CHDC 2021-22 Annual Report

2021-22 Annual Report

Central Highlands Development Corporation acknowledges the First Peoples – the Traditional Owners of the lands where we live and work, and we recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and acknowledge the important role Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders continue to play within the Central Highlands region.

Cover Image: AgTech21 Advisory Committee

Back Row (left to right): Andrew Bate, Aaron Kiely, Saba Sinai, Nigel Burnett, Matt Barnes, Tom Wyatt and Richard Weston.

Front Row (left to right): Sonya Comiskey, Jocie Bate, Alicia Dunbar, Bronwyn Roberts, Monique Evans, Cassie Turner and Renee Anderson.

Chairman’s Report

Cr Kerry Hayes Chairman, Central Highlands Development Corporation Mayor, Central Highlands Regional Council

With COVID and its influence on our lives and economies stretching far into 2021-22, our Development Corporation continued to adapt to the ever-changing impacts.

We also underwent a change of leadership at CHDC, with Arjan Bloemer leaving the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position. We thank him for his work and contribution to the Central Highlands. Peter Dowling was appointed Interim CEO and did a remarkable job to lead the Corporation in the final months of 2021-22.

This year of changes was also marked by the election of a new federal government and new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in May. As is usual with a new government, CHDC will need to adapt to the new policy platforms and identify our key portfolio partners. We are also eagerly awaiting the outcomes of some important infrastructure commitments made in the pre-election budget for the Queensland Beef Corridors and the Yamala water pipeline upgrade. These are valuable and considerable enablers to the Central Highlands and the broader Central Queensland economy.

Another significant development at the federal level was Emerald’s inclusion as one of 20 priority locations in the National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF)

I suspect that the term ‘we live in interesting times’ has gone from an occasional expression to almost a permanent condition.

Regional Development Precincts proposal, launched prior to the election. Having the Central Highlands in this important advocacy blueprint reflects our collaboration in key supply chains and constant and consistent promotion of this region and its critical industries, significantly led by CHDC.

Locally, we continue to work with the Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) as it conducts due diligence and planning around the possibility of acquiring the former Emerald Agricultural College site. There are some exciting opportunities for that location and CHDC is constantly updating its progress.

With CHDC’s ongoing focus on the whole region, we convened Board meetings in Capella and the Gemfields this year. Extending networking opportunities for our directors and staff was a valuable experience in connecting with these smaller communities and considering the disruptions and the enablers for their local economies.

All this good work is a result of a strong organisational strategy and the enthusiasm and wherewithal of the CHDC team. Our directors’ skills, combined with a boundless energy from our staff, ensure that the region is effectively promoted and supported.

It’s also notable that the Corporation celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Providing economic and social development to the Central Highlands, its communities and its industries for such a long time is a significant achievement. I congratulate all previous and current councillor directors, independent directors, and staff for their service and for the benefits and opportunities they have created.

Today, CHDC enjoys a reputation as one of the most innovative and self-sustaining regional economic development organisations in the nation. That accolade has been gained by hard work and an intimate and escalating awareness of our region’s economic capacity and its aspiration to grow.

It is an organisation that our community is rightly very proud of.

We look forward to the future challenges and the even greater opportunities ahead for the Central Highlands.

Peter Dowling Interim Chief Executive Officer

CEO’s Foreword

Pushing through the ongoing complexities of a global pandemic, and other localised challenges, we maintained a high level of productivity to drive economic opportunity for the Central Highlands. A strong thread through 2021-22 was our support of small business to build capability and capacity. From thousands of direct interactions with operators to business workshops and forums, CHDC invested the attention this important sector needs to not just survive; but thrive.

Small business is also one of the primary motivators of our biennial Business Excellence Awards. It certainly wasn’t easy to deliver the Awards during such an unpredictable year but we knew it was more important than ever to celebrate local businesses. The buoyant atmosphere and sense of pride at the Awards’ gala dinner confirmed to me that our perseverance paid off.

