Townsville Enterprise Annual Report: FY2024-25 FINAL

Become a member and secure the future of

As a member of Townsville Enterprise, you and your business will be supported by strategic advocacy and promotion that attracts investment, creates jobs, drives visitations and improves liveability in our region. Plus,

▶ Tap into our professional network

▶ Build local and statewide strategic relationships

▶ Increase your brand profile and marketing

▶ Be part of our advocacy as an industry leader

▶ Access our destination promotion

▶ Get insights into our region’s project pipeline

▶ Be part of securing the future of Townsville North Queensland

Townsville Enterprise is only as strong as our members and with your support we can continue to secure the future for Townsville North Queensland. Join with us at townsvilleenterprise.com.au Visit our website

Palm Island

Hinchinbrook

Burdekin

Charters Towers

Townsville

About Townsville Enterprise

Townsville Enterprise is a not-forprofit, non-partisan, membershipbased organisation that represents the local government areas of Townsville and Magnetic Island, Hinchinbrook, Burdekin, Charters Towers and Palm Island.

We work in partnership with industry, government, and community to drive investment, create jobs, and position the region as a leader in sustainable growth and innovation.

For over 30 years, Townsville Enterprise has played a critical role in leading the economic progress for the Townsville

North Queensland region. As the peak economic development and destination management body, Townsville Enterprise has the remit of securing the future of North Queensland. Our initiatives span advocacy, major project facilitation, tourism promotion, and industry development, with a clear focus on unlocking opportunities in energy, resources, manufacturing, defence, health, and education. By championing transformational projects such as CopperString, the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium, and the Queensland Country Bank Stadium, we are laying the foundations for long-term regional prosperity.

We’re made up of: 18 full time staff, 65+ volunteers and 325 members.

Our Vision

To be the most influential and respected advocacy and economic development body in Australia.

Our Purpose

Securing the future of Townsville North Queensland.

Our Values Excellence

Accept nothing less than quality in everything we do. Partnerships Work together, inspire each other and use external membership relationships to achieve strategic priorities.

Non-partisan

Strive for what is best for the region – independent of politics. Be transparent, informative and data led.

Creative

Be innovative and imaginative in creating an exciting and vibrant future.

PRINCIPAL PARTNER

MAJOR PARTNERS

PLATINUM MEMBERS

REGIONAL COUNCILS

About Our Principal Partner

Together with our network of leading businesses, organisations and industry professionals - our principal partner, Townsville City Council is championing our joint efforts to secure the future of North Queensland.

From maintaining more than 300 beautiful parks and open spaces, world-class beaches and a road network of more than 1800km, to driving innovative projects that boost economic development in their goal to grow Townsville, Townsville City Council works tirelessly to ensure the city remains a great place to live, work and visit.

Looking ahead to the next financial year, our strong partnership with the largest populated local government in northern Australia has been further strengthened through a record-breaking investment in tourism and the successful transition of major events, showcasing Townsville on the national stage.

TOWNSVILLE ENTERPRISE

Castle Hill, Townsville North Queensland

Claudia Brumme Chief Executive Officer

Kevin Gill Chairman

Message From Our Chair Kevin Gill & CEO Claudia Brumme

This year has been nothing short of a game changer for Townsville North Queensland.

Our region has stood at the forefront of some of the nation’s most significant developments – from the commencement of CopperString early works and the expansion of Townsville University Hospital (TUH), to the emergence of critical minerals, defence consolidation and renewable energy hubs. With more than $9 billion in new projects added across nine major developments, our pipeline has become one of the most exciting investment opportunities in Australia. These are not just projects; they are catalysts that will transform our economy, create jobs and shape the future of our region for generations to come. It has also been a year of challenge and change. Workforce shortages, housing pressures and the devastating 2025 floods tested our resilience, while uncertainty around the future of the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and Townsville Copper Refinery reminded us just how vital the copper industry, Phosphate Hill and the North West Minerals Province is to the 17,000 livelihoods that rely on it. On top of this, significant political shifts across Federal, State and Local elections required steady and professional advocacy. Through it all, our non-partisan values, constructive approach and strong relationships with all levels and sides of government ensured that the voice of North Queensland remained clear, credible and influential.

What makes this possible is the collective effort of our community. Our Principal Partner, Townsville City Council, together with our regional councils, industry partners, members,

and volunteers, have worked alongside us to secure more than $9.5 billion in private and public investment. Together, we championed renewable energy projects, advanced critical infrastructure and celebrated wins such as the $100 million commitment to rebuild the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium – an investment that will inspire generations of locals, visitors, students and researchers.

With the support of our members and community, we ensured that the priorities of North Queensland were front and centre in both Federal and State decision-making. From renewable energy, road infrastructure to tourism developments, workforce and liveability, our region’s needs were heard loud and clear – as we strengthened our position to secure long-term outcomes through our Unlock the North advocacy platform.

Tourism also delivered recordbreaking results, cementing its place as a cornerstone of our economy and lifestyle. Campaigns such as Up for Unexpected, Mates Rates, and our $10 Holiday PR initiative generated national attention, attracting more than 42,000 additional visitors and injecting nearly $35 million into the local economy.

Major events – from The Killers to V8 Supercars and the 2024 Multisport World Championships Festival –brought vibrancy and thousands of visitors to our city and paved the way for an exciting new chapter in Townsville’s major events landscape.

The appointment of a Director of Major Events Acquisition added to the year being a landmark for Townsville Enterprise. The smooth transition of responsibilities from Townsville City Council provided a strong foundation for this new function and together we will continue to

cement our region’s reputation as the Events Capital of the North.

In partnership with Townsville City Council, Regional Development Australia, Port of Townsville, Powerlink –CopperString, Catholic Education, James Cook University, and Bravus Mining and Resources, we managed a national liveability campaign to showcase the opportunities of living and working in Townsville North Queensland.

Our strong presence at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) and the commitment to develop a Strategic Indigenous Tourism Strategy opened new pathways for growth. Our incredible Visitor Information Centre (VIC) volunteers gave more than 9,300 hours of service and welcomed over 13,000 visitors. They remain the heartbeat of visitor experiences with their reputation even becoming renowned across the national cruise sector as they proudly welcomed thousands of visitors in our record cruise year!

None of this happens without you –our councils, members, governments, industry partners and volunteers. You are the heartbeat of this organisation. Your support, collaboration and trust enable us to do what we do best: advocate for our region, attract investment, and promote Townsville North Queensland to the nation and the world.

It has been a year of resilience, determination and momentum. While we are proud of what has been achieved, we are even more excited about what lies ahead. We are not simply watching change unfold; together, we are shaping it – ensuring Townsville North Queensland continues to grow, thrive and unlock its true potential.

Year in Summary

Welcomed 58 new members

Project Pipeline: +$9B and +9 projects (increase driven by 14 revaluations, 25 new additions and 16 removals)

Marketing activity secured an additional 42,256 visitors and almost $35M in visitor spend

More than 300 tourism sales and trade meetings across the year

More than 2,194 attendees across 25 Townsville Enterprise exclusive events

In partnership with our industry and councils, advocated for more than $9.5B in secured private and public investments

24/25 Board of Directors

Chair

Kevin Gill

Simon Biggs

Vice Chancellor & President

James Cook University

Joe Carey Director

Carey Accountants Pty Ltd

Ranee Crosby

Chief Executive Officer

Port of Townsville Limited

Peter Duffy Senior Partner wilson/ryan/grose

Kathy Danaher

Jamie Fitzpatrick

Managing Director FGH Group

24/25 Committees

Finance Audit & Risk Committee

Kathy Danaher, Chair

Townsville Enterprise Limited, Director

Shawn Anderson

Queensland Country Bank

Luke Guazzo

Presto Coffee

Allison McKay

Pickerings Group of Companies

Resigned – 12/12/2024

Kevin Gill

Townsville Enterprise Limited, Chair

Tim Richardson

The Ville Resort-Casino

Appointed – 31/01/2025

OBSERVERS

Claudia Brumme

Townsville Enterprise Limited

Tracey Holmes

Townsville Enterprise Limited

Membership Committee

Peter Wheeler, Chair

Colliers Townsville

Aaron Power

Colliers Townsville

Connor McKay

North Queensland Cowboys

Sally Forgan

Eagle Drilling NQ Pty Ltd

Eleni Millios-Hullick

The Cure Starts Now

OBSERVERS

Chris McDougall

Townsville Enterprise Limited

Karen Davis

Townsville Enterprise Limited

Michael Jones

Chief Executive Officer

The Ville Resort-Casino

Resigned 01/11/2024

Allison McKay

Chief Operating Officer

Pickerings Group of Companies

Liam Mooney

Councillor

Townsville City Council

Peter Wheeler

Managing Director Colliers Townsville

Major Events Acquisition Panel

Jamie Fitzpatrick, Chair

FGH Group

Bridget Hart

Capital B Creative

Jess Kier

Keir Steele Waldon

Jacqueline Cowell

Townsville City Council

OBSERVERS

Claudia Brumme

Townsville Enterprise Limited

Chelsea Cavanah

Townsville Enterprise Limited

Key Industry Snapshot

North Queensland’s robust economic landscape and diverse industries are on the rise and primed for sustained growth. Townsville Enterprise, in partnership with our Councils and industry, has been at the forefront for driving job creation, unlocking funding opportunities, and connecting projects to fasttrack their viability within the region. Our Project Pipeline value has grown by $9 Billion, increasing from $33B to $42B, alongside an increase in project count from 63 to 72. This expansion delivers multiple economic, social and strategic benefits to the region while reducing reliance on any single industry.

Job opportunities are also surging, with demand for ongoing roles up by 2,282 (from 5,050 to 7,332). At the same time, demand for skilled construction jobs has increased by 782 (from 17,442 to 18,224).

This snapshot highlights the region’s accelerating momentum and signals a promising outlook for FY25/26 in North Queensland.

Key Drivers for FY24/25

▶ CopperString early works commencement

▶ Growth in critical minerals and green manufacturing

▶ Health infrastructure build-out

▶ Defence posture uplift

▶ Events-led visitor demand

▶ Energy and hydrogen hub commitments

Looking Ahead for FY25/26

▶ Skilled workforce demand: This is also the main challenge for Townsville North Queensland moving into FY25/26 as the demand for skilled workers is at an all-time high with 87% of the advertised jobs requiring at least a certificate and over a quarter demand a bachelor’s degree or higher.

▶ Population and lifestyle advantages: The region’s natural population growth, affordability and expanding job opportunities make it a promising and attractive location for young families and long-term economic expansion.

▶ Currency outlook: The Australian dollar (AUD) is forecast to strengthen against a weaker United States Dollar (USD), supported by concerns over the United States economy and fiscal backdrop.

▶ Energy security and affordable gas pricing: North Queensland faces rising energy insecurity and a national gas crisis, with soaring prices crippling industry and threatening critical mining and manufacturing jobs.

▶ Housing availability and affordability: North Queensland is facing increasing housing pressures, with limited supply and rising costs impacting workforce attraction, community growth and liveability.

Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, North Queensland.

Defence

Defence remains a cornerstone of Townsville’s economy, contributing $3.4B (17.3% of GVA) - triple the national share.

Key 2024 milestones included:

▶ delivery of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks,

▶ confirmation of AH-64E Apache basing, and

▶ relocation of the 1st Aviation Regiment.

Major exercises such as North Queensland Warfighter and Brolga Sprint supported hospitality, freight and fuel sectors.

Defence Housing Australia is delivering 400 new homes by 2026, supporting incoming families and trades. Looking ahead, further force consolidation and repeat exercises will drive long-term MRO, training and supply chain growth, while the North Queensland Strategic Defence Working Group continues to champion regional readiness and local participation.

Tourism

Tourism in Townsville North Queensland is surging, supporting 9,000 jobs and attracting new private investment. The Port of Townsville recorded its best cruise season yet, with strong bookings locked in through 2028.

1.3M domestic visitors (+11.8% YoY) delivered $1.1B in

overnight spend and 4M stays. Average spend held at $261 per night and $823 per trip.

Internationally, 108,000 visitors stayed 1.1M nights (10.6 nights average). Spend per night rose 7.7% on 2019, with Europe (+25.4%) leading growth— especially Germany (+9.8%) and the UK (22,000 visitors).

Health

The health sector underpins the North Queensland economy, supporting 25,700 jobs (21% of local employment). Townsville University Hospital (TUH) is the region’s largest employer, serving a 700,000-strong catchment and providing vital opportunities for women, with a 79% female workforce. By June 2025, TUH had created 2,100 new roles (up 9%).

Major investments are expanding capacity, improving care and reducing wait times. These include the $17M hybrid operating theatre, a $530M hospital expansion delivering more beds and theatres, the $45M Kirwan Health Campus upgrade, and ongoing Mater Townsville improvements.

Agriculture

Agriculture remains the backbone of North Queensland. In both the Burdekin and Hinchinbrook, agriculture, forestry and fishing, delivers the largest share of value-add and employment with their respective regions. Townsville North Queensland continues to top national sugarcane production, while cattle confidence lifted with restocker prices recovering. Townsville also remained a leading live-export port, shipping ~94,455 head in 2024–25.

The 2024–25 wet season brought 21% above-average rainfall, replenishing pastures and storages. But flooding from early 2025 saw the Herbert River peak near record levels, causing heavy losses. Hinchinbrook’s Herbert district faces a crush ~1M tonnes lower and damages of $25–50M, with cane yields and some horticulture down despite improved pasture and irrigation recovery.

