The northernmost part of the state, Far North Queensland is a tropical region stretching from Cairns to the Torres Strait. With the magnificent coral of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast and World Heritage listed tropical rainforests on the land, there are not many locations in the world that can boast such unique natural attractions within easy reach.

The Wet Tropics region is located along the coast of Far North Queensland (FNQ), between Townsville and Cooktown. Fertile soils and high rainfall have historically supported significant agricultural production and by the middle of last century, agriculture had become the region’s dominant economic driver.

Over the past 50 years, the region’s agricultural profile has continued to change. The sugar, maize and beef industries have remained constants, while a number of other industries emerged including tobacco, dairy and horticulture, to become significant contributors to the region’s economic and social fabric. While horticulture, particularly bananas, remain significant industries within the region, tobacco has disappeared and dairy has declined.

Today, seafood, horticultural tree crops, vegetables and beef cattle are the big growth opportunities among the region’s high-value food commodities.

Queensland’s long history of resources activity has left a legacy of abandoned mines across the state but, thanks to advancing technology and changing market demands, some of these mines have the potential to once again become commercial operations.

Situated 90km west of Cairns, Wolfram Camp is named for wolframite – an important primary ore of tungsten which miners have been extracting from the site since the 19th century.

The critical mineral has numerous uses including in solar technology, wind turbine blades, drill bits and filaments for lighting.

The Weipa region is mined for bauxite and kaolin. The Rio Tinto Weipa operations in Far North Queensland includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, shiploaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Armidale and Cape Class Patrol Boat presence in Cairns, and the strength of the Cairns marine industry capability in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the vessels locally, play an essential role in protecting Australia’s northern maritime borders.

Queensland’s maritime sector is world class, delivering quality maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities to sustain ADF naval and Australian Border Force platforms, as well as the Pacific Island Guardian-class patrol boats.

The Regional Maintenance Centre north east, in Cairns, provides supply chain support and maintenance services for Defence vessels based in and visiting the region.

The Cairns Defence Precinct comprises HMAS Cairns (approximately 1000 personnel) and is a strategic base that provides maintenance, logistics and administrative support for fleet units including patrol boats, landing craft, hydrographic ships and the Laser Airborne Depth Sounder. Patrol boats from Cairns support Operation Sovereign Borders in the Christmas Island region as well as defence engagement in the South West Pacific region.

Far North Queensland is our largest region covering 20 per cent of the state. It boasts World Heritage areas including the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics – one of the world’s oldest rainforests – as well as many authentic Indigenous experiences from the world’s oldest living culture.

This region is home to memorable tourism experiences and filled with innovators with ground-breaking ideas that are putting us on the world map.

Cairns is a popular travel destination for tourists from all around the world, the region attracts more than 2 million domestic and international visitors each year. Cairns is a unique town for being around so much beautiful natural wonders such as the largest coral reef in the world and one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Cairns is also the perfect place for the adrenaline seeker with many wonderful adventure activities available daily.

Far North Queensland faces a unique set of challenges in delivering cost effective and sustainable waste services. Considering the region’s two World Heritage listed areas (Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef) those challenges can vary significantly from one council to the next.

All councils in the region struggle with issues such as access to secondary markets and transport costs, and the increasing costs and difficulties in developing new waste infrastructure

Is Australia’s housing crisis self-inflicted? If so, then we need a series of reforms to reverse it
The best long-term solution to the structural problems of the rental crisis is to build more public and/or affordable housing.

Make renting more Sustainable. Increase rent assistance or look at rental caps, similar to countries in Europe and some US states, long term tenancy agreements with incentives for all parties to the agreement.

Build to Rent
The Build to Rent property sector is growing in Australia – this new class of housing is focused on providing high quality purpose designed and built rental stock, creating an additional housing choice for Australian renters with greater security and service.

Build to Rent developments are typically owned by institutional investors for the long term and the owner could be the developer/ongoing building manager. The format provides tenants with the flexibility of renting with the security of home ownership.

Build-to-Rent developments are usually large-scale residential properties specifically designed, built and managed for long-term ownership and rental.