Local agriculture has been a focus for CHDC since its inception and this unwavering commitment was exemplified at AgTech21. This biennial event was a massive undertaking, particularly during COVID, but we forged ahead in recognition of the value of local producers keeping pace with ag innovation. The fact that it attracted a sell-out crowd demonstrates producers feel the same way.

It’s fitting that the year CHDC marked its 25th anniversary was also a year of resilience for the Corporation.

Bolstering the region’s growing visitor economy continued to be another important focus, with the consolidation and increased exposure of Central Queensland Highlands, Explore More. This vibrant branding and messaging has truly helped to level the playing field as we compete with other regions for the tourism dollar.

At a macro level, CHDC also made progress in advocating for the Central Highlands, particularly though investor engagement, strategy input, and industry development. A great example of where the rubber hits the road was our economic impact assessment and coordination of stakeholder and site briefings for the Emerald Robotics Tech Park concept. That type of foundational work is instrumental in bringing proposals to fruition.

We also took a more creative approach to promoting the region by arranging for a national TV show to film here. The Central Highlands episode of Channel 10’s Taste of Australia with Hayden Quinn had the double advantage of showcasing our agriculture industry and tourism offerings. This level of nation-wide media exposure will have a lasting impact.

Our ongoing advocacy and stakeholder engagement with key decision makers continued, with the Farm to Fine Dining event pivotal. We also continued to

drive priority projects such as Yamala Enterprise Area Water Infrastructure, CQ Inland Port, and Frontier CQ (innovation hub at the former Emerald Agricultural College campus).

As a team, we faced the challenges that many local businesses and industry face with the loss of good people from our organisation. We thank them for their service and friendship. Importantly, the collective team continued to deliver on the work at hand with professionalism, loyalty and enormous goodwill.

That energy and passion for our work shines through in the following pages. This annual report is also a showcase of the Board’s guidance and our many partnerships with industry, government and other stakeholders.

I’m incredibly proud of how CHDC has evolved and adapted – not only in the past 12 months but the past 25 years. This would not have been possible without the leadership, support and collaboration of many people. A special thank you to all past and present team members who have contributed to CHDC; thanks also to their families and supporters.

I thank all of you for your important contribution to the work we do.

About Us

Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC) is the lead economic and tourism development agency for the Central Highlands region of Queensland, Australia.

Our region includes the communities of Arcadia Valley, Bauhinia, Blackwater, Bluff, Capella, Comet, Dingo, Duaringa, Emerald, Rolleston, Sapphire Gemfields, Springsure and Tieri.

CHDC actively partners with industry, business, government and community to drive growth, enable innovation, build capability and deliver economic outcomes.

For more than 25 years, CHDC’s rich understanding of local industry has allowed us to deliver economic insights and strategic action plans for the region. In turn, this has contributed to building strong, capable businesses and industries that are supply-chain ready and optimised for expansion.

Vision

Driving economic opportunities to support the Central Highlands as a dynamic inland region of choice.

Purpose

We advocate for a sustainable region and economic growth by enhancing our workforce, promoting our region and supporting our businesses.

Values

Our values are linked to the way we conduct business. We strive for: Collaboration, Credibility, Innovation, Accountability and Respect.

2021 Central Highlands Business Excellence Awards

Our Board

Cr Kerry Hayes Chairman

Cr Hayes has an extensive local government history, serving three terms as Councillor and now his second term as Mayor of the CHRC. He is also the Managing Director of Emerald Land and Cattle Company, a business focused on livestock, rural property and water trading.

Cr Christine Rolfe Deputy Chair

Cr Rolfe is Deputy Mayor of the CHRC and Director of Birrong Grazing Company. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and has completed AICD’s company director, risk analysis and bookkeeping courses. She also holds qualifications in rural business management and agriculture.

Cr Megan Daniels Director

Cr Daniels is serving her second term with CHRC. She is a long-term resident of the Central Highlands and owns a cattle grazing business at Comet. Cr Daniels holds qualifications in agriculture and is a graduate of the AICD company directors' course.