Mining & Manufacturing

Townsville North Queensland’s mining and manufacturing sector faced shortterm pressure on metals processing but gained momentum across ports, energy and advanced manufacturing. The Port of Townsville upgrade supports larger vessels and stronger links to the North West Minerals Province. While risks remain for copper processing amid Mount Isa closures, enabling projects still advanced. CopperString entered delivery with $2.4B in funding.

Manufacturing is pivoting to green metals and energy, with projects including Vecco’s vanadium facility, hydrogen hubs and Quinbrook’s $7.8B polysilicon plant. The regional pipeline totals $15.7B across 15 projects, reinforcing Townsville’s role as Northern Australia’s industrial, manufacturing and processing hub.

Ardo Hotel, Townsville, North Queensland

Education

Education is a cornerstone of Townsville North Queensland’s economy, anchored by JCU, CQUniversity, TAFE Queensland and a strong school network. The sector drives employment and builds pipelines for healthcare, defence, resources and renewables. Despite teacher shortages, housing pressures and flood impacts, capability expanded with JCU’s

Engineering and Innovation Place, TAFE’s hydrogen and renewables facility, and TropiQ’s research–health connections. Powerlink’s SuperGrid Training Centre and NQ SPARK also strengthened regional skills. Priorities include more placements, labs, VET subsidies, student housing and targeted migration to sustain growth and liveability.

Energy

Townsville North Queensland’s energy sector is balancing reliability with transition, anchored by CopperString, which will connect the North West Minerals Province to the National Elecrticity Market (NEM) and unlock renewable zones.

With 300+ sunny days and strong winds at Hughenden, the region is progressing a $22.2B pipeline of solar, wind, storage (Mount Fox, Burdekin BESS, Kidston) and export fuels (hydrogen, green methanol, SAF). Mount Stuart and Yabulu continue to firm supply as new batteries come online. While system strength, approvals and workforce pressures persist, policy support is lifting investor confidence. CopperString works and grid upgrades will strengthen reliability, cut emissions and position Townsville as a renewables and critical-minerals hub.

Advocacy

In FY24/25, advocacy remained at the core of our organisation. Our efforts took us to the nation’s capital of Canberra in November 2024, where we secured 12 meetings over two days. A further delegation was held in Canberra in February 2024, and secured an additional 11 meetings, presenting our “Unlock the North” advocacy document, which outlines the region’s key priorities for securing our future with a Federal election focus in mind. Additionally, delegations were held in Brisbane alongside our regional council mayors in August 2024, securing nine meetings, and again in March 2025, securing an additional 16 meetings.

These meetings gave Townsville North Queensland a seat at the table where decisions are made, and they ensured the region’s priorities are heard directly by Federal and State leaders. They also allowed us the quality face-to-face time to build relationships with key decision-makers, and position priority projects for funding and policy support. Public investment continues to unlock and drive private investment. The Federal and State Governments agreed to resume the previous 80:20 Highway funding split model, with the Bruce Highway benefitting to the tune of $9B. This will increase safety and reduce transit time for the freight along this national arterial road, facilitating the transportation of goods to and from the economic powerhouse that is North Queensland.

In July 2024, we launched our Project Pipeline, firmly establishing North Queensland as a major economic force in Australia, with the value of projects planned through to the end of the decade soaring to $33B. The pipeline, which is live and updated in real time, originally outlined a portfolio of 63 investment projects, each exceeding $10M in value.

The 2024-2029 forecast detailed the growth in both public and private sector investment and construction in the North Queensland project pipeline. The project pipeline includes many sectors, including transport, water, tourism, energy transition infrastructure and mineral resource development.

The region secured $40M worth of funding towards a Local Renewable Energy Zone (LREZ) in Townsville North Queensland, starting from January 2025.

The Queensland LREZ, a nation-first project, highlights the North as a green energy powerhouse. It works by allowing households with rooftop solar to transfer

the energy they generate during the day into local batteries to be transferred back to additional households during the night, when the sun isn’t shining, but energy usage is at its peak.

Together with our region, we continued our advocacy efforts by calling for upgrades to the Flinders Highway to accommodate the anticipated surge in critical mining activities, CopperString and renewable energy projects. We also backed the Charters Towers Regional Council’s request to transfer ownership of the Big Rocks Weir to the State Government.

In August, our CEO Claudia Brumme delivered the CEO Address at the 2024 Bush Summit, which was the first of six News Corp summits over six months. The event provided a national platform for regional leaders to highlight the opportunities and challenges facing rural and regional Australia, bringing together government, industry and community voices to shape the national policy agenda.

A cornerstone of the year was the success of the community campaign, which in August 2024 secured the final $100M in additional funding necessary to build the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium (formerly known as Reef HQ) from the Federal Government. This commitment marked a total $180M worth of investment from the Federal Government. The Aquarium component of this project alone will generate more than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs and contribute over $444M to our local economy - delivering economic benefit, global profile, education and conservation advantages.

In September 2024, the Queensland Country Bank (QCB) Stadium announced it had secured yet another major international performing act – with

confirmation the facility would be the only regional site to host Las Vegas-based rock band, The Killers, as part of their Australian tour.

Our CEO Claudia Brumme commented at the time that the stadium was just one of nearly 50 major projects that we had successfully advocated for over the past three decades since Townsville Enterprise’s inception, with the total value of advocacy over the last 33 years reaching $70B in economic activity generated for the region.

In April 2025, we acknowledged the news that the new Crisafulli LNP Government had appointed the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) to deliver the CopperString project. The appointment of QIC brought assurances and opened doors to private investment in the project. This, coupled with the announcement in June that the Queensland Government would increase committed funds to CopperString by $1.4B in the 2025-26 State Budget, marking a total state investment of $2.4B to date, has laid the groundwork for progress and delivery of the nation-building project.

Advocacy efforts turned to the imminent threat of closure of the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and Townsville Copper Refinery. Both are part of an industrial ecosystem centered on copper mining and manufacturing that supports more than 17,000 jobs across the region and contributes around 16% of Gross Regional Product (GRP).

In May 2025, we launched the Keep Our Copper campaign, dedicated to ensuring collaboration between communities, industry and governments with the aim of securing a solution for these two nationally significant assets.

Unlock the North Delegation, Parliament House, Canberra

CopperString Centre Opening, Stanley Street, Townsville City

Unlock the North Delegation, Parliament House, Canberra

FURTHER SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS YEAR INCLUDED:

▶ $2B plus in Defence funding.

▶ $530M expansion of Townsville University Hospital (TUH).

▶ Quinbrook's $8B Polysilicon Refinery.

▶ Edify Energy’s two co-located dispatchable renewable energy projects, the largest of their kind in Queensland, to be built at Majors Creek.

24/25 Highlights

▶ $33B Project Pipeline launched

▶ Three funding wins:

1. $180M for the new Great Barrier Reef Aquarium

2. $40M for Australia’s first Local Renewable Energy Zone

3. $2.4B State investment into CopperString

▶ Three major infrastructure commitments

– $530M TUH, $2B+ Defence funding, and new renewable and manufacturing projects including an $8B polysilicon refinery

On The Horizon for FY26

▶ With a short-term deal secured for the continued operation of the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and Townsville Refinery, we extend our congratulations to the Federal and State Government and Glencore for their tireless collaboration in achieving this outcome – protecting local jobs and North Queensland’s copper processing capability.

▶ CopperString remains the single most transformative, industry-enabling project in Northern Australia and has been made possible through years of partnership and collective advocacy together with government, industry and community.

▶ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium rebuild remains a key regional priority, delivered through strong collaboration across government, industry, and community. Backed by $180M in Federal funding, it will create the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium and anchor the revitalised CBD waterfront.

▶ The Unlock the North platform unites partners around shared priorities in manufacturing, water, housing, workforce, health, tourism and liveability. Over the coming year, it will be refreshed and aligned with government policy and budget cycles to ensure continued regional impact.

▶ More than $100M in Federal and State Government support for North and Noth West Queensland businesses affected by the 2025 monsoonal flooding event.

▶ Delivery of funding by the Queensland Residential Activation Fund to support the construction of three critical infrastructure projects in North Queensland, unlocking more than 2,700 new homes.

▶ International acts secured for Queensland Country Bank Stadium, delivering over $200M in economic benefits in just two years.

▶ 48 high-level meetings secured in Canberra and Brisbane.

▶ Launched the Keep Our Copper campaign.

▶ Queensland election 2024: Crisafulli LNP Government

▶ Australian election 2025: Albanese Labor Government

▶ Our CEO Claudia Brumme delivered the CEO Address at the 2024 Bush Summit, which was the first of six News Corp summits over six months

▶ Securing the future of Dyno Nobel’s Phosphate Hill and the 500 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs attached to its operation.

▶ Eventify North Queensland Portal will activate local businesses in Townsville to support two major backto-back events: PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals (31 October to 1 November) and the Sunburnt Country Music (6 November), featuring international stars Shaboozey and Jelly Roll.

▶ The release of the new Queensland Government Energy Roadmap 2025 with CopperString at its heart.

▶ The Queensland Government’s Residential Activation Fund investing $36.8M in North Queensland to build more than 2,700 homes by funding critical roads, water, sewerage and drainage.

▶ Launching the largest-ever tourism campaign Up for Unexpected together with the Townsville City Council, Federal and State Government, Tourism and Events Queensland and local industry partners.

Membership

Our members are at the heart of everything we do. With 325 members and partners, it is because of their commitment that we are able to stand as a strong and united advocacy voice for North Queensland.

Every advocacy win is the result of joint effort. Our Councils, partners and members working alongside us is crucial to securing a stronger future for the region. With North Queensland on one of its biggest growth trajectories in more than a decade, this is a future all North Queenslanders can be excited about.

Over the past year, 58 new members joined us, including nine new strategic members:

1. Ardo Townsville

2. BM Webb Building Pty Ltd

3. Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council

4. Eva Copper Mine Pty Ltd

5. J Hutchison Pty Ltd

6. Magnetic Motors Pty Ltd

7. Richmond Vanadium Technology

8. Eagle Drilling Pty Ltd

9. Mackellar Mining Pty Ltd

We regularly sought member input through surveys and targeted feedback opportunities, ensuring our advocacy efforts remained relevant, credible and impactful in addressing the priorities of the communities they serve. The collective voice of our members not only strengthens trust, but also amplifies our credibility as decision-makers striving for positive regional outcomes. With FY25 being both a Federal and State election year, it was more critical than ever that we, together with our members, advocated strongly for the future of Townsville North Queensland.

24/25 Highlights

▶ Welcomed 58 new members and nine new strategic partners.

▶ Worked together with members to advocate for North Queensland in the FY25 Federal and State election year.

▶ Hosted an exclusive membership only event for the State Government 2025 Budget Address with Hon David Janetzki (refer to Events for more details).

THANK YOU

We extend our sincere gratitude to each of our members at Townsville Enterprise. Your support, commitment and partnership are the backbone of our collective success. By joining this network of businesses, organisations and community leaders, you help drive economic growth, advocacy and opportunity across Townsville and North Queensland. Together, we are stronger. Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together and look forward to the next financial year as we together pursue a brighter, more prosperous future for our region.

“Coming from outside of Townsville, it takes some time to get accepted into the community and to become a local yourself. Townsville Enterprise really helped us speed up that process and connected us to the community. We really value their help.”

NICHOLAS HARVEY, GENERAL MANAGER, KPAT HOTELS

Member Mixers and CopperString Tour

Events

Events are one of our greatest strengths, delivering impact, connection and memorable experiences for all our members. We have successfully hosted a dynamic lineup of member exclusive events and forums that made a real impact.

Secure the Future Forum series offered participants the chance to explore the region’s key industries in depth— Tourism, Mining and Critical Minerals, and Green Energy. These thoughtprovoking sessions have played a pivotal role in guiding advocacy priorities, fostering valuable connections amongst members, and sharing important updates

24/25 Highlights

on initiatives, announcements and opportunities that are set to influence the future of North Queensland. We also hosted the North Queensland Tourism and Events Awards, our Annual General Meeting (AGM), the LNP’s first budget address in office with Hon. David Janetzki MP, and several networking events across the financial year.

▶ The return of the Industry Site Tours for the Green Energy and Mining and Critical Minerals Forum (sold out across both events).

▶ Signature events such as monthly Member Mixers at the newly renovated Cbar, TAFE Queensland, the newly open CopperString Experience Centre, and in conjunction with the Major Events/Supercars at Magnetic Motors.

▶ Hosted Hon. David Janetzki MP for his first Budget address with our members at the Townville Collective.

▶ Future Leaders Graduation at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

▶ Launched the Invest Townsville North Queensland website at Flinders Lane.

▶ German Investor Delegation welcome reception hosted by The Ville Resort-Casino and Ardo.

▶ Held our signature event, 2025 Tourism and Events Gala Dinner at the Museum of Tropical Queensland.

Throughout the year, we also hosted monthly Member Mixers in collaboration with key strategic partners, providing high-quality networking opportunities for both our members and non-members. Over the year, we delivered a total of 25 events, which saw 2,194 attendees from across the region.

On The Horizon for FY26

▶ Continuation of the Secure the Future Forum Series across Tourism, Green Energy and Mining and Critical Minerals – this includes site tours and pre-event networking opportunities.

▶ Exploration of a potential podcast launch, giving us another channel to reach the ears of North Queenslanders.

