Our regional vision is to be Queensland’s premier destination for high-quality food and fibre production and processing, leveraging abundant natural resources and renewable energy to deliver premium products to domestic and international markets.
Regional snapshot
Wide Bay Burnett is well positioned to leverage existing food processing capabilities to become a prominent industry leader in the delivery of value-added agricultural products. By utilising established relationships between growers, processors and innovators, the region will facilitate the industry-wide collaboration needed to develop new products and streamline supply chains.
The region’s strength in natural resources, such as water storage, renewable energy and prime agricultural land, provides the essential foundations to support the emergence of new value-adding enterprises and industries, such as the development of biofuels and premium processed foods, while also supporting existing enterprises producing timber, fibre and food commodities.
A strong focus on local skill development and training will deliver a resilient, versatile workforce with the capabilities to capture new opportunities at every point of the agriculture value chain.
Location
Wide Bay Burnett includes
- regional centres such as Bundaberg, Maryborough and Gympie,
- Fraser Coast, North Burnett and South Burnett Local Government Areas.
It is home to the World Heritage-listed K’gari (Fraser Island), as well as the southern-most coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island.
Playing to our strengths
An export powerhouse
The Wide Bay Burnett supplies domestic and export markets through the Port of Bundaberg, Bruce Highway and major rail links. Its established cold storage facilities and processing plants ensure efficient supply chain connection.
As well as a diverse range of agricultural products, the region’s fisheries and aquaculture farms supply prawns, scallops, crabs, barramundi and redclaw to Australia and the world.
Access to renewable energy resources further enhances sustainability and underpins the region’s vision to deliver clean, premium products.
Biomass
Wide Bay Burnett’s geographical position, access to agricultural resources and biomass production make it the heart of Queensland’s growing renewable energy sector.
Premier agri-food production and processing destination
Wide Bay Burnett’s fertile soils, subtropical climate, and established irrigation infrastructure support thriving and diverse agricultural industries.
The region is recognised nationally for fruit and vegetables, and forestry. It leads the state’s production of macadamias, avocados and mandarins. Sugarcane remains a cornerstone industry.
Livestock industries are also prominent, with beef cattle, dairy, pork and poultry located across the Burnett and Gympie. These producers are supported by vertically integrated systems that include feedlots, abattoirs and processing facilities.
Queensland’s timber heartland
Two-thirds of Queensland’s softwood plantation resources are located in the Wide Bay Burnett region.
A key local employer, plantation and native hardwood timbers supply sawmills and other value-added processors supporting the state’s construction and manufacturing industries.
Last updated: 07 Aug 2026