As a cultural hub of the Darling Downs for more than 100 years, The Empire continues to serve our community with a focus on developing the arts in our region, delivering world class entertainment locally and telling the important stories.

The Sunshine Coast’s economy continues to evolve into a modern, ‘smart’ economy based on sound growth across numerous high valued and knowledge-based sectors including professional business services, innovative manufacturing and numerous high-tech start-ups.

The strength of the regional economy is based in its diversity and strength across a number of key sectors including healthcare, education, finance and professional business services.

The Sunshine Coast is home to industry disruptors like Youi, Huddle, Gourmet Garden, Country Chef, Ambrose Building, Auto & General, Get Wines Direct and Office HQ.
Businesses tap into an inspired workforce of more than 83,000 students across University of Sunshine Coast, two TAFE campuses and more than 150 registered training organisations

Logan City Council commissioned research to identify the health and medical development and investment opportunities in the Logan Local Government Area. Based on evidence driven data, the research completed provides an understanding of the current and future health demand to identify gaps (existing and future) and explores main investment drivers.
Key localities for investment in health care services, including a private hospital or day hospital, include –
• Meadowbrook – Logan’s health, knowledge and wellbeing precinct, centred on the Logan Hospital, Griffith University Logan campus and TAFE Queensland Loganlea campus, with multiple sites identified for hospital and health care services.
• Opportunities are developing in key growth areas, including Yarrabilba and Flagstone.

The Sunshine Coast is officially the ‘Most Loved Destination in the World’ according to the Tourism Index Sentiment, with travellers from across the globe following their hearts to our slice of Queensland paradise.

Our landscape is pretty special too and is as diverse as the experiences and people who call it home. Here you can be barefoot on the beach one minute and hiking the ancient peaks of the Glass House Mountains the next, sampling farm-fresh local produce and immersing yourself in verdant rainforest along the way.

We are nestled in nature and green at heart, with a commitment to living sustainably with nature.

Brisbane City Council is taking real and practical action to deliver a low-carbon and climate-resilient city for current and future residents.

In 2030, under a high emissions scenario, the climate of Brisbane will be more like the current climate of Bundaberg.

The greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming are generated from electricity, gas, transport, and waste produced in our city. They are also generated by food and agriculture, goods and services, and the resources that go into packaging, clothes and building materials. Too many greenhouse gas emissions act like a blanket around the earth, causing temperatures to rise.

To reduce greenhouse emissions, we need collective action by customers and businesses, commuters and transport companies, tenants and building owners, investors and government regulators. By taking action together, we can generate health and social benefits and reduce the cost of environmental impact.

We are already investing in renewable energy, urban forests, green buildings, waste innovation and in better pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. Through such creative initiatives, we can deliver better health for our community together with economic, social and environmental benefits.

More than 80% of the region’s population is located in the major centres of Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Maryborough and Kingaroy. The remaining residents live in predominantly rural shires.

On the coast, extreme inundation and erosion events could become more frequent with rising sea levels. Flooding, due to more intense storms, could affect water, sewerage, stormwater, transport and communications infrastructure. Inland, harsher fire weather and the impact of hotter days and extreme heat events will affect infrastructure.
Tourism is a significant industry in the region with a number of iconic ecosystems and the key tourism areas of Fraser Island, Hervey Bay and South Burnett.

The tourism industry is reliant on healthy reef and rainforest environments. The degradation of the reef will not only be a loss of great intrinsic value, it will also come at a great cost to the tourism industry.

Increased temperatures may lead to less water for agriculture, heat damage to horticultural crops and stress on livestock. Conditions may increase plant diseases, weeds and pests, and allow some pest species to move southwards into areas where they are currently excluded.

Toowoomba for Climate Action is playing our part to keep global average temperatures in a safe, liveable range, so that all humans, other species, and living systems can flourish.

Did you know that Toowoomba Regional Council was the first in Queensland to capture landfill methane for energy production?

Council has both reduced the emissions it is responsible for by 80% and now saves ratepayers over $1 million/year in energy savings!

Council’s most demanding energy user, the Wetalla Water Reclamation Facility, is now 90-100% supplied with free renewable power.