▶ Continuation of supporting new venues opening in Townsville using the monthly Member Mixer events to help generate interest and awareness with new business ventures in the CBD.

▶ Exploring new Member Mixer opportunities to ensure opportunities are provided to members to expand their networking and mentorship from Business-to-Business (B2B) to strategic members of Townsville Enterprise.

Green Energy Forum, The Ville Resort-Casino, Townsville

German Investor Delegation, Quayside Terminal, Townsville

Testimonial from our Secure the Future Sponsor

“As a proud sponsor of the Secure the Future Forum Series, The Townsville Bulletin recognises these events as essential catalysts for North Queensland's economic transformation and sustainable growth. For almost 150 years, we have been fierce advocates for our region, and the Secure the Future Series perfectly aligns with our mission to enhance the quality of life across North Queensland communities. These forums provide an invaluable platform where industry leaders, government representatives, and innovative thinkers converge to tackle the challenges and opportunities that will define our region's future.

The Mining and Critical Minerals Forum has been particularly significant, showcasing projects like CopperString that demonstrate our region's potential to move beyond resource extraction to valueadded processing and manufacturing. Meanwhile, the Green Energy Forum positions Townsville at the forefront of Australia's renewable energy transition, with hydrogen projects and sustainable aviation fuel initiatives that promise to create lasting employment and economic diversification.

What sets these forums apart is their collaborative approach. Rather than isolated discussions, they foster genuine partnerships between sectors that traditionally might operate independently. This unity of purpose is exactly what North Queensland needs to secure its economic future and compete on the national stage.

Through our sponsorship and coverage, we've witnessed firsthand how these events generate tangible outcomes – from policy advocacy to business partnerships and infrastructure commitments. The ripple effects extend far beyond the conference rooms, influencing investment decisions, government policy, and community confidence in our region's trajectory.

The Secure the Future Series embodies the collaborative spirit essential for regional development. As North Queensland's voice, The Townsville Bulletin is proud to support initiatives that bring our community together to build a stronger, more prosperous future for generations to come.”

SUZANNE WILSON, TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN GENERAL MANAGER

Ross River, Townsville, North Queensland

Destination Marketing

We delivered strong outcomes through targeted marketing campaigns that drove measurable returns for the region.

For every dollar invested, our destination marketing activity generated $38 in overnight visitor expenditure, with 42,256 passengers directly attributable to campaign efforts. Importantly, these figures do not capture the broader “halo effect” of campaigns, where additional travellers are influenced but not directly measurable.

Brand performance also saw significant uplift. Awareness increased by 45% year-on-year (YoY), with exposed audiences now 71% more likely to consider Townsville North Queensland as a holiday destination. Customer advocacy strengthened, with the region’s Net Promoter Score (a global benchmark measuring how likely visitors are to recommend a destination) improving by 51 points. Most notably, 77% of people exposed to our campaigns took action, highlighting the strong conversion of marketing activities into tangible visitation.

Following the 2025 flooding event, we, in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland, acted quickly to support the local tourism economy and restore traveller confidence through the Mates Rates campaign. Offering a 50% discount travel subsidy, the campaign sold out within a week and saw almost 3,000 locals and visitors exploring the region. This helped stimulate visitation during a traditionally soft period and contributed to the region’s recovery. The success of Mates Rates highlights the importance of initiatives that drive demand during off-peak seasons, providing a vital boost for tourism operators and it is a campaign we look forward to delivering again in FY26.

Complementing paid campaigns, we delivered a strong public relations program, hosting media and influencers that resulted in 30 million people reached across national platforms including the Today Show, Mamamia, Urban List, Escape, Timeout and more.

Thanks to our campaign partners:

▶ Townsville City Council

▶ The Ville Resort-Casino and Ardo

▶ SeaLink Queensland

▶ Queensland Museum Tropics

▶ Adrenaline and Moua

▶ Pilgrim Magnetic Island

▶ Aquascene Magnetic Island

24/25

Highlights

DESTINATION BRAND CAMPAIGN

From March to June 2025, we delivered a major four-month integrated destination brand campaign in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland, Townsville City Council, Queensland Airports, The Ville Resort Casino, Ardo, Queensland Museum Tropics, SeaLink, Aquascene, Pilgrim Magnetic Island, Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive, Goldtower, and the Museum of Underwater Art.

The campaign ran across digital, social media, out-of-home, airline and trade channels, driving a measurable impact on brand performance and visitation:

▶ Visitor expenditure: $34M+ generated

▶ Passengers: 42,256 directly attributable to the campaign

▶ Reach: 22M+ impressions across paid, owned, earned and partner media

▶ Social growth: 14.7M+ views on Facebook and Instagram

▶ Engagement: 1.1M+ tracked website interactions

▶ Paid results: Click-through rates exceeded Meta benchmarks by 733%, with display reaching up to 7.13%

▶ Brand uplift: +45% awareness, audiences 71% more likely to consider Townsville, Net Promoter Score up 51 points

MATES RATES

In the aftermath of the 2025 flooding event, we partnered with Tourism and Events Queensland to launch the Mates Rates recovery campaign, offering locals and visitors 50% off a Townsville North Queensland holiday. The campaign sold out within a week, with almost 3,000 people booking tours and accommodation during the low season, boosting industry confidence at a critical time. It also added long-term value by growing the regional promotions database with 5,400+ new subscribers.

TODAY SHOW

In May, we hosted the Today Show weather team, with Tim Davies broadcasting live from across the region. Over four segments, Townsville North Queensland was showcased to a national audience, generating an estimated $1.3M in media value and reaching 9.2M+ viewers.

On The Horizon for FY26

▶ In 2025–26, we will deliver the largest destination brand campaign in the region’s history thanks to Townsville City Council’s investment.

▶ This tourism campaign will proudly be supported by Townsville City Council, through a $1 million investment toward growing our visitor economy.

▶ This tourism campaign will also be partially funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements following the North and Far North Queensland Tropical Low earlier this year.

$10 HOLIDAY PR INITIATIVE

To tap into cost-of-living conversations and capture national attention, we created the $10 Holiday PR initiative, offering 10 exclusive holidays at just $10 each. The offer sold out in under 75 seconds, with coverage secured across TimeOut, 9Travel, Today Show, Travel Weekly and more. The initiative generated significant destination interest, driving 2,000+ new newsletter sign-ups and strong media momentum ahead of the September 2025 travel period.

▶ Continue to grow the region’s tourism economy through strategic results-driven marketing activity that builds on current momentum.

▶ Continue to showcase Townsville North Queensland to the nation by working in partnership with local government, Tourism and Events Queensland, and industry partners.

Tourism Development

We have had a strong season in Townsville North Queensland as a tourism destination, which is reflected by the total visitor spend and visitors to our region.* We also had a record cruise year, with the highest number of cruise ships (21), the largest ship size (the Queen Elizabeth at 293.84 metres long) and the largest number of passengers in one arrival (the Pacific Encounter with 4,259 passengers and crew).

The year has seen growth in the number of international/ export ready product, with the highest number of operators from the region at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) growing from 10 in 2024 to 15 in 2025. For tourism and experiences, a trade-ready product ensures visitors to our region benefit from an experience or service that:

▶ meets industry standards,

▶ is priced and packaged for market, and,

▶ is ready to be sold by travel trade partners to domestic and international visitors.

Through mentoring programs, as well as working with new tourism operators at a grass roots level, we saw more tourism businesses setting themselves up for success as they had a clearer understanding of the distribution system.

The strong presence of Townsville North Queensland operators at the ATE, the nation’s largest annual B2B tourism event, was a true testament to the region’s growth and the professionalism of our local tourism industry.

This included both new businesses, businesses we have watched grow over the last few years, and well-established businesses who had found themselves export ready.

In conjunction with the Savannah Guides, we offered local operators an Eco Guide training opportunity where 12 new eco

guides were accredited from the North Queensland region.

The program equips participants with specialist knowledge in sustainable tourism, conservation and cultural interpretation to enhance visitor experiences while protecting natural assets.

This is important for North Queensland, as accredited eco guides help ensure the region’s future in the tourism industry, so that it continues to grow sustainably and protects the region’s unique natural and cultural assets for generations to come while still offering high-quality visitor experiences.

We also supported our industry partners through the The Best of Queensland Experiences Program (BOQEP), which commits to helping the tourism industry do exactly that - meet its best. Congratulations to the 76 North Queensland operators who achieved Best of Queensland - a 15% increase YoY.

The 24/25 financial year also saw us commence a focus on Indigenous tourism, which offers visitors the opportunity to experience and learn from the world’s oldest living cultures through our Indigenous Tourism Strategy.

Lastly, we hosted the Tourism Futures Forum, which provided a valuable opportunity to connect with industry leaders, share insights and explore new ideas shaping the future of sustainable and inclusive tourism across the region.

At the ATE, we also took the opportunity to stand alongside our fellow businesses promoting Townsville North Queensland, by engaging in 120 meetings and networking opportunities across the four days. We also hosted an additional 25 national and international trade partners following on from the event in the Townsville North Queensland region, showcasing the real experience of what North Queensland can offer visitors.

A day in the office for our team also meant delivering on more than 300 meetings across trade and sales activities, including Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), ATE, Queensland Showcase, and online training sessions.

These are always far more than meetings; they are exclusive networking opportunities that open doors to new international connections and provide another moment to further strengthen existing relationships. We partnered with industry and showcased the region at the ATEC Queensland Showcase, where two new export-ready operators attended their first trade show in a supported and mentored environment. These connections strengthen our ability to deliver outcomes that benefit the region’s strategic goals, while directly supporting the ambitions of our members and their businesses.

* Townsville North Queensland: Localis reported year end June 2025 nearly 2 million visitors

Tourism Research Australia reported from January to June 2025: Overnight visitors (OV)

Cruise Ships

In January, we welcomed the first large cruise vessel immediately after the completion of the channel widening at the Port of Townsville. The Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth arrived on January 14 with 2,846 passengers and crew on board. This followed with further large ships of a size never seen in Townsville before of 293.84 metres long. The larger ships created new logistical challenges that had not previously been faced by the city, but were resolved with

successful outcomes and a positive experience for the visitors to the region. Guest surveys from the cruise ships have Townsville scoring at least a 4.5/5 review rating across the board. The highlights mentioned by the guests were:

▶ the warm welcome from the volunteers and staff at the Port and bus stops,

▶ the cleanliness of the city, and,

▶ the beauty of the region.

Eco Guides Certification at Townsville Enterprise.

The Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth arrival at the Port of Townsville

24/25 Highlights

▶ Highest participation rate at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) with 15 operators from the region.

▶ 12 participants in trade mentoring program.

▶ Increase in contracted product across all Inbound Trade Operators, meaning more local tourism experiences are now formally included in international travel packages, driving greater visibility, bookings and visitation for the region.

▶ Two new operators' attendance at Queensland Showcase under the mentoringprogram.

▶ Increase in contracted cruise product, meaning more local tours and experiences are now packaged into cruise itineraries, giving operators direct access to visiting passengers and boosting regional visitor spend.

▶ Cruise ships up to 300 metres long with up to 3,000 people on board can dock in Townsville – the largest cruise ships ever to be able to dock in Townsville.

▶ Increase in Best of Queensland product by 16%, meaning more local tourism operators achieved high ratings in Tourism and Events Queensland’s quality program, showcasing the region’s excellence and lifting its profile with domestic and international travellers.

▶ 12 eco-guides accredited.

On The Horizon for FY26

▶ Completion on the Strategic Indigenous Tourism Plan and development of local First Nations product.

▶ Further growth in cruise product contracts, through relationships with the Cruise Industry.

▶ Growth in edu-tourism space, with connections with agents AUIP, EF Tours and World Strides with renewed itineraries to include new to market product.

▶ Development of diversity of product across all demographics from family and drive travel to high end luxury.

▶ Increase in the number and size of cruise ships into Townsville over the next cruise season, with more cruise products to be contracted as well as a cruise mentoring program for new products.

▶ Additional mentoring opportunities at a Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) level for new product.

▶ Increased aviation capacity across all airline expected in FY26

▶ Continue to work with industry to see new and enhanced experiences in Townsville North Queensland.

The Strand, Townsville, North Queensland

From Our Members

“The Ville Resort – Casino and Ardo are proud to partner with TEL in driving impactful campaigns that showcase the beauty and unique experiences Townsville has to offer. This collaboration has been instrumental in not only elevating our region’s profile, but attracting both domestic and international travellers to continue to drive growth to our vibrant tourism industry.”

KIMBERLEY WILKINSON, GM MARKETING & COMMUNITY, THE VILLE RESORT-CASINO | ARDO

“Last year our business saw a real boost from Townsville Enterprise’s Mates Rates campaign, which delivered strong bookings during what is usually an offpeak period — one made even tougher by the weather events at the time.

But this is about more than one business –it’s about building awareness of our region and attracting visitors for everyone. We’re excited to see this new campaign come to life and confident that Townsville North Queensland will find its way onto more holiday wish-lists than ever before.”

CLARE LEY, OWNER/OPERATOR, PILGRIM MAGNETIC ISLAND

“SeaLink North Queensland is proud to have collaborated with Townsville Enterprise on the “Up for Unexpected” campaign for the second year.

This initiative has been a brilliant opportunity to showcase our region’s unique character and experiences, highlighting what makes Townsville North Queensland such a vibrant and surprising destination. Through the campaign, we’ve seen firsthand the value of strong collaboration between industry and tourism partners. Townsville Enterprise’s creativity, professionalism, and commitment to promoting our region have been outstanding, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an impactful project. Together, we’ve not only strengthened the visibility of our destination but also inspired both locals and visitors to discover the unexpected right here in our own backyard.”

