Cairns business: Mareeba records strong economic growth

Major infrastructure upgrades and a strong agriculture sector have contributed to this town being one of the fastest growing local government areas in Queensland.

MAREEBA Shire is now the sixth fastest growing local government area in the state, according to Queensland Treasury statistics.

The figures show an annual growth increase of 1.7 per cent in the year 2019-2020 compared with the previous year.

Mareeba Shire Council Mayor Angela Toppin said despite Covid challenges over two years, Mareeba continued to shine.

“As the largest town outside of Cairns, we have our sights set as a council on continuing to bolster the positive trend of dwelling and commercial approvals which saw $64m worth of residential and non-residential plans rubber-stamped in 2020-21,” Cr Toppin said.

Property prices across the Far North’s regional hubs have skyrocketed as working remotely and a desire to escape cities has led to an exodus to country areas.

Mareeba Chamber of Commerce President Joe Moro said growth in the region was underpinned by agriculture and council’s upgrades to large scale infrastructure.

“Our region is a vital transport and services hub for Northern Australia, and with smart business decisions, continuing local government investment in industrial and commercial aviation parks, road transport routes and water treatment facilities we’re ready to capitalise on this positive trend,” Mr Moro said.

Mr Moro said Mareeba had effectively pivoted in the face of Covid challenges.

Mareeba will be home to a new shopping centre featuring Woolworths if a $50m plan by a Melbourne-based development group proceeds – pictured is a concept image from Sphere Group Development, which has bought the 1.52ha parcel of land at 232 Byrnes St. Picture: supplied.

The recently-released Chamber of Commerce annual economic snapshot showed strong performances across agriculture, tourism, real estate and business.

“There was much to celebrate with solid performances from rural commodities including horticulture, cropping and cattle helping buffer Mareeba from the more severe impacts of Covid,” Mr Moro said.

Two large events were held – Savannah in the Round and the FNQ Rotary Field Days.

Savannah in the Round injected more than $2m into the Mareeba Shire economy and was responsible for 11,627 visitor nights in the area, according to a report from Tourism and Events Queensland.

“Our town also celebrated the opening of several new businesses – in stark contrast to our colleagues interstate – some in the early days of the pandemic when business uncertainty was at a high,” Mr Moro said.

“Agriculture continues to perform well, the real estate market is red hot and construction shows no apparent signs of slowing down.”

Mareeba Shire Council recorded building approvals worth $49.1m in 2020-21 with 209 dwellings and 54 development applications approved.

Gulf Caught Seafood, owned by Jamie and Bevan Carroll, opened in Mareeba in 2020 and is going strongly. Picture: supplied.

The shire has 23,116 residents and annual economic output of $1.43bn, according to council.

But Mr Moro and Cr Toppin have warned growth will be stifled unless an alternative to the Kennedy Highway through Kuranda to Mareeba is found.

The Chamber has been pushing for the State to use $21m federal funding on offer for a transport study for the past four years.

Mr Moro said the growth and prosperity of Mareeba Shire would suffer unless action was taken toward a safe, efficient and reliable transport link.

Cr Toppin rejected the findings of the State Government’s newly-released $1.6m report on the road.

“Mareeba Shire Council cannot accept that there is not an issue with the capacity of this road,” she said.

“Council’s recommendation was that without effective regional road connectivity the economic potential for Mareeba, the shire, and the wider Far North Queensland region cannot be fully met.

“It appears that there has been no consideration of the growth in the Mareeba Shire or beyond, or the issues that the transport sector has been raising for many years, have been ignored.”

Originally published as Cairns business: Mareeba records strong economic growth