Advocacy - Tourism & Economic Development

from Capricorn Enterprise 2020/21 Annual Report

Event Support

The advocacy efforts of Capricorn Enterprise are critical to the short, medium and long term prosperity of the Capricorn Region.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS 2020-21

Research reveals that local infrastructure projects exceeding $4.5 billion were scheduled to commence construction, were in design phases or were underway across the region encompassing Livingstone and Rockhampton Regional Council areas during the 2020-21 year generating unprecedented opportunities for regional business and local workforce. These projects provide significant opportunities for local business/industry in terms of local content in major infrastructure projects including highways, water, energy renewables and defence. Capricorn Enterprise has been and will continue to work closely with project proponents and managers including Tier 1 and Defence Prime Groups, plus local business and industry representatives to maximise local participation and content.

> Great Keppel Island Resort

The 2013 development approvals for the island include a 250 room beach front hotel, 300 luxury apartments, 285 luxury villas, 9,000 sq metres of retail shops and a

250 berth marina. [SEE IMAGE 3,4,& 6]

The airstrip also has approval to be extended from the current 800 metres to 1.5 kilometres, to enable direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. GKI Progress Association formed in Feb 2021 with a public meeting held on the 8th Feb to outline Altum Property Group’s proposal for $30 million state government funding for common user infrastructure over proposed stages of development. After 18 months of negotiation between Altum Property Group, Tower Holdings, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Natural Resources, on the 21st June 2021, Queensland’s Minister for Resources, Scott Stewart announced that the transfer of the Great Keppel Island resort leases from Tower Holdings to Altum Property Group would not proceed based on the Financial Management Capability Assessment (FMCA). (NB. GKI Resort (Tower Holdings) did not lodge an appeal before the 29 July 2021 deadline) In response, Altum announced that despite this major setback they were still keen to work with State Government to develop a luxury camping experience on Fisherman’s Beach as the first stage of the Great Keppel Island Revitalisation Project. On 23rd June 2021, Minister for Tourism, Stirling Hinchliffe visited Great Keppel Island with local stakeholders to investigate options for common user infrastructure to improve access and facilities on the island.

> Capricorn Intergrated Resort

On the 25th May 2021, the Coordinator General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 30th November 2022.

> Keppel Bay Sailing Club Convention Centre

Capricorn Enterprise played a key role in helping to achieve the $20M federal government funding commitment for the Keppel Bay Sailing Club (KBSC) Convention Centre and Sporting Hub. Works are expected to commence towards the end of 2021.

> Stadium

On the 15th Sep 2020, the Federal government announced $23Million funding for the Rockhampton Stadium at Victoria Park (following a federally-funded $250,000 feasibility study conducted in 2013/14 by global stadium design experts, Populous). A 16,000 seat stadium and 1000 seat conference room is planned and expected to commence by 2022. [SEE IMAGE 5] As a key Priority Initiative for the region since 2010, ten potential sites were highlighted by the CQ NRL Bid Team for investigation by Populous, with constraints and risks taken into consideration. These sites included Yeppoon, Parkhurst, Central Queensland University, Jardine Park, Kershaw Gardens, Lakes Creek Road, Aurizon CBD Site, Rosel Park, Browne Park, Rockhampton CBD and the Showgrounds Precinct. On the 24th Sep 2020, the State government announced $25Million to deliver Stage 1 redevelopment of the Browne Park Stadium, Rockhampton, to increase seating capacity to around 4,300.

> Regional Australia Institute (RAI) – Regional Activators Alliance

Capricorn Enterprise is one of 45 Organisations/LGAs in Australia which contributes to the “Regional Activators Alliance”, a collaboration to ensure our region is included in the $5 Million two year national campaign Move to More, co-ordinated by the RAI. [SEE IMAGE 1] A strong CQ contingency amongst 300 delegates attended the Regions Rising conference in Canberra in March 2021, at which the campaign was launched by the Deputy Prime Minister. [SEE IMAGE 2] 9 million people live in Regional Australia, out of a national population of 25.5 million, so our collective advocacy for regional Australia and more specifically Queensland is critical.