regions.
“The new Regional Queensland Investment Incentives Scheme will offer up to 100% payroll tax rebates and potential cash grants to firms relocating from outside the State,” Ms Boyle said.
“This is further evidence that the Bligh Government is looking after regional Queensland.
“The focus of RQIIS will be on targeting those firms who will build on and not detract from our existing industry capacity – firms with the expertise, the contracts and contacts to help take our local industries global.
“Building the region’s international profile as a world-class supplier of manufacturing, engineering and industrial services supporting the mining, resources and agribusiness sectors will take full advantage of the region’s many assets.
“Those assets include the deepwater port in Gladstone, which is Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port, and large scale infrastructure projects.
“As well as attracting the big names we want our home-grown firms to be globally competitive.”
Ms Boyle said local firms would be encouraged to undertake R&D, adopt new high tech systems and improve productivity through the Business and Industry Transformation Incentives (BITI) funding program.
“Up to $250,000 is available for existing businesses in priority sectors under BITI,” she said.
Ms Boyle added that key State Government initiatives for the region over the next 12 months included promoting the region’s capacity in the United States to attract large-scale technology-driven industrial projects, the delivery of lean manufacturing programs, and opening up industrial land space in the Gracemere-Stanwell industry corridor.
“These measures are all about ensuring the sustainability of the Fitzroy and Central West economy,” she said.
“There are many opportunities for major industrial projects, servicing supply chain gaps and development of sustainable agribusiness practices. Innovative products and services will always find a niche.”
Ms Boyle said the Fitzroy and Central West region had been identified as one of the State’s high growth areas along with Cairns and the Tropical North, Townsville and the North West, Mackay Whitsunday, Wide Bay Burnett, and the Darling Downs and South West Queensland.
The region also offers enormous opportunities for investors based on its:
• Expanding resources sector
• World-recognised capacity in minerals processing, chemical manufacture and agribusiness
• Industrial land supply
• Reliable energy sources and water
• Well developed transport and distribution logistics
• Higher education infrastructure
• Broadband infrastructure
“Strengthening industries identified through Centres of Enterprise and Smart Industry Policy is key to giving us the critical mass and competitive advantage in a challenging global economy,” Ms Boyle said.
“The Fitzroy and Central West region, which includes Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald and Longreach, has a lot to offer business.
“It’s the State’s industrial heartland yet its closeness to the Great Barrier Reef, mountains and national parks, make it an attractive area to live and play as well.”
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
29 October 2008
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle announced the funding as part of a new scheme to boost Queensland’s high growth regions.
“The new Regional Queensland Investment Incentives Scheme will offer up to 100% payroll tax rebates and potential cash grants to firms relocating from outside the State,” Ms Boyle said.
“This is further evidence that the Bligh Government is looking after regional Queensland.
“The focus of RQIIS will be on targeting those firms who will build on and not detract from our existing industry capacity – firms with the expertise, the contracts and contacts to help take our local industries global.
“Building the region’s international profile as a world-class supplier of manufacturing, engineering and industrial services supporting the mining, resources and agribusiness sectors will take full advantage of the region’s many assets.
“Those assets include the deepwater port in Gladstone, which is Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port, and large scale infrastructure projects.
“As well as attracting the big names we want our home-grown firms to be globally competitive.”
Ms Boyle said local firms would be encouraged to undertake R&D, adopt new high tech systems and improve productivity through the Business and Industry Transformation Incentives (BITI) funding program.
“Up to $250,000 is available for existing businesses in priority sectors under BITI,” she said.
Ms Boyle added that key State Government initiatives for the region over the next 12 months included promoting the region’s capacity in the United States to attract large-scale technology-driven industrial projects, the delivery of lean manufacturing programs, and opening up industrial land space in the Gracemere-Stanwell industry corridor.
“These measures are all about ensuring the sustainability of the Fitzroy and Central West economy,” she said.
“There are many opportunities for major industrial projects, servicing supply chain gaps and development of sustainable agribusiness practices. Innovative products and services will always find a niche.”
Ms Boyle said the Fitzroy and Central West region had been identified as one of the State’s high growth areas along with Cairns and the Tropical North, Townsville and the North West, Mackay Whitsunday, Wide Bay Burnett, and the Darling Downs and South West Queensland.
The region also offers enormous opportunities for investors based on its:
• Expanding resources sector
• World-recognised capacity in minerals processing, chemical manufacture and agribusiness
• Industrial land supply
• Reliable energy sources and water
• Well developed transport and distribution logistics
• Higher education infrastructure
• Broadband infrastructure
“Strengthening industries identified through Centres of Enterprise and Smart Industry Policy is key to giving us the critical mass and competitive advantage in a challenging global economy,” Ms Boyle said.
“The Fitzroy and Central West region, which includes Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald and Longreach, has a lot to offer business.
“It’s the State’s industrial heartland yet its closeness to the Great Barrier Reef, mountains and national parks, make it an attractive area to live and play as well.”
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
29 October 2008