Sharon Houlihan Company Secretary

Ms Houlihan is the Chief Executive Officer at CHRC. She has a diverse range of professional expertise, spanning local and state government and the private sector. Ms Houlihan holds qualifications in building surveying, fire safety and risk engineering, organisational development and business administration.

Ciarán Hallinan Independent Director

Mr Hallinan is CEO of CST Hire, a specialised vehicle hire company. The experienced senior executive and company director holds qualifications in engineering and business and has a history of achievement in several public and private sector organisations.

The Hon Paul Lucas Independent Director

Mr Lucas was a Queensland Minister for 11 years including Deputy Premier from 2007 to 2011. He is a consultant to a major eastern seaboard law firm, and a non-executive director of Energy Queensland and several First Nations corporations. He holds qualifications in economics, law, business administration and urban planning.

Bronwyn Roberts Independent Director

Ms Roberts has 20 years’ experience as a regional professional with skills in livestock production, regenerative agriculture, environment, project management and governance. She is an active member of the Central Highlands community, holding board directorship roles with social enterprises, charities and not-for-profits.

Our Staff

Peter Dowling

Interim Chief Executive Officer (May to June 2022)

Kylie Hawkins Board and Events

Ashleigh Kavanagh Business Facilitator

Arjan Bloemer

Chief Executive Officer (to May 2022)

Corbishley Finance and Human Resources

Sonya Comiskey Agtech (to February 2022)

Visitor Information Centre

Sarah Chicalas Administration

Mary

Ryan

Business Facilitator (to February 2022)

Cassie

Turner

Agribusiness (to February 2022)

CHDC is also supported by the tireless contributions of casual and volunteer staff at our visitor information centres.

Casual Volunteer

Barry Rumpf

Carl Dingwall

Carol Ferguson

Christine Abell

Linda Morrison

Marion Edwards

Pamela Gangadoo

Coordinator

Olive Smith

Tanya Dickens

Vicki Scott

Alfred Fuller

Barry Spooner

Brant Gook

Carol Finger

Charles Tyson

Delma Winten

Diane McNamara

Edna Blake

Elizabeth Wright

Gail Nixon

George Bourne

Glen Wass

Janine Mahady

Jean Bourne

Jeanette Wass

John Nixon

John Sharp

Lyn Challacombe

Mary Tyson

Nola Chipman

Ros Paslow

Shan Sharp

Suzanne Mackay

Toni Coyne

Nicky Fisher Communications

Kelly

Rowena Davies Research and Collateral

Paul Thompson Visitor Economy

Regional Development

2021-22 Highlights

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CHDC represented the region on key resource working groups including the ‘Queensland Local Content Leaders Network’ (pictured below) which aims to maximise the local benefit from resource projects, and the ‘Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies’ which addresses the complex challenges underpinning mine closures.

Robotic Tech Park

Robotics Australia Group (RAG), the peak body for robotics in Australia, has expressed interest in locating a Robotics Tech Park at the former Emerald Agricultural College site.

The park would comprise an innovation precinct, and a field testing and demonstration area, allowing Australian robotic companies to design and trial industry solutions for the agricultural, resource, defence and space sectors.

CHDC has worked closely with RAG (including Executive Director Dr Sharna Glover pictured right), coordinating site visits, providing local introductions and attending stakeholder briefings. CHDC also coordinated an economic impact assessment and provided a letter of support as RAG seeks funding from state and federal government investment programs.

2022 Economic Futures Forum

Thought leaders shared their perspective on pressing regional challenges including net zero and COVID at the 2022 Economic Futures Forum.

ण The 2021 Central Highlands Economic Profile provided valuable data and insights into the local economy. CHDC produces the report annually as a free resource to use for business planning, market research, grant applications, education and more.

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CHDC engaged with industry and government bodies to provide regional input on draft policies , including the Central Queensland Infrastructure Plan, Queensland Energy Plan and Queensland Innovation Precincts and Places Strategy.

More than 70 people attended the business breakfast to hear from the speaker panel, which was rounded out by economic and property analysts.