DARREN SPEARMAN, GENERAL MANAGER, SEALINK NORTH QUEENSLAND

“Over the past year, working with Townsville Enterprise has been invaluable for both myself and MI Ride Discovery Tours. They have consistently gone above and beyond to provide guidance, encouragement, and practical opportunities that have supported our growth. From marketing and promotion to training and networking, their expertise and passion for tourism have made a real difference to our business. They have been a steady champion of our vision and a trusted sounding board, helping us navigate challenges and celebrate successes. We are deeply grateful for their support and proud to acknowledge the positive impact they continue to make –not only for MI Ride but for the broader tourism community across our region.”

TIM HEMPSTEAD, MI RIDE DISCOVERY TOURS

Liveability, Workforce Attraction & DAMA

Liveability is one of Townsville North Queensland’s greatest strengths and a key driver of the region’s growth. A vibrant lifestyle, career opportunities and strong community values make the North Queensland region a desirable place to live, work and invest.

Importantly, research shows that 75% of people considering relocation will first visit a destination before deciding to move, meaning that our tourism and liveability campaigns amplify each other’s success.

By promoting Townsville North Queensland as both a visitor destination and a lifestyle choice, we are supporting the attraction of talent, investment and population growth needed to deliver our region’s forecast $42B project pipeline.

Liveability Campaign: The Good Life

In partnership with Townsville City Council, Regional Development Australia, Port of Townsville, Powerlink – CopperString, Catholic Education, James Cook University, and Bravus Mining and Resources, we launched a national liveability campaign to showcase the opportunities of living and working in Townsville North Queensland.

The “Good Life” campaign was designed to attract skilled workers from Southeast Queensland and metropolitan centres in Sydney and Melbourne, highlighting career prospects, lifestyle advantages, and community values that set the region apart.

Using a sophisticated marketing and media strategy across digital, social and content partners such as NewsCorp and Realestate. com.au, the campaign drove strong engagement to a dedicated hub – livetownsvillenorthqueensland.com.au – a one-stop source for information on jobs, lifestyle, and community.

24/25 Campaign Highlights

▶ More than 26 million impressions nationally

▶ Over 150,000 website visits

▶ $726,000 worth of earned media coverage

▶ 5.2% increase in preference for Townsville as a relocation destination among target audiences

Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)

As the Australian Government’s Designated Area Representative for the Townsville North Queensland DAMA, we play a critical role in helping local businesses access the skilled workers they need when local recruitment options are exhausted. DAMA provides more flexibility than standard skilled migration programs, including concessions on income thresholds, pathways to permanent residency and a wider range of eligible occupations.

24/25 DAMA Highlights

▶ 54 applications endorsed covering 1,137 positions

▶ 14 additional occupations approved under variation to agreement

▶ 10% TSMIT discount applied to 29 occupations by the Federal Government

▶ 42 occupations unique to TNQ DAMA not included on national skilled migration lists

“My employer completed the endorsement process with Townsville Enterprise earlier this year, and the experience was outstanding. The whole process was clear and wellorganised, and the team was always available to answer questions and provide guidance whenever needed. It’s great that their office is conveniently located in the city centre, making it easy to reach out and get support when required.

I highly recommend Townsville Enterprise to anyone applying under the Townsville DAMA.”

ZIAD AYSAMI, PEDLAR PROJECT

Major Events

FY24/25 was a landmark year for Townsville Enterprise with the formal establishment of the Major Events Acquisition department, a cornerstone of our vision to cement Townsville North Queensland as the events capital of the North.

The appointment of a Director of Major Events Acquisition and the smooth transition of responsibilities from Townsville City Council provided a strong foundation for this new function. With governance frameworks, advisory structures, and operational processes now in place, the department has

24/25 Highlights

ESTABLISHMENT OF MAJOR EVENTS ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT

On January 1, we formally assumed responsibility for major event acquisition from the Townsville City Council. This marked the beginning of a dedicated function to drive a pipeline of events that deliver economic impact and community benefit.

MAJOR EVENTS ADVISORY PANEL FORMED

A new Advisory Panel was created to provide independent oversight and industry expertise regarding event development and acquisition.

already delivered tangible results by securing a pipeline of high-profile events. These achievements reflect the critical role major events play in driving economic returns, elevating Townsville’s national profile, and strengthening community pride.

EARLY EVENT WINS SECURED

Despite being in its establishment phase, we successfully secured several high-profile events for Townsville’s calendar, including

▶ The Killers (2024),

▶ Supercars NTI Townsville 500’s first three-year agreement (2025–2027),

▶ Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week (2025–2026),

▶ Townsville Triathlon and Multi Sport Festival (2025),

▶ Inaugural One Street One Day Festival (2025),

▶ PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour Grand Final (2025), and,

▶ The Rugby World Cup (2027).

These events deliver significant economic returns and are critical in raising the region’s national profile.

On The Horizon for FY26

▶ Building on the strong foundations that have been created, Townsville Enterprise, together with the Townsville City Council, will continue to secure a pipeline of major events that are focused on delivering economic benefit, boosting community pride and raising the region’s profile.

▶ Global superstar Jelly Roll will headline Sunburnt Country at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on 6 November 2025, joined by Shaboozey, Busby Marou, and Drew Baldridge in a festival-style event set to be one of the city’s biggest live music experiences of the year.

▶ The WNBL will stage its first-ever standalone preseason tournament, the Townsville Tip-Off, September 2025. Bringing all eight teams together in one city for the very first time, the four-day event will showcase the league’s top talent and give fans an unmissable preview of the 2025/26 season. Secured under a two-year agreement, the tournament will return in 2026 with the addition of a junior competition to inspire the next generation of players.

PBR Grand Finals, Townsville Entertainment Centre

“Working with Townsville Enterprise to secure the first-ever multi-year partnership for the Townsville NTI 500 has been an incredible milestone for Supercars. This collaboration has gone beyond securing the event, enabling us to forward-plan and elevate the experience for fans, competitors, and the wider community. Together, we’ve created a more authentic and uniquely North Queensland event, highlighted by the integration of Professional Bull Riders (PBR) as part of the entertainment, which has brought a distinctive local flavour. Townsville Enterprise has also been instrumental in strengthening community connections through innovative city activations and partnerships with leading tourism operators such as Billabong Sanctuary, extending the event’s impact well beyond the track.

Their commitment and deep understanding of the region have helped us grow the Townsville NTI 500 into not only a world-class motorsport event but also a true celebration of Townsville and North Queensland — as reflected in the strong attendance at this year’s event.”

EMMA BARLOW, SENIOR MANAGER GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS AND STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS, SUPERCARS AUSTRALIA.

Hilltop Hoods, One Street One Day, Rooney Street, Townsville

Visitor Services

Our 65+ volunteers (Townsville’s Tourism Ambassadors) continue to be the heart and soul of the visitor experience in Townsville North Queensland. FY25 was another busy and rewarding year for the volunteer team, who were called upon for a variety of exciting new and recurring events.

In addition to being the welcoming face of the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) seven days a week, our volunteers played a vital role at activations throughout the region – from cruise ship welcomes and SeaLink terminal pop-ups to Supercars, Lavarack Barracks’ Talisman Sabre, and SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week. Their commitment and enthusiasm ensure that every visitor receives a warm and memorable first impression of our region.

This year saw cruise ship activity reach new heights, with Townsville welcoming the highest number of ships in its history and the first large ships to dock following the Townsville Port Expansion. Volunteer engagement for cruise welcomes doubled, and in some cases tripled, to cater to the thousands of passengers arriving on larger vessels.

The growing cruise sector has highlighted the vital contribution of our volunteers as ambassadors, not only for Townsville, but for the broader North Queensland region.

The VIC alone welcomed more than 13,000 visitors, supported by approximately 9,300 volunteer hours – a remarkable achievement that does not include the thousands more assisted at activations.

To ensure our volunteers are supported and continuously learning, monthly famils* and site visits were conducted with our member businesses including The Ville Resort-Casino, The Mercure Townsville, Trike it Like It, Big 4 Gateway, Aligned Apartments, Big Mama Sailing, Townsville Adventure Tours and the CopperString Experience.

24/25 Highlights

▶ Welcomed the highest number of 21 cruise ships in Townsville’s history during the cruise season.

▶ Record visitation at SeaLink terminal pop-up activations.

▶ Attendance at the Regional Volunteer Conference in Charters Towers.

▶ Monthly famils and product updates with member operators.

▶ Dedicated training days in WHS and Townsville Welcomes You program.

On The Horizon for FY26

▶ Further growth in cruise ship arrivals and passenger numbers, creating more opportunities for welcomes.

▶ Expanded education through additional famils and training days.

▶ Hosting the 2026 Regional Volunteers Conference in Townsville.

* FUN FACT: Famils are short for familiarisation tours. Their purpose is to showcase a destination or experience to travel agents, media or industry partners so they can better promote and sell it to their audiences.

These opportunities provide Tourism ambassadors with firsthand product knowledge, enabling them to better share the region’s offerings with visitors. Volunteer wellbeing and engagement also remained a priority, with participation in the Regional Volunteers Conference in Charters Towers, dedicated training days and the Townsville Welcomes You program.

Many of our events would not be the success that they are without the hard work and passion provided by their volunteers. We are proud and grateful for the invaluable service of our volunteers, whose commitment strengthens our visitor economy and showcases the genuine warmth of Townsville North Queensland.

As our volunteer program continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming new volunteers (Tourism Ambassadors) that are proud to showcase and promote the wonderful North Queensland region. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to the Townsville Enterprise team.

VIC volunteers at Quayside Terminal, Port of Townsville

Volunteers Christmas Party at the Beach Hotel, Townsville

Regional Development & Investment (RDI)

It has been a fast-paced year for the growth of the Townsville and North Queensland economy. The huge investments announced are progressing and are now tracked by us after the formal launch of the Project Pipeline. This tool is available for Townsville Enterprise members and provides a comprehensive and contemporary view of the investment pipeline for the region.

Overall, the pipeline added nine additional projects worth more than $10M each during the financial year, with a gross value of $9B. That is over one billion dollars on average per additional project, a fantastic sign of the confidence in the region and the strong potential for future prosperity. Overall growth in the pipeline moved from $33B to $42B - a 27% increase with more to come.

CopperString will enable private investment in renewable energy projects, especially in Flinders Shire, and also provide energy surety for resources projects in North West Queensland. It is an exciting time for North Queensland with public infrastructure given the ability to source private equity to help secure the future of Townsville and North Queensland.

Further investment is now being facilitated by the Invest Townsville North Queensland web portal – a one-stop-shop that was launched in late 2024. This resource provides the information to help investors appreciate the potential of the region and the readiness for further investment.

With strong economic and logistic credentials, it is easier than ever to see why Townsville North Queensland is open for business.

“Townsville Enterprise has been invaluable in rallying support for the mining sector across Northern Queensland. Their effective advocacy activities demonstrate the economic contribution the region’s resources make to the national and state economy. We’re proud to stand with them as a Platinum Partner.”

MICK CROWE, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, BRAVUS MINING

24/25 Highlights

▶ H2 Global Deal - $660M for H2 (including Edify)

▶ JetZero granted $14M for first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) refinery in Northern Australia

▶ Defence Working Group leading the re-drafting of the region’s Defence Industry Strategy

▶ 400 Defence Housing Australia (DHA) homes to be built under New Builds Volume Leasing Program

▶ Suncorp Hub at 22 Walker St announced (120 CBD jobs)

▶ Edify Energy announced 300 megawatt (MW) solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project for Majors Creek

▶ Bruce Highway to be funded with $9B under 80:20 Federal and State split

▶ International investment delegation from Germany

▶ Launched Invest Townsville North Queensland

▶ Launched the Project Pipeline

On The Horizon for FY26

▶ Ongoing development at Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct (LEIP) to prepare for announced projects.

▶ Government investment in trunk infrastructure for housing to improve essential services (water, sewerage, roads) to unlock land supply and accelerate delivery of new homes.

▶ Strong interest in advanced manufacturing and Defence industry growth to create high-value jobs, diversify the economy and strengthen sovereign capability.

▶ Opportunities for workforce development and training to be progressed with partners to ensure locals have the right skills for future industries, reducing reliance on external labour.

▶ Continued development of CopperString western line to expand the grid, enabling renewable energy projects, critical minerals processing and regional economic growth.

▶ Build to Rent housing, which is a new housing model where developers or institutional investors build residential properties specifically to be retained as long-term rental homes (rather than selling them individually).

▶ Ongoing investment opportunities for biofuels and emerging biomedical technologies to position the region as a leader in sustainable energy and health innovation, opening new export markets and high-tech jobs.

Sample image of the Project Pipeline dashboard.

North Queensland Hydrogen Consortium (NQH2)

Supported by us, North Queensland Hydrogen Consortium (NQH2) acts as a facilitator for hydrogen industry growth and collaboration.

During the year Townsville and North–North West Queensland region saw significant momentum in hydrogen development. Major projects included Edify Energy’s $137M hydrogen hub at Lansdown, set to produce 800 tonnes of green hydrogen annually in its first stage, and Ark Energy’s SunHQ facility, generating 155,000 kg per year for heavy transport.

These initiatives were supported by Federal and State Government funding, with construction jobs and long-term roles expected to boost the local economy. Community engagement flourished through programs like the Fuels for Future school holiday initiative and the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix.

