Our regional vision is to be the powerhouse of Queensland's agri-food, fibre and circular bioeconomy, leveraging strategic land management and a skilled workforce to deliver foundational commodities that fuel the state's sustainable future.
Regional snapshot
Darling Downs and South West is transitioning from a traditional economy focused on raw commodities to a future-focused region delivering sustainable, diversified and value-added products.
With strong local nexus points in national energy and freight networks, the region is ideally placed to execute a rapid economic transformation.
Central to this goal will be investment in new bio-economy hubs and precincts that will transform low-value primary production and resource by-products into high-value bio-products, clean energy and future fuels.
Regional training centres focused on skills in digital agriculture, clean energy technology and advanced manufacturing will deliver the future-ready workforce needed for the region’s emerging industries.
Location
Darling Downs and South West is a vast and economically diverse region.
It is proud to be the home of regional towns such as:
- Toowoomba
- Dalby
- Warwick
- Roma
- Cunnamulla
- Goondiwindi
- Thargomindah
- Quilpie
- St George
- Charleville.
The region incorporates the Local Government Areas of:
- Balonne
- Bulloo
- Goondiwindi
- Maranoa
- Murweh
- Paroo
- Quilpie
- Southern Downs
- Toowoomba
- Western Downs.
Playing to our strengths
High performing transport and logistics network
The Darling Downs and South West region is a transport and logistics hub with high performing infrastructure linking the region to the world by air, rail and road.
Assets such as the Toowoomba-Wellcamp Airport and the Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precincts, Toowoomba Wellcamp Trade Distribution Centre and InterlinkSQ are all situated with close connectivity to the recently completed $1.6 billion Toowoomba bypass and Warrego Highway upgrades.
A future regional freight hub for the Inland Rail between Brisbane and Melbourne will only enhance this strength.
Growth powered by innovation
The region leads Queensland's agricultural production and innovation and is home to world-leading agribusinesses and AgTech companies. Growing local advanced manufacturing capabilities in food and robotics is driving Queensland's primary industries into the future.
Billion-dollar processing sector
The region boasts export orientated processors located across the region and assets including industry-renowned livestock selling centres.
The cattle production and meat processing sector is the region's highest food value chain, worth more than $1 billion each year.
Engineering, mining and manufacturing innovation
The region is a leader in innovative industries such as energy, resource recovery and manufacturing, and is a major contributor to energy resources including coal seam gas, windfarms, coal and oil.
The energy sector is supported by a strong and innovative supply chain in the mining technologies, engineering services and manufacturing sectors with a wealth of expertise built up, not only in the region, but also domestically and internationally.
Last updated: 01 Oct 2026