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Keynote speaker Dr Amanda Cahill, The Next Economy, outlined the potential social and economic impacts the changing energy system could have on the Central Highlands.

ण Dr Ewen McPhee, Emerald Medical Group, discussed the impact COVID was expected to have on health resourcing in Central Queensland and the spike in mental health issues in the workplace.

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Michael Anthonisz, Queensland Treasury Corporation, presented key themes for the economy from a global, national and local perspective.

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Annette Smith, Acumentis, provided an insightful property market report for the Central Highlands.

Speaker presentations and images are available at chdc.com.au

Dr

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Emerald, Queensland and Australia."

Sharna Glover, Robotics Australia Group

Angela Taylor, Country Allure 2021 Business of the Year

Business Facilitation

2021 Central Highlands Business Excellence Awards

It was a trophy trifecta for lifestyle brand, Country Allure, at the 2021 Central Highlands Business Excellence Awards.

In front of a sell out audience of 300 guests, Country Allure (pictured left) was crowned Central Highlands Business of the Year, after winning the Retail and People’s Choice categories earlier in the evening.

The awards, held biennially since 2013, celebrate the achievements and entrepreneurial spirit of the Central Highlands’ most inspiring businesses.

Use the QR Code to watch the official video from the Gala Dinner.

Congratulations to our other 2021 winners.

Agribusiness

SwarmFarm Robotics

Construction and Trade Patrick Refrigeration

Emerging Business of the Year Stadium Premier Fitness

Health and Lifestyle Central Highlands Healthcare Hospitality Fairbairn Bakery

Manufacturing SwarmFarm Robotics

Professional and Business Services Maraboon Veterinary Surgery

Tourism Lake Maraboon Holiday Village

2022 Central Highlands Business Survey

COVID restrictions, labour shortages, supply chain disruptions and rising costs were major challenges for Central Highlands businesses during 2021-22.

More than 270 businesses shared their experiences in the 2022 survey. Key findings included:

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The cost of doing business was at an all-time high, with four in five businesses experiencing an increase.

2021-22 Highlights

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CHDC facilitated two business workshops ; ‘Small Business Marketing Masterclass’ aimed at supercharging digital marketing strategies, and ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Partnerships, Trusts and Companies’ (pictured below) which stepped through the different types of business structures.

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46% of businesses experienced a negative impact from COVID.

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In partnership with the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, CHDC hosted a business networking event in Emerald to celebrate Small Business Month. Based on its success, similar events have been planned for the region.

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More than 1,100 tender opportunities were distributed to local businesses through Tap into Tenders. The weekly newsletter provides a comprehensive listing of government and private procurement opportunities across the Fitzroy region.

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Labour shortages continued to be one of the biggest constraints to growth.

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Businesses were cautiously optimistic about the next 12 months.

The full report can be viewed at issuu.com/centralhighlandsdevelopmentcorporation

CQ Job Link is a free website connecting job seekers and employers in the Central Highlands and Isaac regions. More than 1,000 jobs were posted during 2021-22, which received over 16,300 views.

Visitor Economy

2021-22 Highlights

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Carnarvon Gorge and the Sapphire Gemfields (pictured below) were chosen by Tourism Australia to be part of the $12 million National Experience Content Initiative . Aimed at supporting businesses in their COVID recovery, the initiative will provide a suite of new imagery and footage.

Taste of Australia

The Central Queensland Highlands was in the national spotlight when it featured on Taste of Australia with Hayden Quinn.

The show’s star and crew spent a week filming in the region at the invitation of CHDC and with the support of Capricorn Enterprise.

The Boomtown Pictures production visited Carnarvon Gorge, Lake Maraboon, Emerald and Comet, and featured Breeze Holidays Parks – Carnarvon, Bar H Grazing, fruit grower Costa 2PH and Like Mum Used to Make, an artisan food business.

Hayden used local produce to prepare a ‘Mandarin & Chili Marinated T-bone with Kohlrabi, Kale and Grape Salad’ on the banks of Lake Maraboon (pictured right).