The region also advanced workforce development through partnerships with TAFE and universities, reinforcing Townsville’s position as a future green hydrogen export hub.

Townsville Enterprise Hydrogen Project: Baseline Study November 2024

A social baseline study was conducted to gauge community awareness, perceptions, and attitudes toward hydrogen. The findings informed future engagement strategies and helped tailor messaging to address public concerns and knowledge gaps.

RESULTS FROM SURVEY:

▶ Hydrogen is the energy source with the biggest knowledge gap amongst respondents, with only 28% of respondents being familiar with it.

▶ 63% of respondents indicated that their biggest concern regarding hydrogen was lack of information.

▶ 53% are supportive of the development of a Hydrogen Hub in Townsville.

▶ 41% of people were concerned about safety risks.

Reference: SCAiQ Townsville Hydrogen Baseline Study 2024.

24/25 Highlights

▶ NQH2 focussed on Community Engagement for Hydrogen and the future fuels industry during FY24/25.

On The Horizon for FY26

▶ Continuation of the community engagement campaign with more school interaction, STEM Faire August 2025, 2nd NQH2 Grand Prix will be held again in Townsville in April 2025.

▶ Ark Energy SunHQ Hydrogen Hub opening with a hydrogen refueler, and hydrogen fuelled trucks transporting goods from Sun Metals to the Port of Townsville.

▶ The first North Queensland H2GP team went to Germany to compete in the world finals in August 2025.

Townsville Enterprise Hydrogen Project: Post Campaign Study June 2025

A follow-up social baseline survey was conducted to assess the impact of the promotional campaign and community engagement activities. The results provided valuable insights into shifts in public perception and the effectiveness of outreach efforts.

RESULTS FROM SURVEY:

▶ The primary concern surrounding hydrogen development has shifted from a lack of information to the cost associated with its development.

▶ 54% respondents said they were very or somewhat familiar with hydrogen as an energy source.

▶ One in five respondents are very supportive of the development of a hydrogen hub in Townsville

Reference: SCAiQ Townsville Hydrogen Post Study 2025

“Winning the H2GP Finals and getting to go to Germany was an unbelievable experience! The event in Townsville was really well managed, with a clean and spacious venue, plenty of room for the track, stage, sponsors, and coffee – and everyone was so friendly. Travelling overseas and competing on the world stage gave us the chance to meet new people, learn from other teams, and see how big and inspiring the hydrogen racing community really is. We had so much fun, learned so much, and it’s definitely something we’ll never forget. We’re already looking forward to next year’s competition!”

NICHOLAS PORTER, YEAR NINE STUDENT, GILROY SANTA MARIA COLLEGE

“The H2GP Finals provided our students with an incredible opportunity to shine beyond the traditional pathways of sport or the arts. It brought together a team of young people with diverse skills; from engineering and problem-solving to teamwork and leadership. Watching them collaborate, overcome challenges, and represent our school with such pride has been truly rewarding. Winning the event and earning the chance to compete in Germany was an unforgettable experience that broadened their horizons and showed them just how far hard work and innovation can take them.

On a personal level, this opportunity has been immensely rewarding - seeing the students’ growth firsthand, connecting with educators and industry professionals from around the world, and learning more about emerging technologies in sustainability and hydrogen innovation. It has inspired me as an educator to continue providing hands-on, futurefocused learning experiences. We’re already planning and preparing for next year’s event with great excitement.”

NQH2 Consortium, NQH2 Pimlico High School experiments, Future for Fuels school holiday initiative and the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix

BELINDA STRONG, SCIENCE ACADEMIC LEADER, GILROY SANTA MARIA COLLEGE

Community Engagement

A STEM Breakfast was held at the Museum of Tropical Queensland and brought together community members, educators, and industry leaders. Two of Australia’s most respected science figures shared insights on the transformative role of science in shaping emerging industries, particularly hydrogen. The event fostered dialogue around innovation, regional development and the importance of STEM education in preparing the next generation for a science-driven future.

In partnership with James Cook University, Pimlico State High School students engaged in hands-on hydrogen experiments as part of a broader STEM program. This collaboration provided students with real-world scientific experience and highlighted the practical applications of hydrogen in energy and sustainability.

During the Christmas school holidays NQH2 launched the Fuels for Future School Holiday program, which included a display at the local library. This was an informative interactive hydrogen display, offering the public a month-long opportunity to learn about hydrogen

technologies, safety and applications. JCU-led experiments allowed library visitors to engage with hydrogen science in a hands-on, accessible way, reinforcing STEM learning in a community setting. A panel discussion featuring industry experts explored the role of hydrogen in Australia’s energy future. The session encouraged community questions and fostered open dialogue. During this period a multi-channel advertising campaign was launched to raise awareness of hydrogen initiatives. This included website updates, radio segments and physical banners across Townsville.

Industry Engagement

NQH2 attended several hydrogen conferences, including the Connecting Green Hydrogen Conference held in Melbourne and the APAC Hydrogen Forum in Brisbane. These conferences gave NQH2 the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and international delegates and raise awareness for the region’s green hydrogen projects and potential investment opportunities.

Following the Green Energy forum held by Townsville Enterprise, NQH2 hosted a community-focused industry tour, offering participants a behind-the-scenes look at hydrogen-related infrastructure and innovation in the region. This initiative aimed to demystify hydrogen technologies and build public trust through transparency and education, while also showcasing North Queensland’s potential as a clean energy hub.

NQH2 hosted a German delegation to showcase regional hydrogen initiatives and foster international collaboration. The visit included site tours, community meet-and-greets, and discussions on shared challenges and opportunities in the hydrogen sector.

Townsville's Inaugural NQ H2GP

Townsville proudly hosted its inaugural North Queensland Hydrogen Grand Prix (NQ H2GP) on May 14 2025, marking a significant milestone in the region’s journey toward clean energy innovation and STEM education. The event was part of the internationally acclaimed Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) program, which challenges high school students to design, engineer, build and race 1:10 scale hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars.

The race was the culmination of a six-month STEM education initiative, where students collaborated with industry mentors to develop their vehicles. The final event featured a fourhour endurance race, testing not only the engineering of the cars but also the strategic thinking, teamwork and problem-solving skills of the participants. Schools from across North Queensland took part, including Pimlico SHS, William Ross SHS, Northern Beaches SHS, Thuringowa SHS, St Patrick’s College, Southern Cross Catholic College and St Anthony’s Catholic College, with additional teams travelling from Ingham, Mackay, Collinsville and Cairns.

The winning team earned a spot in the H2GP World Final, set to take place later in 2025. Horizon Educational CEO Kamil Jelinek emphasised the long-term impact of the program, noting that today’s student engineers could become tomorrow’s innovators in renewable energy infrastructure.

Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix at Quayside Terminal, Port of Townsville

Convention Bureau

The Townsville Enterprise Convention Bureau is the business events arm of Townsville Enterprise, connecting organisers with industry leaders, quality venues and unique regional experiences. The Convention Bureau provides access to expert speakers, familiarisation tours and industry insights that position Townsville North Queensland as a destination for ideas and collaboration.

Over the past year, the team has been instrumental in promoting the region as a premier location for conferences, meetings and events. Working closely with local stakeholders, businesses and venues, the Convention Bureau supported 20 conference and business event bids across the financial year, helping attract state and national interest.

As a trusted advisor for event organisers, the Convention Bureau ensures Townsville North Queensland is seen as the ideal setting for successful and memorable business events.

24/25 Highlights

AIME

In February 2025, the Townsville Enterprise Convention Bureau attended the annual Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne — the country’s largest trade exhibition for the business events industry.

During the event, the team engaged with more than 35 professional conference organisers from across Australia, Asia and New Zealand.

These meetings provided a valuable opportunity to promote Townsville North Queensland as a premier destination for business events and incentive travel.

FAMIL

Townsville Enterprise Convention Bureau hosted one major famil tour across the financial year to showcase Townsville North Queensland and surrounds as a potential business events and conference destination.

The group of eight attendees from across New South Wales, ACT and Victora joined the team in Townsville following AIME, and were shown event and conferencing spaces, dining and restaurant options including our first 5-star accommodation Ardo and various off-site venues, whilst enjoying some of the best tours and attractions Townsville and Magnetic Island have to offer.

“My time in Townsville with the Convention Bureau famil was a real highlight this year. The itinerary struck a perfect balance between showcasing the region’s venues and attractions while allowing us to experience the natural beauty and warmth of North Queensland. The hospitality and attention to detail made the trip truly memorable, with highlights including meeting passionate local operators and discovering the versatility of the destination. From the stunning Magnetic Island to the quality event spaces in Townsville, the experience left me both inspired and excited about the opportunities the region has to offer.”

JULIE LUNT, GENERAL MANAGER FACEY PROPERTY MELBOURNE

On The Horizon for FY26

▶ Returning to AIME for 2026 with a full stream of meetings (35 across two days).

▶ Another post AIME famil tour with delegates travelling from the AIME host city, Melbourne.

▶ Further engagement with tourism publishing and sponsored content aligning with our 2026 Secure the Future Forum Series –enticing delegates in town for the forum to stay and play pre and post forum.

▶ Plans to hold a separate famil post-AIME in June/July 2026 –due to strong interest this year

Following the famil, six event and conference leads were secured, ranging from corporate events, incentive trips and international conferences all interested in the Townsville region across 2026 and 2027.

from attendees who missed out on securing a Townsville spot, there is an opportunity to host an additional famil to capture this overflow and further showcase the region’s offerings.

▶ Working with Major Events in 2026 to leverage the Convention Bureau and the Major Events space.

▶ In partnership with Townsville City Council advocate for upgrades to the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre to improve business event offering.

Membership Listing

Our Members as at 30 June 2025

LIFE MEMBERS

Alison Ferry

Vale Em Prof Edward Scott

Geoffrey Plante

Vale Graham Jackson OAM

Greg Peel

John Bearne

Laurence Lancini

Tony Mooney

Regional Councils

▶ Burdekin Shire Council

▶ Charters Towers Regional Council

▶ Flinders Shire Council

▶ Hinchinbrook Shire Council

▶ Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council

Principal Partner

▶ Townsville City Council

Major Partner

▶ Tourism Events Queensland

▶ Townsville Airport

Platinum Member

▶ Bravus Mining & Resources

▶ News Corp Australia

▶ Southern Cross Austereo

Strategic Member – Gold

▶ Ardo Townsville

▶ James Cook University

▶ Port of Townsville Limited

▶ Sun Metals Corporation Pty Ltd

▶ Suncorp

▶ The Ville Resort Casino Townsville

Strategic Member – Silver

▶ Australian Radio Network

▶ BM Webb Building Pty Ltd

▶ Maidment Group

▶ Pickerings Group of Companies

▶ TAFE Queensland

Strategic Member – Copper

▶ Ark Energy

▶ Brighter Super

▶ Edify Energy Pty Ltd

▶ Ergon Energy Network

▶ Eva Copper Mine Pty Ltd

▶ GHD Pty Ltd

▶ Hurst Constructions Queensland

▶ J Hutchinson Pty Ltd

▶ KPAT Hotels & Pubs

▶ MMG Limited

▶ Pacific Marine Group Pty Ltd

▶ SMEC Australia

▶ Townsville Hospital and Health Service

▶ Wilson Ryan Grose Lawyers

Strategic Member – Bronze

▶ AEC Group Pty Ltd

▶ ANZ Banking Corporation

▶ Australian Institute of Marine Science

▶ BMD Construction

▶ Boeing Defence Australia Ltd

▶ Cubic Defence Australia Pty Ltd

▶ Eagle Drilling NQ Pty Ltd

▶ Exante Management Pty Ltd

▶ FGH Group

▶ Gabrielli Constructions Pty Ltd

▶ Gallagher Insurance Brokers

▶ HyNQ

▶ Iberdrola Australia Limited

▶ Incitec Pivot Limited

▶ Lendlease

▶ MacKellar Mining Pty Ltd

▶ Magnetic Motors Pty Ltd

▶ Mater Hospital and Health Service

▶ Pacific Biotechnologies

▶ Private Energy Partners - Quinbrook

▶ QEM Limited

▶ QPM Energy Limited

▶ Queensland Country Bank

▶ Ravenswood Gold Pty Ltd

▶ RGM Maintenance

▶ Richmond Vanadium Technology

▶ SeaLink Queensland Pty Ltd

▶ selectability

▶ South 32

▶ Stadiums Queensland

▶ UGL Townsville

▶ Wandarra

▶ Watpac Construction Pty Ltd

▶ Windlab Ltd

▶ Wulguru Management Pty Ltd

Connect Member – Medium

▶ A.G. Coombs Pty Ltd

▶ ARC - The Australian Reinforcing Company

▶ Carey Group Investments Pty Ltd

▶ Castlerock Property

▶ Colliers Townsville Pty Ltd

▶ Cowboys Leagues Club Ltd

▶ Cowboys Rugby League Football Limited

▶ CPB Contractors Pty Ltd

▶ Delta Office Solutions

▶ Ethan Indigenous

▶ Findex

▶ Honeycombes Property Group

▶ Keir Steele Waldon Lawyers

▶ KPMG Australia

▶ Lancini Property Group

▶ North Queensland Gas Pipeline No. 1 Pty Ltd

▶ North Queensland Primary Healthcare Network Limited

▶ Peel Valentine Whitehead PVW

▶ Q1 Services Group

▶ Regis Aged Care

▶ SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd

▶ Tec-NQ

▶ Wilmar Sugar Australia Limited

Connect Member – Small

▶ AECOM Australia Pty Ltd

▶ Aligned Corporate Residences Townsville

▶ Amaroo on Mandalay

▶ At One Bright Point Pty Ltd

▶ Australian Professional Galvanizing

▶ Belmoral Corporate Suites

▶ Brothers Leagues Club Townsville P/L

▶ Castletown Shopping World

▶ Cate’s Chemist

▶ Commonwealth Bank

▶ Connolly Suthers Lawyers

▶ Coral Coast Tourist Park

▶ Core Developments NQ PTY LTD

▶ Coutts Redington Pty Ltd

▶ CQG Consulting

▶ CQUniversity

▶ Dexus

▶ Discovery Parks Pty Ltd

▶ Ede Events

▶ Elements North Queensland

▶ FortisEM Group Pty Ltd

▶ Goodstart Early Learning

▶ Hotel Grand Chancellor

▶ Jet Zero Australia Pty Ltd

▶ Kinetic

▶ Knight Frank Townsville

▶ Lamont Sign Solutions

▶ Magnetic Island Ferries

▶ Magnetic Island Tours (Ulendo)

