Strengthening South East Queensland South

The South East Queensland South (SEQ South) region comprises the local government areas of Gold Coast, Logan and Redland City Councils.

The regional economy has a diversified industrial structure with employment opportunities and economic activity driven across several industries, including knowledge-based and services-based sectors such as advanced manufacturing, health and medical, education, retail and transport, as well as traditional drivers such as construction and tourism.

Our South East Queensland South regional office is one of 11 regional offices across Queensland supporting businesses to mature, grow and invest. Support is facilitated via one-on-one interactions, information, presentations and workshops (both online and face-to-face).

View all upcoming events and opportunities on the events page.

A number of pre-recorded sessions are also available on how to promote your businesses’ products and services to others.

We support all industries however we maintain a strong focus on priority industries and roadmaps relating to:

• advanced manufacturing
• aerospace
• biofutures
• biomedical
• defence
• hydrogen
• mining equipment, technology and services (METS)
• resource recovery
• superyachts/ marine

Gold Coast

Population

The Estimated Resident Population of Gold Coast City was 633,764 as of 30 June 2021.

Employment

Labour force was 305,109 and unemployment rate was 5.4% as of September 2021.

Strengths

• direct international air access
• three world-class universities
• strategically located of the edge of the Asia-Pacific Rim
• established and diverse local supply chains
• innovative culture
• diverse economy
• welcoming approximately 13 million visitors each year
• robust economy
• home to Village Roadshow studios
• diverse student community
• highly skilled workforce

Main industries

• education
• film
• health and medical
• manufacturing
• information communication technology (ICT)
• marine
• sport
• tourism
• construction

Key projects

Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct/ Lumina

The 200-hectare Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct is a partnership between the City of Gold Coast, Griffith University and Queensland Government. It includes Griffith University, Gold Coast University Hospital and Gold Coast Private Hospital, as well as the former 2018 Commonwealth Games™ Athletes Village site, now transformed into a residential and retail community. The precinct also offers over nine hectares of targeted commercial development at Lumina, focused on life sciences, health and technology related businesses to invest, cluster and grow, with land, leasing and co-working opportunities. Once fully developed, the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct is projected to inject $2.9 billion annually into the local economy and employ up to 26,000 people. Lumina is one of Economic Development Queensland’s Development Projects.

Griffith University's Advanced Design and Prototyping Technologies Institute (ADaPT)

Griffith University’s new $80 million institute is a flagship innovation facility for the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, translating university research and technology, together with world-leading industry partners and collaborators, at the cutting-edge of additive manufacturing and new personalised medicine technology.

ADaPT will merge the university’s expertise in micro and nano-technology, new materials, biomechanical and biomedical engineering, big data and artificial/augmented intelligence, complex medical imaging and 3D printing design and technology, with the innovation of partner companies to engineer next-generation medical and industrial applications.

Logan

Population

The Estimated Resident Population of Logan City was 350,740 as of 30 June 2021.

Employment

Labour force was 163,159 and unemployment rate was 7% as of September 2021.

Strengths

• easy access to major motorways and rail corridors
• 69 unique suburbs
• diverse skilled workforce
• affordable housing and land
• approximately 1.4 million visitors to the city annually
• access to two international airports and Port of Brisbane

Main industries

• construction
• education
• health care and social assistance
• manufacturing
• professional services
• retail

High-level projects

Meadowbrook precinct

The Meadowbrook precinct is a master-planned place focused on health, education and wellbeing. The precinct includes Logan Hospital, Griffith University, TAFE Queensland and other related services and facilities.

Redland

Population

The Estimated Resident Population of Redland City was 161,730 as of 30 June 2021.

Employment

Labour force (local employed persons) was 80,379 and unemployment rate was 4.4% as of September 2021.

Strengths

• access to two international airports and Port of Brisbane
• gateway to Moreton Bay and the Bay islands
• Redland City has a number of world-class educational facilities
• a multi-purpose health hub is also proposed for the Southern Redlands

Main industries

• construction
• education and training
• health care and social assistance
• manufacturing
• retail
• rural enterprises
• tourism (accommodation and food services)

High-level projects

Pilot hydrogen plan

A $7.5 million pilot hydrogen plant research project is located at the Queensland State Government’s Redlands Research Centre. Hydrogen is a clean, renewable fuel that can be used in transport, power supply and a range of industrial processes. The pilot plant aims to demonstrate different technologies for renewable energy and will help determine the viability of establishing hybrid renewable energy plants to generate hydrogen for export and local use. Professor Ian Mackinnon, from Queensland University of Technology, is leading the project with the aim that the success of the pilot hydrogen plant would open the door for the commercial development of hydrogen-generating plants throughout regional Australia.

Further information

Contact our South East Queensland South regional office to find out more.