Central Queensland | Primary Industries Prosper 2050

qld.gov.au

Contact us

In addition to these regional actions, Central Queensland will benefit from the statewide actions being delivered.

Align infrastructure investment and planning

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
CQ10	Complete Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre Master planning process and invest in critical irrigation infrastructure to enable key trial development.	2026	2026	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure

Create conditions for lasting investment growth

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
CQ12	Assist sub regions in Central Queensland to develop capability statements to attract investment – expanding on existing examples in the region.	2026	2028	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Local Government; Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland Government; Central Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils; Remote Area Planning and Development Board	Ease of business
CQ13	Invest $4.5 million in Beef 2027 to showcase primary industries’ contribution in the beef sector, stimulate trade opportunities and enhance industry networks.	2027	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	None	Ease of business

Drive efficient and reliable supply chain, freight and transport infrastructure

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
CQ01	Investigate integrated, multimodal supply chain opportunities to inform future planning and investment.	2026	2028	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government; Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland Government; Regional Development Australia	Shared infrastructure
CQ02	Create a Central Queensland supply chain alliance to bring together key components and present opportunities for supply chain investment.	2027	2028	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Gladstone Ports Corporation; Central Highlands Development Corporation; Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland Government; Private partners	Shared infrastructure
CQ03	Provide recommendations for improvements in the Central Queensland rail network to increase freight efficiency.	2027	2030	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government; Supply Chain Alliance; Remote Area Planning and Development Board; Central Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils	Shared infrastructure
CQ04	Prioritise multi modal hub developments across the region with cross industry access and co-investment opportunities.	2027	2032	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland Government; Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government; Regional Development Australia; Central Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils	Shared infrastructure
CQ05	Undertake planning to improve the efficiency of the transport network to enable primary industries productivity. For example, improve access to Gladstone Port and accessibility on Landsborough Highway, Capricorn Highway and Gregory Highway.	2026	2030	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure
CQ06	Investigate options and investment priorities for the upgrading of key roads to improve primary industries productivity. Investigations for example may include roads such as Donohue Highway, Winton Jundah Road, Dawson Developmental Road.	2026	2032	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure

Expand markets and grow exports

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
CQ07	Identify and facilitate new export markets for Central Queensland product through targeted market development and business matching.	2026	2030	Trade and Investment Queensland, Queensland Government	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Market growth and value-adding

Leverage existing infrastructure

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
CQ11	Enable commercial and industry-led research, development and extension initiatives at the Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre to drive increased adoption of new technologies, practices and innovations.	2026	2030	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure

Scale value-adding and capture more value locally

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
CQ08	Support the utilisation of the Central Queensland Inland Port and attraction of value adding capability and investment.	2027	2032	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development, Queensland Government; Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland Government	Market growth and value-adding
CQ09	Undertake an export and domestic demand study for the facilitation of increased sheep and goat processing capacity in the central west.	2026	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Trade and Investment Queensland, Queensland Government	Market growth and value-adding

Strengthen the Queensland Biosecurity System

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
CQ19	Host a Central Queensland Region Biosecurity Partners Forum to highlight regional priorities, showcase innovative approaches, and strengthen collaboration and shared responsibility.	2026	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	None	Accelerated innovation, readiness and adoption

Unlock access to water

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
CQ14	Assist Rockhampton Regional Council to progress the detailed business case for South Yaamba Precinct and develop a case study for irrigation precincts to unlock high value growth and identify investment pathways for development.	2026	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Rockhampton Regional Council	Shared infrastructure
CQ15	Promote economic opportunities in the uptake and development of unallocated water resources across Central West catchments and facilitate investment and development.	2026	2028	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Remote Area Planning and Development Board	Shared infrastructure
CQ16	Complete water demand assessment to consider opportunities for economical supply of water to the Yamala Enterprise Area.	2026	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure
CQ17	Analyse water demands and availability in Burdekin Basin, Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers, Georgina and Diamantina, Cooper Creek, Fitzroy Basin, Calliope River Basin, Boyne River Basin and Baffle Creek Basin water plan areas and find opportunities to unlock water to meet demands where possible, focussing on agricultural productivity.	2025	2028	Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, Queensland Government	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Shared infrastructure
CQ18	Complete the statutory review and replacement of the Burdekin Basin, Georgina and Diamantina, Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers, Fitzroy Basin, Calliope River Basin, and Boyne River Basin water plans to balance current and future water needs and develop a new Central Queensland water plan to improve management of the Fitzroy, Calliope and Boyne River basins.	2025	2028	Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, Queensland Government	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Shared infrastructure

Last updated: 07 Aug 2026