Darling Downs and South West

The Darling Downs and South West region includes one of Queensland's largest regional urban centres, Toowoomba, which is the business and service hub for the entire region. The Surat Basin is rich in energy resources which has driven infrastructure development including new investment in transport and telecommunications. The region also has a long history of primary production, generating 25 per cent of the State's crops and livestock. In response, the region has developed capabilities in food processing. Other capabilities include fibre composites, transport, retail, tourism, government and defence and forestry.

The region has identified the food processing industry sector and the opportunities associated with the Surat Energy Resources Province for initial development under the Centres of Enterprise initiative.

Centres of Enterprise target sectors

Food processing

The Darling Downs and the South West region is nationally renowned for its beef, cotton, wool and grain. With the available land and ready access to markets, the region is well placed to take advantage of its reputation. Innovative food processing and diversification into new areas, such as wine, game meat and organic products will distinguish the region's products on the world market. As a result, the opportunity exists to position the region as Australia's centre for food processing in meat, grains and horticulture.

Darling Downs and South West Centres of Enterprise Food Processing Industry Action Plan

Surat Energy Resources Province

The Surat Energy Resources Province contains substantial, but largely undeveloped, thermal coal and coal seam methane gas. The region has significant potential to be developed into a large-scale energy and industrial province. This will provide significant flow-on effects to supply chain businesses from mining services and other sectors including construction, infrastructure, transport and logistics. The Centres of Enterprise initiative aims to capture regional and State benefit from these supply chain opportunities.

Darling Downs and South West Centres of Enterprise Surat Energy Province Action Plan

Further information on food processing and mining technologies and services can be found on the Department's key industries pages