GW3 working to keep Mackay, Isaac and Whitsundays three of Queensland’s richest regions

It boasts lush tropical islands and is collectively Queensland’s engine room, but its prosperity will not roll on forever without embracing new industries in its economic base. What’s coming next is nothing short of impressive.

Life is good in the Greater Whitsundays with multiple industries generating billions in wealth for its 175,000 residents, but economic advocacy group GW3 says the hard work of winning the future is just beginning.

The region, made up of Mackay, Isaac and the Whitsundays, counts mining, agriculture and coastal tourism as key economic pillars.

It is now moving to add aerospace, critical minerals and bioproducts manufacturing to its base in the near future.

GW3 CEO Kylie Porter said the region was Queensland’s ‘golden goose’ and could continue to be so with federal and state government support.

GW3 CEO Kylie Porter

“There’s not a danger of complacency from leaders in our region,” she said.

“We know we’ve got to keep our eye firmly on the long-term future.

“We absolutely have to be very focused on being proactively engaged with government and use strong evidence-led research and strategy to be able to effectively lobby for federal involvement and investment in our region’s future.”

The region has already secured some government funding for its future aspirations with a $5.7m commitment to the Resources Centre of Excellence Stage 2 expansion plans that will build out a second wing for critical minerals testing at the research and training hub.

A Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays economic development road map lists 20 projects that could secure the region’s future, including the massive $2.9bn Urannah Project, the Moranbah Hospital redevelopment, new gas pipelines to Mackay and Abbot Point, an aviation training academy, a new marine industrial precinct at Bowen and a biofutures precinct.

RDA Greater Whitsundays CEO Robert Cocco said the region’s pre-existing industries had developed the skillets necessary for new and emerging industries.

Regional Development Australia Mackay Isaac Whitsunday CEO Robert Cocco.

“We have these inherent skillsets and capabilities, we’ve just got to tweak them a little bit to think about some of these other opportunities,” Mr Cocco said.

The three LGAs boast an annual economic output of almost $43bn and a regional unemployment rate that is currently less than 2.4 per cent.

Ms Porter was confident the change in government would not negatively impact the attention directed to the region, adding Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt’s ascension to the agriculture portfolio was “a great thing for our region”.

(From left to right) Queensland Labor Senator Anthony Chisholm, Labor Dawson candidate Shane Hamilton, Aimee Sheppard, Jaydene Callaway and Karra Meads and opposition resources Minister Madeleine King at Mackay's Resources Centre of Excellence on May 9. Picture: Duncan Evans

She also praised Resources Minister Madeleine King and noted she had visited the region twice during the campaign.

“It is great to see she is very well versed on the issues that are facing this region, not just from a resources perspective but from a developing Northern Australia perspective and the opportunities that lie within it,” she said.

“GW3 does not play to the political landscape.

“We are first and foremost about our regions and our communities and how we maintain the prosperous nature of our region moving forward.”

Originally published as GW3 working to keep Mackay, Isaac and Whitsundays three of Queensland’s richest regions