Remote Area Boards
Remote Area Boards play a vital role in supporting communities with limited resources.
Queensland has five Remote Area Boards, representing 60% of Queensland:
- South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils Inc
- Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development Board
- Gulf Savannah Development
- Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Development Zone
- Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance.
They provide a single voice on strategic issues and economic priorities for the region. They also focus funding on delivering much-needed projects that might not otherwise attract financial support.
Since 2016, the Queensland Government has been proud to support the five Remote Area Boards under its Remote Area Board Program.
Supporting these has delivered economic and employment opportunities, improving life for our most remote Queensland communities.
Projects
Remote Area Boards can use their funding for a wide range of projects and activities.
Proposed projects are assessed on how they meet these funding objectives:
- support Queensland Government priorities
- deliver regional economic outcomes
- grow regional investment and economic development opportunities
- support regional employment and skills opportunities
- foster greater regional economic coordination and capability.
Funding has been used for a range of initiatives, including developing tourism products, investment, attracting and retaining regional business and improving industry services.
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Cape York Sustainable Futures
- Destination Cape York – building a tourism industry future
- An enterprising tourism future for Cape York Peninsula
- A journey of discovery – overland telegraph drive tourism experiences
- Growing ecotourism on Cape York
- Business and economic opportunities for Cape York Peninsula communities
Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development Board
- CWQ adaption to a diversified economy
- CWQ Brewing co
- Water for Economic Development in Central West Queensland Study
- Develop new content for the FarOut attraction and retention campaign
- CWQ Tourism Data Model Implementation
- Outback Jobs website
- Investment prospectus website
- Central West Queensland tourism data collection and analysis
- Digital strategy implementation South West Regional Economic Development
- Mobile coverage assessment
- Far West Queensland tourism development action plan implementation
- Participation in Regional Queensland showcase
- ICT blueprint for regionally coordinated infrastructure across the Central West
- Digital evolution stage 2 – NBN attraction and digital awareness
- Central West Queensland tourism development action plan implementation
Gulf Savannah Development
- Port of Karumba Sustainable Development Business Case
- Regional Electricity and Energy Supply Proposal and Gregory Options Analysis
- Gulf Academy
- Gulf Savannah Farm-Station Stay Manual
- Gulf Savannah Regional Branding Strategy
- Feasibility Study: Protected Food Cropping in the Gulf
- Doomadgee 4G – Feasibility Study to Optimise 4G services in Doomadgee
- Enhancing digital resilience and digital capability in the Gulf
- Lower Gulf marine (and Riverine) Infrastructure and Economic Development Project
- Developing the Gulf – raising tourism enterprise capability and providing regional leadership in tourism development
- Gilbert River infrastructure investment profile
- Regional investment and migration project – three stages
- Gilbert River irrigation area crop trials
- Gulf Savannah skills survey
Gulf Savannah Development and Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Development Zone
- Indigenous and Regional Tourism Pipeline of Projects Investment Report
Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Development Zone
- MITEZ Regional Net Zero Strategy
- Energy Audit and Carbon Emissions Strategy
- Overlanders Way TV series study
- North Queensland Cotton Gin Assessment and Feasibility Study
- North West Queensland Biomass Project
- Energy Past, Present & Future – Hughenden Power House Redevelopment Concept
- Assess alternatives to SWER lines at McKinlay Shire, consider renewables
- Commercial and industrial transport and logistics facility for regional NWQ
- Work to establish Stage 1 Cloncurry bio-fuels and waste treatment precinct
- Develop new outback Queensland tourism routes
- Assessment of possible solutions for Mt Isa/Cloncurry water security
- Regional promotion and participation in Regional Queensland showcase
- Overlanders Way tourism education
- Investigate potential investment opportunities in North West Queensland
- Cloncurry bulk load-out facility master plan
- Flinders River agricultural precinct
- White Mountain National Park northern access
- 50 Year Plan – port, rail and transport (Mount Isa to Townsville)
- Implementation of North West regional plan outcomes to grow Western Queensland
- Flinders River agricultural forum and industry field day
- North West Queensland strategic development study
South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils Inc
- SWQROC Energy Savings and Carbon Zero Strategy
South West Regional Economic Development
- Building capacity and growth opportunities for the South West Queensland Outback Tourism industry
- Promoting the ‘Boundless’ Opportunities in South West Queensland, including in the Olympic and Paralympic context
- ‘Be Our Guest’ – positioning SWQ as the premier Outback events Destination
- SWRED Investment Prospectus – Sustaining our Region for a Productive Future Previous projects
- Training, Employment and Product Development Initiatives for South West Queensland
- Supplying premium meat products from outback Queensland
- South West Queensland Tourism Industry Development Program
- The Cooper Basin and South West resources sector supply chain capability development
- Our product, growing our industry - tourism on the Natural Sciences Loop
- Regional Queensland Showcase presentation - SWRED 2015
- Economic Investment Potential of the Kangaroo Industry in Queensland project
- Revitalising the Western Rail line project
- Maximising the tourism opportunity for ‘The home of the natural sciences’ in South West Queensland
- Natural Sciences Loop Stage II: interactive web portal and other digital technology to promote tourism
- South West Queensland digital communication and conferencing facilities project
- South West Queensland livestock transportation, ‘Which track road or rail’ project
- Natural Sciences Loop Stage III: strategy development and improvements to the Natural Sciences Loop and greater tourism products
Torres Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance
- Cape York's Cargo Drone Future Freight Transport
- Indigenous Recreational Fishing Tourism Business
- Progressing Indigenous tourism development in the Cape, Torres and Gulf region
- Implementing the Cape, Torres and Gulf Opportunities Plan
- Cape and Torres Opportunities Plan
2023-25 funding
This funding round provides $1 million over two financial years.
Remote Area Boards were invited to submit applications for projects that will facilitate industry diversification.
Applications were also welcome for projects that can enhance economic development, sustain or create employment, and improve liveability.
These projects are required to be delivered by 30 June 2025.
2021-23 funding
In this funding round of $1.5 million over two financial years, the five Remote Area Boards received $150,000 per year under the program.
2018-21 funding
In 2018, Remote Area Boards received $2.25 million over three years to deliver economic development projects in their regions.
2016-18 funding
In 2016, $1 million was provided to support the delivery of economic development projects in remote regional communities over a two-year period.
Last updated: 23 Jul 2025