Dozens of other Councils have been inspired by Toowoomba Regional Council to do similar projects on their own landfills.

The Wide Bay Burnett region is one of the most diverse regions in Queensland, boasting outstanding natural assets and resources, agricultural land, and unique townships.

The region’s agriculture, renewable energy, manufacturing and tourism industries are key contributors to Queensland’s economy.

The Mill at Moreton Bay Priority Development Area significantly contributes to the council’s vision for the region—to facilitate and support managed population and economic growth, jobs creation, and community healthcare and wellbeing.

Millovate invites property developers, operators and funds to invest in healthcare, wellbeing and related services being planned and delivered within a future Integrated Health Village at The Mill at Moreton Bay.

Sport is part of the cultural identity of many Australians. Sport isn’t just a favoured pastime for Australians. It is a significant contributor to the Australian economy.

In Australia, sports and recreational organisations attract more volunteers than any other type of organisation.

Major sporting events – grand finals, international cricket, grand slam tournaments, surfing competitions and cycling challenges – as well as less watched events – weekend matches, morning and afternoon training sessions and amateur competitions – fill calendars and recreational time.

Bundaberg Regional Council’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan that is linked to the Wide Bay-Burnett Regional Waste Management Plan, outlines a clear path forward on how to assist the Bundaberg community to move towards the Queensland Governments aspirational waste reduction and recycling targets of:

reducing the amount of waste generated by 15%
increasing the amount of materials recycled to 60%
increasing the amount of municipal solid waste diverted from landfill to 70%

Sport is part of the cultural identity of many Australians. Sport isn’t just a favoured pastime for Australians. It is a significant contributor to the Australian economy.

In Australia, sports and recreational organisations attract more volunteers than any other type of organisation.

Major sporting events – grand finals, international cricket, grand slam tournaments, surfing competitions and cycling challenges – as well as less watched events – weekend matches, morning and afternoon training sessions and amateur competitions – fill calendars and recreational time.

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.

The Greater Whitsunday region covers 90,354 square km. Comprising of the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday local government areas, the Greater Whitsunday Region is encompassed by St Lawrence in the south, Gumlu in the north to Clermont in the west and the Great Barrier Reef Whitsunday’s group of 74 islands to the east.

The region is one of the most naturally beautiful and resource-rich locations in Australia contributing more than $46 billion in economic output to the Australian economy.

From the largest coal mining deposits in Australia, the Bowen and Galilee basins, the iconic Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands and boasting a diverse agricultural industry which provides over $1.46 billion to the Queensland economy, the region is an economic powerhouse that is key to Queensland’s economy.

The Gold Coast City and the community actively practise waste avoidance and other positive waste behaviours. Waste avoidance, re-use, recycling and recovery opportunities are maximised prior to landfill disposal. Our capacity to manage future waste is secured.

Established in 2019, Smart Precinct NQ is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a springboard for collaboration, learning and growth through a range of start-up accelerators and incubator programs, business growth advisory services, investment support and events.

We bring together a range of stakeholders to provide a positive impact to North Queensland Founders, Entrepreneurs, Investors, Industry and the wider Business Community.

Innovation isn’t just something happening in our big cities. It is important people living in remote areas are able to participate in these programs, events and activities.

Central Highlands Development Corporation Acting General Manger Liz Alexander said the funding would support CHDC, Central Highlands Regional Council, BMA, CQUniversity, Rural Business Collective and C-RES (Queensland) to boost the emergence and development of innovation and cross-regional collaboration.

The Hinkler Innovation Initiative is a community-led initiative striving to foster and champion innovation throughout the Bundaberg Region. Inspired by the pioneering spirit and trailblazing legacy of Bert Hinkler, an innovator and explorer from the Bundaberg Region, this initiative is a platform to bring together global thought leaders and our local innovators to strengthen regional innovation.

City of Moreton Bay with Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism (MBRIT) have partnered to provide specialist innovation and growth services to foster the region's entrepreneurial spirit, under the revised Innovate Moreton Bay program.

Supporting the region’s start-ups, scale-ups and providing access to resources will enable locals, including our youth, to prosper and build the capability to compete successfully in global markets.