▶ MAK Media Australia Pty Ltd

▶ Markwell Group

▶ McDonald’s Parcorp Group

▶ Mercure Townsville

▶ Minelec Pty Ltd

▶ Monk Nominees (NQ) Pty Ltd

▶ Morgans Financial Limited

▶ NGH Consulting

▶ Nomads Magnetic Island

▶ NPS Corporate

▶ Otto’s Fresh Food Market

▶ Pacific Islands International

▶ Paronella Park

▶ Peppers Resort - Magnetic Island

▶ Premise

▶ Prizm Engineering Pty Ltd

▶ Queensland Museum Tropics

▶ Quest Townsville on Eyre

▶ Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium

▶ RMS Engineering & Construction

▶ Rockfield Technologies Australia Pty Ltd

▶ Rydges Southbank Townsville

▶ Sherdon Harvesting

▶ Simon George & Sons

▶ Skytrans

▶ The Digimen

▶ Townsville Shopping Centre

▶ Townsville Sports Precinct

▶ TP Human Capital

▶ V8 Supercars Australia Pty Ltd

▶ Vecco Electric Pty Ltd

▶ Wagners Holding Company Limited

Connect - Micro

▶ AAA+ Financial Solutions

▶ Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive

▶ Anelay (kickon) Pty Ltd

▶ Aquarius on the Beach

▶ Aquascene Magnetic Island

▶ ArdentAU

▶ ARIO 3KM TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD

▶ AusSafe Consulting

▶ Australian Airport Lighting Pty Ltd

▶ Australian Renewables Academy Pty Ltd

▶ Beach House Motel

▶ Bentram Leisure Pty Ltd

▶ Big Mama Sailing

▶ Billabong Sanctuary

▶ Biodiversity Australia Pty Ltd

▶ Brazier Motti Holdings Pty Ltd

▶ Breakwater Marina

▶ Bridgewater restaurant

▶ Burdekin Rum / Mt Elliot Springs

▶ C Bar Holdings

▶ Campbell Scientific Australia

▶ Canex Resources Pty Ltd

▶ Charters Towers Tourist Park

▶ City Oasis Inn

▶ Cleveland Bay Chemical Company

▶ Clontarf Foundation

▶ CocoTell Pty Ltd

▶ Cohen Legal

▶ Consult Engage Connect

▶ COO Consulting

▶ Copiers Excellence (Townsville)

▶ Coral Sea Wellness Pty Ltd

▶ Cornerstone Insurance Group Pty Ltd

▶ CRC for Developing Northern Australia Ltd

▶ Detour Coaches

▶ eGuarantee

▶ Elwood Property Group Pty Ltd

▶ Empowered Recruitment Pty Ltd

▶ EMU Sportswear

▶ Epic Environmental Pty Ltd

▶ Ericks and Fredericks International Consulting Pty Ltd

▶ FLINDERS LANE TOWNSVILLE PTY LTD

▶ Flinders Street Wharves Pty Ltd

▶ FNQ Adventures Pty Ltd

▶ FTEC Electrical Pty Ltd

▶ Gallivanter Travel

▶ Get Branded

▶ GKL Group Pty Ltd

▶ Goldtower

▶ Gripfast Consulting Pty Ltd

▶ Hansen Engineering Group

▶ HAYNES People Services

▶ Helix Plus Pty Ltd

▶ Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms

▶ Hidden Valley Cabins and Tours

▶ In Spades Marketing

▶ Inland Oasis Motel

▶ Integral Small Business Solutions

▶ Intract Australia

▶ Investors Central

▶ Invida Property Management

▶ J.A Wilson & P.J Wilson - Trike It Like It

▶ Jean-Pierre Patisserie Pty Ltd

▶ JJ Unit Trust No 1

▶ Kelly Accomodation Holdings - Big4 Aussie Outback Oasis Holiday Park

▶ Kernow

▶ KRC Holdings (NQ) Pty Ltd

▶ Lux Noir

▶ Magnetic Glamping

▶ Magnetic Island Operations Pty Ltd

▶ McGill Family Trust - Arcadia Village

▶ MCK TSV Pty Ltd as trustee for MCK TSV Trust

▶ MI Ride

▶ Milupa Pty Ltd

▶ Mount Margaret Developments

▶ Mungalla Aboriginal Corporation

▶ Murdering Point Winery

▶ Nautilus Aviation - Colonial Leisure Group

▶ North Queensland Research

▶ Norwest Exploration Pty Ltd

▶ NQ Cycle Journeys

▶ NQ Spark Pty Ltd

▶ Oasis Lifestyle Village Pty Ltd

- Townsville Eco Resort

▶ O’Regan & Partners Townsville

- Integrity Accounting and Taxation Services

▶ Pilgrim Sailing Pty Ltd

▶ Rambutan Townsville

▶ Regional Economic Advisory

▶ Rider Levett Bucknall Qld Pty Ltd

▶ Rrets Pty Ltd

▶ Ruswin Locksmith & Security

▶ Sequana Partners Pty Ltd

▶ SHAPE Australia (QLD)

▶ Signature Staff

▶ SL Hospitality Group Pty Ltd

▶ Sling & Stone

▶ SMAC

▶ St Patrick’s College Townsville Limited

▶ Steele Project Strategy and Advisory

▶ Study Townsville

▶ Sublime Experiences

▶ Tan Lines Distilling

▶ Tasman Holiday Parks

▶ Terra Solutions Pty Ltd

▶ Texas Longhorn Tours

▶ The Austrans Group

▶ The Missing Link

▶ The People & Culture Link

▶ The Trustee for JULIETTES GROUP TRUST

▶ TICS Group

▶ Townsville Adventure Tours

▶ Townsville Catholic Education

▶ Townsville Gateway Holiday Park

▶ Townsville Helicopters

▶ Townsville Motor Boat and Yacht Club Ltd

▶ Wambiana Station

▶ Watermark Townsville

▶ WIld Local

▶ Woollam Constructions

▶ Workforce Abundance Pty Ltd

▶ Yongala Dive

Connect - Partnership

▶ Budd Photography

▶ Coffee Presto

▶ GM Media

▶ Oracle Studio

Connect - Subsidiary

▶ Community Information Centre Townsville Inc

▶ Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

▶ Quayside Terminal

▶ Townsville Stadium

▶ TYTO Wetlands Information Centre

▶ Yurika

Community

▶ Apprenticeship Support Australia

▶ Bowen Gumlu Growers Association

▶ Cathedral School of St James & St Anne

▶ Colin Harkness

▶ Dolan Hayes

▶ Drive It NQ Pty Ltd

▶ Joseph O’Brien

▶ Magnetic Island Koala Hospital

▶ Michael Spearman

▶ Museum of Underwater Art Ltd

▶ Office of Adam Baillie MPMember for Townsville

▶ Q.I.T.E

▶ Queensland Resources Council

▶ Queensland Trucking Association

▶ Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia

▶ Roxanne Grey

▶ The Good Shepherd Limited atf The Good Shepherd Nursing Homes Charitable Trust

▶ Umbrella Studio

Reciprocal

▶ Burdekin Chamber

▶ Charters Towers Chamber of Commerce and Mines Inc

▶ Commerce North West Inc

▶ Gulf Savannah Development Inc

▶ Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce Industry & Tourism Inc

▶ Housing Industry Association

▶ Property Council of Australia

▶ Queensland Renewable Energy Council

▶ The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce

▶ The North Queensland Club

▶ Townsville Chamber of Commerce

Report 24/25

Townsville Enterprise Limited

Townsville Enterprise Limited Financial Report 2024-2025

Directors Report

The Directors of Townsville Enterprise Limited present their report together with the financial statements of the entity, For the Year Ended 30 June 2025 and the Independent Audit Report thereon.

Directors Details

The following persons were Directors of Townsville Enterprise Limited during the whole of the financial year and up to the date of this report unless otherwise stated.

Kevin Gill Appointed 26/05/2008

Simon Biggs Appointed 23/05/2022

Joe Carey Appointed 11/02/2011

Ranee Crosby Appointed 15/05/2014

Kathy Danaher Appointed 28/05/2019

Peter Duffy Appointed 29/11/2023

Jamie Fitzpatrick Appointed 19/02/2020

Michael Jones Appointed 20/06/2018 – Resigned 01/11/2024

Allison McKay Appointed 13/12/2024

Liam Mooney Appointed 01/07/2024

Peter Wheeler Appointed 10/04/2021

Principal Activities

The company’s principal continuing activities during the year consisted of the promotion of tourism and economic development in North Queensland.

Review of Operations

Comments on the operations and the results of those operations are set out below:

▶ Operating revenue for the year ended 30 June 2025 $4,957,075 (2024: $4,738,330)

▶ Operating surplus/(deficit) for the year ended 30 June 2025 $65,336 (2024: $199,237)

Developments and Expected Results of Operations

This financial year, Townsville Enterprise’s focus was on strategic projects, investment attraction and advocacy to support the region’s future growth and prosperity. Whilst skills shortages and housing challenges have dominated the conversation throughout the year, the region also experienced some exceptional outcomes with more than $9.4B in investment secured, both private and government, record overnight visitor expenditure and the launch of the ‘Invest Townsville’ website. This financial year, Townsville Enterprise also acquired responsibility for Townsville’s Major Events Acquisition, funded by Townsville City Council. A new department with additional staffing was secured, including a new Director of Major Events Acquisition. Townsville Enterprise has returned positive financial results, largely due to cost savings made throughout the year.

ADVOCACY

In FY25, advocacy remained at the core of our organisation. We welcomed the new Crisafulli State Government in October and the returned Albanese Commonwealth Government in May 2025. Our efforts took us to the nation’s capital of Canberra in November 2024, where we secured 12 meetings over two days. We returned to Canberra in February 2024 and secured an additional 11 meetings, presenting our “Unlock the North” document, which outlines the region’s key priorities for its future, with a Federal Election focus in mind. Additionally, we travelled to Brisbane in August 2024, securing 9 meetings, and again in March 2025, securing 16 meetings.

July 2024 Townsville Enterprise launched its Project Pipeline, firmly establishing North Queensland as a major economic force in Australia. The project pipeline includes transport, water, energy transition infrastructure, and mineral resource development sectors, with the value of projects planned through to the end of the decade soaring to $33 billion. The pipeline, which is live and is updated in real time, outlines a portfolio of 63 investment projects each exceeding $10 million in value. The 2024-2029 forecast details the growth in both public and private sector investment and construction in North Queensland.

Throughout 2024, Townsville Enterprise continued its advocacy relating to calling for upgrades to the Flinders Highway to accommodate the anticipated surge in critical mining activities, CopperString and renewable energy projects, as well as the Big Rocks Weir, supporting the Charters Towers Regional Council’s request for State Government ownership of the project and stressing the importance of the delivery of water security to the region.

A cornerstone of our year on the advocacy front was the August 2024 success of the #SaveOurAquarium community campaign, which secured the final $100 million in additional funding necessary to build the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium (formerly known as Reef HQ) from the Commonwealth Government. This commitment marked a total $180 million worth of investment from the Albanese Federal Government into the new Barrier Reef Centre of Excellence. The aquarium component of this project alone will generate more than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs and contribute over $444 million to our local economy - delivering unrivalled economic benefit, global profile and education and conservation advantages.

In September 2024, the Queensland Country Bank Stadium announced it had secured yet another milestone international performing act, with confirmation the facility would be the only regional site to host Las Vegas-based rock band, The Killers, as part of their Australian tour. The news marked a sevenyear advocacy triumph for North Queensland, highlighting that in the last two years alone, the stadium has generated over $200 million in economic benefits for the city. Our CEO commented at the time that the stadium was just one of nearly 50 major projects that Townsville Enterprise had successfully advocated for over the past three decades since its inception, with the total value of advocacy over the last 33 years reaching $70 billion in economic activity generated for our region.

