North and North West Queensland | Primary Industries Prosper 2050

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

Accelerate AgTech pathways to adoption

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW05	Deliver a North Queensland AgTech adoption program, utilising peer learning, technology trials, and trusted community networks to enhance the adoption of AgTech among North Queensland producers across sectors.	2026	2028	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub; North Queensland Dry Tropics; James Cook University; Industry	Accelerated innovation, readiness and adoption

Develop the northern Queensland cotton industry

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW10	Support Northwest cotton and grains expansion, including research and development initiatives to support sustainable cropping systems and industry growth.	2026	2028	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Industry	Market growth and value-adding
NNW11	Explore co-investment opportunities in a North West Queensland cotton gin to support regional cotton production and processing.	2025	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Industry	Market growth and value-adding

Drive efficient and reliable supply chain, freight and transport infrastructure

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW12	Identify opportunities for improving railway access and capacity for grain, cattle, and cotton transport in the North West to enhance supply chain efficiency and reduce transport costs.	2026	2031	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government; North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils, Industry	Shared infrastructure
NNW13	Progressively upgrade Flinders Highway to ensure reliable and efficient transport of primary produce, reducing costs for producers and improving supply chain resilience.	2026	2031	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure
NNW14	Undertake planning to improve the efficiency of the transport network to enable primary industries productivity. For example, Gulf Developmental Road, Burke Developmental Road.	2026	2030	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure
NNW15	Investigate options and investment priorities for the upgrading of key roads to improve primary industries productivity. For example, may include roads such as Flinders Highway and Gregory Developmental Road.	2026	2030	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure

Drive northern grassfed beef production

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW01	Promote effective strategies to enhance land condition, genetics, and feed base, boosting beef production and resilience.	2026	2029	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Meat and Livestock Australia; North Queensland Dry Tropics; Southern Gulf Natural Resource Management; AgForce; University of Southern Queensland	Market growth and value-adding

Expand markets and grow exports

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW02	Explore export pathway options for defined globally competitive products into Asia through the Townsville Port to expand market opportunities for local product.	2026	2029	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Port of Townsville; Industry	Market growth and value-adding

Facilitate business diversification

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW03	Identify priority areas for expansion of sugarcane for the planting of energy canes for bioenergy, cogeneration and capture of sugars for ethanol resulting in better capital utilisation for millers and growers.	2026	2028	Canegrowers	Industry	Market growth and value-adding

Increase resilience to natural hazards and disasters

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW09	Develop and implement a regional, collaborative system in partnership with northern Queensland stakeholders to enhance more drought and climate resilience through social, cultural, economic and environmental programs.	2026	2029	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils; North Queensland Dry Tropics; Southern Gulf Natural Resource Management; James Cook University	Accelerated innovation, readiness and adoption

Optimise outcomes-based regulation and processes

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW06	Lead a targeted agricultural development forum in the North West, uniting primary industry investors and regulatory agencies to identify barriers in land tenure, vegetation management and water, opportunities to streamline approval pathways, and accelerate agricultural diversification and expansion.	2026	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Industry	Ease of business

Support businesses with the skills and tools to grow

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW04	Develop and enhance peer-to-peer mentoring partnerships led by industry leaders in the North and North West to enhance agricultural industries in reef catchments, focusing on knowledge sharing and improved practices.	2026	2031	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	North Queensland Dry Tropics; James Cook University; Industry	Skilled and agile workforce

Unlock access to water

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
NNW07	Complete the statutory review and replacement of the Mitchell, Gulf, Burdekin Basin, Georgina and Diamantina water plan to balance the current and future water needs of agriculture, other industries, communities and the environment.	2025	2028	Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure
NNW08	Analyse water demands and availability in the Mitchell, Gulf, Burdekin Basin, Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers, Georgina and Diamantina and Cooper Creek water plan areas and find opportunities to unlock water to meet demands where possible, focussing on agriculture productivity.	2025	2028	Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure

Last updated: 07 Aug 2026