Social Housing
In the 40 years between 1981 and 2021 the percentage of all Australian households living in social housing (i.e. state owned and managed public housing or community managed housing) has ranged from 4.9 per cent in 1981 to 3.8 per cent in 2021. Such a drop in the proportion of social housing raises the question of has Australia achieved the balance right, and also just what is the right level of social housing for Australia?

In 2018 Statistics Canada said 628,700 Canadian households, more than one in ten renter households nationally (13.5% of 4,652,500), were living in social and affordable housing.
In New Zealand, as of 30 June 2021, there were 74,337 public housing households. This equates to 4.0% of households living in social housing.

In England (in 2018) 17% of households (3.9 million) lived in social housing, while the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development publishes that 1.2 million households live in public housing, which is 0.98 per cent of all housing.

The Cairns Health Innovation Centre will incorporate research, education and training facilities and will be part of the transition to Cairns University Hospital.

The project will deliver additional capacity for clinical services within the existing Cairns Hospital precinct and provide necessary health education, training, and research facilities for our future medical professionals in Cairns.

A city defined by an arid climate, transitioning to a Water Sensitive City is a crucial step to becoming a resilient, climate-adapted city that can respond constructively to the current climate emergency.

Critical to the future of Whyalla’s socio-economic growth will be access to - and supply of - potable water, as well as water to complement local industry needs, such as proposed hydrogen production, ongoing mining and Greening Whyalla Program.

Green cities reduce consumption of resources such as water and electricity and increase liveability. Increased tree canopies have a cooling effect on the ‘urban heat island’ effect which can mean a city is up to ten degrees Celsius hotter than the surrounding countryside. Green cities across the globe are attractive centres for private sector investment.

The region incorporates two of Australia’s tourism icons – the Flinders ranges and the Outback.

The Far North covers a vast region of 799,850 square kilometres which takes in the sparsely settled country of the north of South Australia.

It accounts for 80% of the State's land mass and has a population of approximately 28,670 people. Port Augusta is the largest community in the region and acts as a vital service centre for the region's widespread and diverse, small and micro communities.

The region incorporates two of Australia's tourism icons - the Flinders Ranges and the Outback. It also contains the majority of SA's priority mineral exploration regions and the cross roads of Australia's national land transport network.

Significant opportunities for economic growth in the northern region exist in the sectors of resources, tourism, transport, defence, services, food and arts.

Is Australia’s housing crisis self-inflicted? If so, then we need a series of reforms to reverse it
The best long-term solution to the structural problems of the rental crisis is to build more public and/or affordable housing.

Make renting more Sustainable. Increase rent assistance or look at rental caps, similar to countries in Europe and some US states, long term tenancy agreements with incentives for all parties to the agreement.

Build to Rent
The Build to Rent property sector is growing in Australia – this new class of housing is focused on providing high quality purpose designed and built rental stock, creating an additional housing choice for Australian renters with greater security and service.

Build to Rent developments are typically owned by institutional investors for the long term and the owner could be the developer/ongoing building manager. The format provides tenants with the flexibility of renting with the security of home ownership.

Build-to-Rent developments are usually large-scale residential properties specifically designed, built and managed for long-term ownership and rental.

Social Housing
In the 40 years between 1981 and 2021 the percentage of all Australian households living in social housing (i.e. state owned and managed public housing or community managed housing) has ranged from 4.9 per cent in 1981 to 3.8 per cent in 2021. Such a drop in the proportion of social housing raises the question of has Australia achieved the balance right, and also just what is the right level of social housing for Australia?

In 2018 Statistics Canada said 628,700 Canadian households, more than one in ten renter households nationally (13.5% of 4,652,500), were living in social and affordable housing.
In New Zealand, as of 30 June 2021, there were 74,337 public housing households. This equates to 4.0% of households living in social housing.

In England (in 2018) 17% of households (3.9 million) lived in social housing, while the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development publishes that 1.2 million households live in public housing, which is 0.98 per cent of all housing.

South Australia remains among the world’s most attractive jurisdictions for mining and mineral exploration investment.

BHP’s Olympic Dam, located 560km north of Adelaide, boasts the world’s fourth largest copper resource as well as the largest single deposit of uranium. Prominent Hill met its copper production guidance while also meeting its increased gold production targets.