In April 2025 we acknowledged the news that the new Crisafulli LNP Government, led by the Queensland Treasurer, had appointed the Queensland Investment Corporation to deliver the CopperString project. The appointment of QIC brought assurances and opened doors to private investment in the project. This, coupled with the June announcement that the Queensland Government would increase committed funds to CopperString by $1.4 billion in the 2025-26 State Budget, marking a total state investment of $2.4 billion to date, has laid the groundwork for progress and delivery of the nation-building project. Our advocacy efforts turned to the imminent threat of closure of the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and Townsville Copper Refinery in May 2025. This industrial ecosystem, centered on copper (and phosphate) mining and manufacturing, supports more than 17,000 jobs across the region and contributes around 16 per cent of Gross Regional Product. We launched our ‘Keep Our Copper’ campaign, dedicated to ensuring collaboration between communities, industry and governments with the aim of identifying a long-term solution for these two nationally significant assets.

Other major announcements this year included:

▶ $2 billion-plus in Defence funding;

▶ $530 million expansion of Townsville University Hospital;

▶ Quinbrook’s $8 billion Polysilicon Refinery;

▶ Edify Energy’s two co-located dispatchable renewable energy projects, the largest of their kind in Queensland, to be built at Majors Creek;

▶ More than $100 million in State and Federal Government support for North and North West Queensland businesses affected by the 2025 monsoonal flooding event;

▶ Delivery of funding to support the construction of three critical infrastructure projects in North Queensland, unlocking more than 2,700 new homes, by the Queensland Residential Activation Fund.

TOURISM

The year ending December 2025 National Visitor Survey saw the Townsville North Queensland Tourism sector experience some of the strongest growth in visitor numbers of any region in Australia, recording a massive 1.3M and 11.8% year on year growth.

The Townsville North Queensland destination brand continued to strengthen, with events being a prominent feature in this year’s major brand campaign. More than $30.79M in visitor expenditure was secured over the last 12 months and campaigns reached almost 22 million people. For every $1 that Townsville Enterprise spent on marketing activity, $38 in visitor expenditure was generated for the region. Our campaign activity across the year again saw exceptional results with 77% of audiences taking actions towards booking a holiday in the region. The region continued to receive positive media coverage, promoting Townsville North Queensland as a holiday destination. Coverage was secured with TimeOut, 9Travel, Today Show, Travel Weekly, and Urban List. Whilst the region saw strong visitor numbers overall, summer was a challenging period for many operators following the perceptual and media concerns caused by the 2025 flooding. In partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland, Townsville Enterprise delivered a recovery

campaign driving locals to holiday in their backyard. More than 2,800 pax bookings were secured with the 50% discount campaign selling out in less than a week.

Townsville Enterprise provided international readiness mentoring for 10 local operators and took a delegation of 15 export-ready operators to the Australian Tourism Exchange. Two new operators were also supported in attending the Queensland Showcase, introducing their product to 32 key partners each. More than 200 trade meetings and agent training sessions were conducted throughout the year. Townsville Enterprise also hosted 25 key travel partners, including Flight Centre, Klook, Australia and Beyond Travel and Australia One. A significant portion of trade hosted was from international trade partners. Townsville Enterprise continued to support the region’s push for eco and sustainable tourism. Twelve local guides undertook accredited eco-guide training. Townsville Enterprise also launched the first-ever ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) toolkit, a practical, self-paced guide to implement sustainability in local businesses. Townsville Enterprise acknowledges and thanks the Queensland Government for its funding support towards delivering this project.

Tourism product development continued to be a key priority for the region, with Best of Queensland operators growing by 18% across the year and 76 recognised operators currently achieving this status. A program for growing and enhancing First Nations tourism experiences in the region has also commenced in the last 12 months. Consultation and engagement with Indigenous operators is in the early stages, with a view to increasing export-ready products and developing a Townsville North Queensland Indigenous Tourism Strategy. Over the year, Townsville Enterprise volunteers welcomed more than 13,028 visitors through the visitor information centre. The 63 volunteers contributed more than 1,225 hours to welcoming visitors from all over the world. In addition, they welcomed 8,357 visitors over temporary Visitor Information Centre (VIC) activations.

FY25 saw a record cruise season for Townsville North Queensland, with 21 ships arriving at the terminal. Townsville Enterprise thanks its volunteers for their warm welcome of these passengers. Over the season, passengers ranked their Townsville visit extremely highly with an average of 4.5 out of 5. Townsville Enterprise acknowledges Townsville City Council, our media partners, regional Councils, Townsville Airport and Tourism and Events Queensland for supporting all destination marketing and tourism development activities. It is through these partnerships that Townsville Enterprise was able to further extend its marketing reach.

MAJOR EVENTS ACQUISITION

FY25 was a milestone for Townsville Enterprise with the formal establishment of the Major Events Acquisition department, a critical pillar in the strategy to position Townsville North Queensland as the Events capital of the North. Central to this goal was the recruitment of Chelsea Cavanah as the Director of Major Events Acquisition. In preparation for the transfer of major event responsibilities from Townsville City Council to Townsville Enterprise on 1 January 2025, substantial groundwork was undertaken in collaboration with BASCO Consulting, who continued to support the transition through to mid-February 2025.

This transition was supported by the development of key governance and operational tools, including a Leads Register and Budget Management Plans.

A cornerstone of the new function was the creation of a Major Events Advisory Panel. Terms of Reference were developed and an expression of interest process was launched to identify suitable members.

Although being in its establishment phase, the department delivered early results with several high-profile events secured for the 2025 - 2027 calendar. These included The Killers (2024), Supercars NTI Townsville 500 (2025– 2027), SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (2025–2026), Townsville Triathlon and Multi Sport Festival (2025), and the One Street One Day Festival (2025). These events were forecast to deliver strong economic returns and contribute to enhancing the region’s reputation as a key player in the national events landscape.

The achievements of FY25 laid a strong foundation for the Major Events Acquisition department, establishing the structures, leadership and strategic direction needed to drive continued success in positioning Townsville North Queensland as a destination of choice for major events.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT ATTRACTION

Investment attraction continued to be a priority for Townsville Enterprise in FY25. Across the year the organisation supported more than $4.9B in private investment and a further $4.5B in public investment. FY25 saw major announcements in energy—across generation, transmission, and storage—critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, hydrogen and construction. This followed the ongoing trend of positive economic conditions and strong investor confidence in the region.

Townsville Enterprise has continued to update and evolve the live interactive dashboard for the project pipeline. It remains exclusively accessed by Copper and above membership levels and continues to provide key insights into the major project proponents’ job creation forecasts and construction dates as they are announced. In FY25, the North Queensland Project Pipeline captured 72 projects and a value of $42B.

Townsville Enterprise launched the ‘Invest Townsville North Queensland’ web portal. This serves as a one-stop shop for prospective investors to understand and appreciate the economic environment across both Townsville and the North Queensland local government areas. Bespoke web pages support each of the LGAs and allow potential investors to contact the investment team at Townsville Enterprise to follow up on their research and inquiries.

Townsville Enterprise has continued to invest and lead in the Townsville North Queensland Defence Industry Working Group. In January 2025, the working group chair was transitioned to Chris McDougall, the current Director of Regional Development and Investment, who has 26 years of experience as an officer in the Australian Army.

Townsville Enterprise continued to facilitate the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) for the region as the DAR (Designated Area Representative). The Townsville North Queensland DAMA is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and Townsville Enterprise. It provides business owners who have exhausted local recruitment options access to overseas workers, providing flexibility and responsiveness not available through the standard skilled migration programs. 55 applications were endorsed, and 47 labour agreements were executed. The DAMA assists with addressing critical skills shortages and workforce supply in the region.

Townsville Enterprise continues to contribute to increasing the supply of housing for Townsville North Queensland.

The newly elected LNP Government released details for the Residential Activation Fund in early 2025, and Townsville Enterprise supported the development of bids under this fund for approximately $30 million. These are expected to support the development of trunk infrastructure, a key bottleneck for the release of residential development sites, and help support the growth of the housing market in Townsville North Queensland over the next five years. Announcements on the successful bids will be made early in FY26.

To support the growth of the Townsville North Queensland region, Townsville Enterprise and industry partners collaborated to deliver a dedicated liveability and skills attraction campaign, titled ‘The Good Life’. Supported by prominent local partners including Townsville City Council, Port of Townsville, Powerlink – CopperString 2032, Catholic Education, James Cook University and Bravus Mining and Resources, the ‘Good Life’ campaign concluded in July 2024 and showcased Townsville North Queensland as an ideal destination for professionals seeking a balanced lifestyle amidst a thriving economy. Over six months, the campaign was viewed more than 26M times and generated 150,000 clicks to the newly launched livetownsvillenorthqueensland.com.au website. The campaign brand uplift study demonstrated that preference for the region increased by 5.2% in the target market.

MEMBERSHIP, EVENTS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Total membership revenue for The Year Ended 30 June 2025 $1,257,485 (2024: $1,165,514)

Membership continues to be a priority focus across the organisation. The membership survey saw an increase in the positive Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 10% (+33). The survey provided some valuable insights into member satisfaction, which will help improve membership benefits, support

for identified member needs, and maintain a strong and satisfied membership base across all industry sectors. The rollout of the redefined membership structure has assisted prospective members in finding their membership buy-in position, with an option to upgrade opportunities as their businesses and employee numbers increase. The new membership model was also designed to encourage more defined and clear benefits across the member levels, and this has made those deliverables easier to manage and track.

Townsville Enterprise delivered a strong and diverse calendar of business events throughout the year, reinforcing the region’s economic priorities and fostering valuable stakeholder engagement. Over the financial year, Townsville Enterprise delivered a total of 25 in-house events, attended by 1,964 people.

Signature events included the North Queensland Tourism & Events Awards, the Annual General Meeting and Christmas Function, the Green Energy Forum, Welcome Events, monthly Member Mixers engaging with members and nonmembers across the local business industry, Industry Site Tours, the Tourism Futures Forum, and the Mining and Critical Minerals Forum. Additionally, Townsville Enterprise hosted State Budget briefings with Hon. David Janetzki MP and Hon. Ros Bates MP, with the LNP providing an indepth analysis of the 2025 Queensland State Budget and its implications for local businesses, industries, and the broader economy across Townsville and North Queensland.

Complementing this program were several targeted initiatives to advance the region’s domestic and international profile. This included the Future Leaders Graduation, an Invest in Townsville North Queensland launch, a series of Convention Bureau events welcoming out-of-region delegates following the Asia Pacific Meetings and Incentives conference, and a visiting German Delegation Conference.

Directors Qualifications

Director Qualifications

KJ Gill B Com, CA, GAICD

Chairman 11 years 3 months

Director 17 years 1 month

Member – CopperString Reference Group

Special Responsibilities

Member – Finance Audit and Risk Committee

SR Briggs FREng FTSE FIEAust FIChemE CEng FRSC Director 3 years 1 month

Director – Advance Cairns

Council Member – Australian Institute of Marine Science

Vice-Chancellor and President – James Cook University

Council Member – James Cook University

Board Member – James Cook University Singapore

Member – Optus Strategic Advisory Board

Advisory Board Chair – ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals

Director – Smart Precinct NQ Limited

JW Carey B. Com, CPA, GAICD

Director 14 years 4 months

Director – Bohle Developments Pty Ltd

Director – Carey Accountants Pty Ltd

Director – Carey Financial Pty Ltd

Director – Carey Holdings (QLD) Pty Ltd

Director – Carey Property Group No 2 Pty Ltd

Director – Carey Property Group Pty Ltd

Director – Carey Thomson Moore Consulting Pty Ltd

Director – Carsenish Nominees Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – CGP Holdings Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – CitiLink Precinct 1 Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – CitiLink Precinct 2 Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – Coorparoo Debenture Pty Ltd

Director – Deputy Chair Cowboys Leagues Club Limited

Director – Deputy Chair Cowboys Rugby League Football Club Limited

Director – Dexat Holdings Pty Ltd

Director – Endure Wealth Pty Ltd

Director – Strategic SMSF Pty Ltd

Director – The Boardroom CFO Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – Wabbitz Pty Ltd

RL Crosby LLB, GAICD

Director 11 years 1 month

Chief Executive Officer – Port of Townsville Limited

Director – Ports Australia

Director – Queensland Ports Association

KT Danaher B.Sci (Hons. Marine Biology, B.Bus (Accounting), GAICD, Certified Practicing Accountant - CPA

Director 6 years 1 month

Director/Company Secretary – Glue Factory Investments Pty Ltd ATF The Glue Factory Super Fund

Special Responsibilities

Chairman – Finance Audit & Risk Committee

Director Qualifications

P Duffy Director – 1 year 8 months

Senior Partner – Wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers

Director – w/r/g Consultancies Pty Ltd

Director – Gainesway Investments Pty Ltd

Director – Gainesway SC Pty Ltd

Director – P J Duffy Pty Ltd

Director – Duffco Pty Ltd

J Fitzpatrick GAICD

Director 5 year 6 months

Director/Secretary – Espyard Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – FG Hospitality Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – Fitzpatrick Strand Property Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – JFNF Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – Kelaidan Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – Rockpool Hospitality Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – Rockpool Property Holdings Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – Strand Property Holdings Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – Strand Stays Pty Ltd

Director/Secretary – Wahoo Hospitality Pty Ltd

Director - Sturt Property Investment Pty Ltd

Director – Tan Lines Distilling Pty Ltd

Director – Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority

Special Responsibilities

Chair – Major Event Acquisition Panel

A McKay

L Mooney

P Wheeler

Director 7 months COO Pickerings Group

Director 4 months

Council Member – Townsville City Council

Director 4 years 2 months

Director – Colliers International (Townsville) Pty Ltd

Director – Welben Investments Pty Ltd

Director – Benwel Pty Ltd, ATF The Peter Wheeler Family Trust

Director – Caldwool Pty Ltd, ATF The Caldwool Unit Trust

Director – Stufrletch Pty Ltd, ATF The Sturfletch Unit Trust

Director – 13 Martinez Avenue Pty Ltd, ATF 13 Martinez Unit Trust

Director – Tec-NQ

Group Chair – Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal | Townsville Region

Chair – Townsville Advisory Group | Salvation Army

Committee Member – Australian Property Council | Townsville Committee

Special Responsibilities

Chair – Membership Committee

Meetings of Directors

The number of meetings the Company’s Board of Directors (the Board) and of each Board Committee held during the year ended 30 June 2025, and the number of meetings attended by each Director were:

A = Number of meetings attended.