The series aired to great acclaim, reaching a total audience of 382,580 across metro and regional audiences.

Use the QR code to view the episode teaser or watch it in full on 10 play.

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The Central Queensland Highlands Visitor Information Centre in Emerald welcomed over 12,800 travellers.

Central Highlands Visitor Economy Strategy

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CHDC showcased the Central Queensland Highlands at key industry trade shows , distributing 5,500 brochures at the NSW Caravan Camping Holiday Supershow and Let’s Go Queensland Caravan Camping Supershow. CHDC also attended local events including the Emerald Show, Fairbairn Dam anniversary celebrations and Rockhampton Expo.

The Central Highland Visitor Economy Strategy (2020-22) is nearing successful completion, providing a strong foundation for the industry to build on over coming years.

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Project 1: Rollout of the new brand identity, Central Queensland Highlands, Explore More , included skinning of the Central Highlands Marketplace corridor and billboard, development of a slideshow for the Emerald Airport, social media marketing and website upgrades.

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Project 2: CHDC continued the pilot program to staff three additional regional visitor service centres in Springsure, Duaringa and Blackwater during the main tourist season.

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As part of Queensland’s Year of Indigenous Tourism , CHDC worked with Woorabinda Arts and Ka Ka Mundi Tagalong Tours to provide business coaching and mentoring.

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Project 3: Event platform, What’s On Central Queensland Highlands , gained momentum with more than 10,200 visits. The website was promoted through social media, radio interviews and postcards.

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Project 4: CHDC continued to work with CHRC to identify potential recreational vehicle , caravan and camping site options.

Hayden Quinn, Taste of Australia

The region really is a great big food bowl.”

There was a great sense of sharing information and energy.”

Participant feedback, AgTech21

Agribusiness

AgTech21: Build it, Use it, Profit

AgTech21 lived up to its reputation as the biennial meeting place for the Australian agtech community.

270 producers, students, startups, agribusinesses and industry representatives came together in Emerald to discuss the latest technology and innovations in Australian agriculture.

Participants were given the unique opportunity to pose questions to interactive expert panels, visit over 40 trade displays, and view technology and machinery working in the field.

Guest speaker and female founder, Emma Black (pictured left with emcee, Peter Lewis) shared the highs and lows of

her start-up journey. Emma cofounded Black Box Co, a cloudbased software program that links data captured along the beef supply chain to create informed insights.

Expert panels generated compelling discussion around the Digital Farming Collaboration Project, biosecurity and early adoption of agtech.

In addition to the live audience, the event was livestreamed to satellite sites in Mackay and Toowoomba and has since been viewed more than 450 times on YouTube.

Use the QR Code to watch video recordings of Emma and the expert panels.

2021-22 Highlights

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More than 260 high school students and their caregivers attended the inaugural Agriculture Industry Careers Night (pictured below) in November. Local agribusiness, education and industry professionals provided an insight into the many and varied career opportunities available in the industry.

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2021 Farm to Fine Dining

Some of the Central Highlands’ best produce was showcased at the 2021 Farm to Fine Dining event.

Held at Brisbane’s Blackbird Bar and Grill, the invitation-only event was attended by 80 industry and government leaders.

Farm to Fine Dining is one of the important ways that CHDC and CHRC build awareness and advocate on behalf of the Central Highlands region, as well as providing the opportunity for local producers to directly network with an influential audience.

The 2021 menu showcased produce from Arcadian Organic and Natural Meat Co., Avondale Farming, Fair Dinkum Meats, Like Mum Used to Make, Marquis Macadamias, Southern Cross Beef, Stent-Smith Pastoral Company and Costa 2PH.

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CHDC attended the 2022 National Farmers' Federation (NFF) Conference in Canberra where Emerald was identified as one of 20 Regional Development Precincts across Australia. NFF is calling on the Federal government to invest $1.4 billion to transform the identified centres into economic engines.