The Australian Defence Force’s Cultana Training Area is located between Port Augusta and Whyalla and is the largest training area capable of supporting full combined arms exercises.

The area was identified as an ideal Defence training location because the climate and terrain allow for training all year round.

The project includes new training buildings, a camp area, training operation areas and vehicle wash points. The site supports the Australian Army’s First Brigade training exercises during the monsoon season in northern Australia, the location of their primary training base.

The Woomera Range Complex is the largest land-based test range in the world, covering 122,000 square kilometres. Located about 500 kilometres north-west of Adelaide, Woomera Range Complex’s remoteness and quiet electromagnetic environment is ideal for complex air, ground and space test activities.
The Woomera Range Complex comprises the Woomera Test Range (Air Force Test Ranges Squadron), RAAF Base Woomera and the Nurrungar Test Range.

Port Augusta has a number of attractions which are enjoyed by visitors to the city as well as residents. Fishing, sailing and canoeing are popular and dolphins are often seen out on the water.

The city's art galleries are enjoyed by many and the parks and gardens offer a beautiful place to relax.

Wadlata Outback Centre is home to the region's Visitor Information Centre, and is also one of the city's most popular tourist attractions with its Tunnel of Time interactive display. The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden is another major attraction, featuring more than 200 hectares of low-rainfall native Australian plants, which can be purchased from gift and garden shop in its visitor centre.

Advanced Waste to Resource Processing is the alternative available to South Australia to decrease waste to landfill and stop ocean waste disposal. AWRP solutions are proven technologies that recover valuable materials for reuse and repurpose or produce energy from waste.

Projections for climate change in the Shoalhaven Region include higher temperatures, higher evaporation rates, changes to the distribution and intensity of rainfall, severe and more frequent heatwaves resulting in more severe bushfire weather and a longer bushfire season.

These risks will have impacts for agricultural activities in the region, where producers will need to invest in methods and infrastructure to mitigate high temperatures and conserve water.

Known for its 100 beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, and boutique food and wine scene, the Shoalhaven is one of the top-visited destinations in Australia, but cultural tourists are in for a treat with the re-imagining of Arthur Boyd’s Bundanon.

Arthur Boyd chose the Shoalhaven as his place to live and make work, and his legacy lives on with the new fantastic Bundanon, his gift to the people.

Australia’s only regional art museum accompanied by seven delightful art and culture trails, all within 2 hours from Sydney and Canberra.

Sectors such as tourism, agriculture, defence, health, education, aged care, retail and hospitality will remain important employers in the Far South Coast and Shoalhaven, and continue to make a critical contribution to the economy.

The University of Wollongong has a campus in Shoalhaven. Students can complete studies in a range of courses from the Arts, Commerce, Aquaculture, Nursing, Education and Health & Behavioural Science and faculties as well as the Graduate School of Medicine.

A new mental health facility, an initiative of Shoalhaven City Council and The University of Wollongong is currently under construction at the West Nowra campus.

TAFE NSW has campuses offering courses in subjects such as Aged Care, Community Services, Health, Disabilities, Trades, Business, Agriculture, Hospitality, Tourism, Information Technology, Child Studies and Industry legislative compliance.

The dairy industry is moving towards a more intensive system of production, with efficiencies in establishing ‘dairy pads’ as well as the more traditional fodder-based dairies.

In the region, beef farming is undertaken on a smaller scale that other regions across NSW due to the smaller size of properties. It operates as part of a mixed farming system with cropping or hay production, enabling feed to be stored on farm for drier periods or sold. The nursery industry relies on many of the similar secondary industries as the other agricultural industries in the region.

Wheat, oats and maize grown in the Shoalhaven provide feed for dairy cattle in the region. Lucerne, pasture and cereal hay grown in the Shoalhaven provide feed for cattle and Lucerne hay for the equine industry. The Bega Cheese processing plant is the main milk processor in the South East and Tablelands Region. The plant employs over 500 staff in the Bega Valley.

The south coast’s oysters, mussels and scallops enjoy an international reputation as
being safe, sustainable and high quality. Aquaculture provides regional employment, tourism opportunities, food security and a reliable supply of quality fresh seafood for locals and international diners alike.