B = Number of meetings held during the time the Director held office or was a member of the Committee during the year.

Directors Benefits

Since the end of the previous financial year no Directors have received or become entitled to receive benefit (other than a benefit included in the aggregate amount of emoluments received or due and receivable by Directors), by reason of a contract made by the Company, or a related corporation with the Director or with a firm they are a member of, or a company in which they have a substantial financial interest to the financial statements.

Insurance of Officers

During the financial year, Townsville Enterprise Limited paid a premium to insure the Directors and Secretaries of the Company. Under the arrangement, the premium cannot be disclosed.

The Company has not otherwise, during or since the end of the financial year, except to the extent permitted by law, indemnified or agreed to indemnify any officer or auditor of the Company or any related body corporate against a liability incurred as an officer or auditor.

Contributions on Winding Up

The Company is incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 and is a Company limited by guarantee. If the Company is wound up, the constitution states that each member is required to contribute a maximum of $20 each towards meeting any outstanding obligations of the entity.

Environmental Regulations

No significant environmental regulations apply to the Company.

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

A copy of the auditor’s independence declaration, as required under section 307c of the Corporations Act 2001, is set out on the next page. The Directors’ report is signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors, pursuant to section 298(2)(a) of the Corporations Act 2001. On behalf of the Directors

Kevin Gill | Director Townsville, 4/9/2025

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

To the Directors of Townsville Enterprise Limited

In accordance with the requirements of section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001, as lead auditor for the audit for Townsville Enterprise Limited, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the year ended 30 June 2025, there have been:

1. No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and 2. No contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

Crowe Audit Australia

Tracey Mayhew | Partner Townsville, 4/9/2025

Statement of Profit or Loss & Other Comprehensive Income

For the Year Ended 30 June 2025

This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements

Statement of Financial Position

As at 30 June 2025

3,494,493

This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements

Statement of Changes in Equity

For the Year Ended 30 June 2025

Statement of Cashflows

For the Year Ended 30 June 2025

This statement should be read in conjunction with the

to the financial statements

Notes to the Financial Statements

1. General Information

1.1 BASIS OF PREPARATION

These general purpose financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 and other authoritative pronouncements issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and comply with other requirements of law.

The financial statements comprise the financial statements of Townsville Enterprise Limited (the Company). For the purposes of preparing the financial statements, the Company is a not-for-profit entity.

Historical cost convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Critical accounting estimates

The preparation of the financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements are disclosed in the relevant accounting policies within Note 1 and are based on historical experience and on the various factors, including expectations of future events management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.

1.2 STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

The Company does not have ‘public accountability’ as defined by AASB 1053 Application of Tiers of Australian Accounting Standards and is therefore eligible to apply Tier 2 reporting framework under the Australian Accounting Standards.

The financial statements comply with the recognition and measurement requirements of Australian Accounting Standards, the presentation requirements in those standards as modified by AASB 1060 General Purpose Financial Statements – Simplified Disclosures for For-Profit and NotFor-Profit Tier 2 entities and the disclosure requirements in AASB 1060. Accordingly, the financial statements comply with Australian Accounting Standards – Simplified Disclosures.

1.3 INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY

Townsville Enterprise Limited is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001.

The registered office and principal place of business is as follows:

151 Sturt Street Townsville QLD 4810

Tel (07) 4726 2728

2. Material Accounting Policies

The accounting policies that are material to the company are set out below. The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year, unless otherwise stated.

New or amended Accounting Standards and Interpretations adopted

The company has adopted all of the new or amended Accounting Standards and interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) that are mandatory for the current reporting period.

Any new or amended Accounting Standards or Interpretations that are not yet mandatory have not been early adopted

2.1 REVENUE

Revenue is recognised at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company is expected to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer.

Membership and Partnership Revenue

Membership and Partnership revenue is recognised in the Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income in respect to the period in which it relates.

Amounts received in advance of the membership period are recognised in the Statement of Financial Position until the commencement of the membership period.

Grants

Grant revenue is recognised in the Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income when the Company satisfies the performance obligations stated within the funding agreements or Grant Deeds. If conditions are attached to the grant which must be satisfied before the Company is eligible to retain the contribution, the grant will be recognised in the Statement of Financial Position as a liability until these conditions are satisfied.

Income recognition from grants received by Townsville Enterprise Limited has been appropriately accounted for under AASB 1058 or AASB 15 based on the assessment performed.

Service Revenue

Revenue arising from the rendering of a service is recognised upon the delivery of the service to the clients.

Other Revenue

Other revenue (which includes campaign, event and project income) is recognised when it is received or when the right to receive the payment is established. All revenue is stated net of the amount of goods and services tax (GST).

2.2 LEASE

The company has a lease for the main office of Townsville Enterprise Limited at 151 Sturt Street. This lease is reflected on the balance sheet as a right of use and a lease liability in accordance with AASB 16. The following table describes the nature of this lease as recognised on the balance sheet:

Right of use asset Office premises

Term of lease 7 years

Extension option term 5 years

Lease commencement date 1/10/2021

Lease incentive

2 months rental

At lease commencement date the Company recognises a right-of-use assets and a lease liability. The right-of- use asset is measured at cost and depreciated on a straightline basis from the lease commencement date to the end of the lease term (including option period). The lease liability is measured at the present value. Subsequent to the initial measurement the liability will be reduced for payments made and increased for interest.

2.3 INCOME TAX

The Company is exempt from income tax under Division 50 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

2.4 CURRENT AND NON-CURRENT CLASSIFICATIONS

Assets and liabilities are presented in the Statement of Financial Position based on current and non-current classification.

An asset is classified as current when: it is either expected to be realised or intended to be sold or consumed in the normal operating cycle; it is held primarily for the purpose of trading; it is expected to be realised within 12 months after the reporting period; or the asset is cash or cash equivalents unless restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period. All other assets are classified as non- current.

A liability is classified as current when: it is either expected to be settled in normal operating cycle; it is held primarily for the purpose of trading; it is due to be settled within 12 months after the reporting period; or there is no unconditional right to defer the settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period. All other liabilities are classified as non-current.

2.5 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held at call with financial institutions and other short term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to insignificant risk of changes in value. Deposits with maturity dates greater than three months are considered investments. On initial recognition investments are measured at fair value plus transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost in accordance with AASB 9 Financial Instruments.

2.6 TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade and other receivables are measured at amortised cost, less any allowance for expected credit losses in

accordance with AASB 9 Financial Instruments. Trade receivables are generally due for settlement within 30 days.

2.7 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset/s.

Depreciation is calculated on a straight line or diminishing value basis to write off the net cost of each item of property, plant or equipment over their expected useful lives as follows:

Leasehold Improvements 10-50%

Plant and Equipment 5-20%

Motor Vehicles 20-25%

The residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each reporting date.

Leasehold Improvements are depreciated over the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful life of the assets, whichever is shorter.

An item of property, plant or equipment is derecognised upon disposal, or when there is no future economic benefit to the Company. Gains and losses between the carrying amount and the disposal amount are distributed to the Statement of Profit

2.8 INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND SOFTWARE

Intangible assets are initially recognised at cost. The gains or losses recognised in profit or loss arising from the derecognition of intangible assets are measured as the difference between net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the intangible assets. The method and useful lives of finite life intangible assets are reviewed annually. Changes in the expected pattern of consumption of useful life are accounted for prospectively by changing the amortisation method or period.

Significant costs associated with configuration and customisation of software are deferred and amortised on a straight-line basis over the period of their expected benefit, being their finite life of three to five years.

2.9 TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Company prior to the end of the financial year and which are unpaid. Due to their short-term nature, they are measured at amortised cost and are not discounted. The amounts are unsecured and are usually paid within 30 days of recognition.

2.10 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Short term employee benefits

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including nonmonetary benefits and annual leave expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date or where no right to defer settlement exists, are recognised in current liabilities in respect of employees’ services up to the reporting date and are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled.

Long-term employee benefits

The liability for long service leave not expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date is recognised in noncurrent liabilities, provided there is an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability. The liability is measured

as the present value of expected future payments to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date using the projected unit credit method. Consideration is given to expected future wage and salary levels, experience of employee departures and periods of service. Expected future payments are recognised at the expected cash outflow when the liability is settled. Long term benefits are accounted for employees who have achieved seven years of service with the Company.

2.11 GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST) AND OTHER SIMILAR TAXES

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of associated GST, unless GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Tax Office (ATO). In this case it is recognised as part of the cost of the acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense. Receivables and payables are stated inclusive of the amount of GST receivable or payable. The net amount of GST recoverable

from, or payable to, the ATO is included in other receivables or other payables in the Statement of Financial Position. Cash flows are presented on a gross basis. The GST components of cash flows arising from investing or financing activities which are recoverable from or payable to the ATO are presented as operating cash flows.

2.12 INVESTMENTS

The entity classifies its financial assets in the following measurement category; those to be measured subsequently at fair value (either through other comprehensive income (OCI) or through the Statement of Comprehensive Income). For assets measured at fair value, gains and losses will either be recorded in the Statement of Comprehensive Income or OCI. For investments in equity instruments that are not held for trading, this will depend on whether the company has made an irrevocable election at the time of initial recognition to account for the equity investment at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVTOCI).

5. Cash & Cash Equivalents

7. Property, Plant & Equipment

Reconciliation of the written down value at the beginning and end of the current financial year is set out below

11. Related Party Transactions

Townsville Enterprise Limited’s related parties include its key management personnel and related entities as described below. Townsville Enterprise Limited considers normal course of business transactions to include membership fees, lease payments and other low value payments that occur on normal commercial terms.

11.1 TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED ENTITIES

There were no transactions with related parties during the current and previous financial year outside of the normal course of business.

11.2 TRANSACTIONS WITH KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

Any person(s) having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the entity, directly or indirectly, including any Director of that entity is considered key management personnel. The Board of Directors of Townsville Enterprise Limited are designated key management personnel in accordance with the definition provided. The Chair of the Board receives remuneration for their role on the Board; no other Directors receive remuneration for their roles on the Board. Other management personnel for 2024/25 include Claudia Brumme (CEO), Tracey Holmes (Director Corporate Services), Lisa Woolfe (Director Visitor Economy and Marketing), Chris McDougall (Director Regional Development and Investment), Chelsea Cavanah (Director Major Events Acquisition) and Kevin Gill (Chairman).

12. Contingencies

There are no contingent liabilities incurred by Townsville Enterprise Limited at 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2025.

13. Lease Commitments

15. Auditor Remuneration

Fees paid to Townsville Enterprise’s contracted auditors for the period are as follows:

The audit fees quoted by Crowe Audit Australia relating to the 2024-2025 financial statements are $15,900 (2024: $15,000)

16. Post Reporting Date Events

No matters or circumstances have arisen since 30 June 2025 that has significantly affected, or may significantly affect, the Company’s operations, the results of those operations, or the Company’s state of affairs in future financial years.

17. Economic Dependence

Townsville Enterprise Limited is dependent upon the ongoing receipt of Local and State Government grants to ensure the ongoing continuance of its programs. At the date of this report, management has no reason to believe that this financial support will not continue.

Directors’ Declaration

In the opinion of the Directors of Townsville Enterprise Limited:

a) The financial statements and notes of Townsville Enterprise Limited are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

I. Giving a true and fair view of its financial position as at 30 June 2025 and of its performance for the financial year ended on that date; and II. Complying with Australian Accounting Simplified Disclosure Requirements (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Corporations Regulations 2001; and

b) There are reasonable grounds to believe that Townsville Enterprise Limited will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Directors

Kevin Gill | Director Townsville, 4/9/2025

Independent Auditor’s Report

To the Members of Townsville Enterprise Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial report of Townsville Enterprise Limited (the Company), which comprises the statement of financial position as at 30 June 2025, the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of changes in equity and the statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies, and the directors’ declaration. In our opinion, the accompanying financial report of the Company is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

(a) giving a true and fair view of the Company’s financial position as at 30 June 2025 and of its financial performance for the year then ended; and

(b) complying with Australian Accounting Standards – Simplified Disclosures to the extent described in Note 1 and the Corporations Regulations 2001.

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including Independence Standards) (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code. We confirm that the independence declaration required by the Corporations Act 2001, which has been given to the directors of the Company, would be in the same terms if given to the directors as at the time of this auditor’s report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Responsibilities of the Directors for the Financial Report

The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report and have determined that the basis of preparation described in Note 1 to the financial report is appropriate to meet the needs of the members and the Corporations Act 2001 and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.

As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

▶ Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

▶ Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control.

▶ Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by those charged with governance.

▶ Conclude on the appropriateness of those charged with governance’s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of the auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.

▶ Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and whether the financial report represents the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during the audit.

Tracey Mayhew | Partner Townsville, 4/9/2025

Crowe Audit Australia