Funding brews up a thirst for Outback opportunities

A locally owned Outback brewery is one of the economic opportunities to be tapped thanks to Palaszczuk Government support for some of the state’s most remote areas.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said funding from the Remote Area Boards Program is raising a glass to local business initiatives.

“Remote Area Boards (RABs) represent their local regional areas and play a vital role in identifying and delivering projects that fit with their economic priorities,” Mr Miles said.

“The Palaszczuk Government is providing funding to the Boards to support for a range of tourism, marketing and manufacturing initiatives.

“Successful projects include everything from planning for a brewery in Central Queensland to cultural tourism in the North and Outback events in the South West.

Mr Miles said the Boards support economic and jobs opportunities to regions covering 60 per cent of Queensland, from the Gulf to the South West.

“Funding will support plans to get Central Western Queensland (CWQ) Brewing up and running so locals and visitors can enjoy beers named after some of the region’s great towns,” Mr Miles said.

“Winton, Longreach and Barcaldine lagers were trialled in the region last year, selling out quickly.

“The government will provide $90,000 to further develop CWQ Brewing’s beer brand designs and an investment plan to establish a regionally-owned manufacturing company.

“There are also exciting initiatives being funded across the Central and South West to encourage more people to visit, invest and live in these great Queensland regions.”

The Remote Area Boards Program will provide a total of $1.5 million over two financial years for projects in remote areas, with each Board to receive a total of $150,000.

The Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) will receive funding for the CWQ Brewing project. It will receive a further $60,000 to market the Go Far Out campaign to attract more people to live and work in the region.

RAPAD CEO David Arnold said the RAB funds would take the CWQ Brewing project to the next stage after last year’s sell-out trial of locally named lagers.

“There’s definitely a thirst for a locally made product and for the economic opportunities and jobs a brewery in the Central West would create,” Mr Arnold said.

“Establishing a brewery is a great way to showcase local communities and attract interest and investment in the region.

“Our other project, the FarOut! digital media campaign, will also support the benefits of working and living in the Central West. We need to keep encouraging people to consider the great work and lifestyle opportunities we have here.”

Gulf Savannah Development (GSD) and Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone (MITEZ) are teaming up to develop a report outlining a pipeline of potential cultural tourism projects.

They will receive a total of $60,000 for a project developing a report on tourism pipelines, including potential Indigenous tourism opportunities.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the Palaszczuk Government was supporting tourism opportunities across Queensland. 

“Our government supports projects that will create jobs and economic opportunities in regional and remote Queensland,” Ms Lui said.

“This report will identify regional cultural tourism opportunities in our community, especially Indigenous tourism.

GSD CEO Mark Forbes and MITEZ Chair, Cloncurry mayor Greg Campbell said the two groups were aligning and collaborating in their initiatives on regional tourism.

“There is a fantastic opportunity to develop more cultural tourism prospects across the Far North and North West, including Indigenous-based cultural tourism,” Mr Forbes said.

“We will be preparing the Indigenous and Regional Tourism Pipeline of Projects Investment Report to help develop opportunities for our two regions.”

South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Council Inc (SWQROC) will receive a total of $150,000 for two projects raising the region’s profile as an investment, lifestyle and events destination.

SWQROC Economic Development Advisory Committee Chair, Paroo Shire Mayor Suzette Beresford said $107,500 would be invested in amplifying the benefits of its successful campaign, Sustaining our Region for a Productive Future.

A further $42,500 would be invested in a new campaign, Queensland’s South West – Be our Guest, to bring more events to the region.

“We want to keep raising our region’s profile as a location offering a fantastic lifestyle, business investment opportunities and the best options for Outback events,” Mayor Beresford said.”

ENDS

Media contact:           Katharine Wright - 0428 957 903