Through a collaborative agreement with the Department of Agricultural and Fisheries, CHDC’s AgFrontier program commenced work with the Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre to bridge the gap between research, extension and adoption in the broadacre cropping industry.

Celebrating 25 Years

Recognising the value of working as a region, the Emerald, Peak Downs and Bauhinia Shire Councils established CHDC in 1997, with Duaringa Shire Council joining in 2006.

What started as a ground-breaking collaboration more than a decade ahead of Queensland’s mass local government amalgamations, CHDC is today considered one of the State’s premier economic development organisations. In 2022, CHDC celebrated it's 25th anniversary. Below we look back at some of the many highlights.

2005

Emerald’s Visitor Information Centre was the first local government building on Australia's east coast to be built of straw bales.

1999 - 2003

CH Connect was among CHDC’s first major initiatives as the digital age picked up pace in the late 1990s.

The project aimed to improve the community’s access to new communications technologies by rolling out video conferencing and internet facilities, supported with training in 10 towns.

2001 - 2006

To help address the region’s skills gaps, a string of programs ran through the noughties, including three iterations of Upskilling the Highlands.

Its accredited courses, training placements and career advisory service were accessed by more than 1,000 job seekers.

This passion project for CHDC and the local council was partly funded by the community through the Buy a Bale campaign.

2009

CHDC stepped up its business networking opportunities when it held its first Friday Forum in 2009.

The popular business breakfast concept has since had various iterations and continues to be a hallmark of CHDC’s events calendar.

2005 - 2016

The first Emerald Multicultural Festival was held in 2005 to celebrate the town’s diversity.

Eventually expanded to be the Central Highlands Multicultural Festival , the annual event attracted 8,000+ people at its peak.

2010

Challenging eras, such as the COVID pandemic and the 2013-17 mining downturn, triggered an escalation in support to local business.

Following the 2010/11 Emerald floods , CHDC helped to establish a register of affected businesses and provide linkages with financial assistance.

Chair

1997 – 2000 Cr Paul Bell

2000 – 2016 Cr Peter Maguire 2016 – present Cr Kerry Hayes

CEO

1997 – 2000 Stuart Reid

2000 – 2008 Peter Dowling

2008 – 2009 Brigid Duncanson

2009 – 2020 S andra Hobbs 2020 – 2022 Arjan Bloemer 2022 – present Peter Dowling

2012 - 2016

The Central Highlands Investing in our Future Conference in 2012, 2014 and 2016 showcased emerging economic opportunities with site visits, panel discussions and trade exhibitions.

High-profile speakers included author and journalist Peter FitzSimons AM, Brumby’s bakery king Michael Sherlock, and finance commentator Michael Pascoe.

2014

To promote the Central Highlands’ liveability, the More than you expect brand was used extensively in regional promotions, including business and resident welcome guides , a Welcome to the Community event in 2014, and 2018’s Work, Play, Discover the Central Highlands short film.

2017

After the first AgTech: Build it, Use it, Profit in 2017 drew a sold-out crowd, the field day and forum became a biennial event.

It also inspired the launch of AgFrontier, Queensland’s first and only dedicated regional agtech incubator. This program eventually expanded to included two domestic missions to help start-ups take their ideas to the world.

2013

The Central Highlands Business Excellence Awards were first held in 2013 and continue to be a biennial event, culminating in a gala dinner and ceremony.

H.E.M.E., 4t Consultants, Fair Dinkum Fresh and GeoRadar are in the Awards Hall of Fame for winning multiple categories over three consecutive years.

2016

The Central Highlands Accelerate Agribusiness (CHAA) collaboration was formed in 2016 to grow, promote and realise value and opportunity in agriculture. Delivering projects such as the Farm to Fine Dining produce showcase and From Paddock to Port tours, CHAA won both a Queensland and national award in 2018.

2021

As part of a strategy to build a thriving visitor economy, the Central Queensland Highlands, Explore More branding rolled out in 2021.

It was closely followed by the events calendar What’s On Central Queensland Highlands and seasonal visitor information counters at Blackwater, Springsure and Duaringa.