Strengthening Greater Whitsunday

Greater Whitsunday is one of Queensland’s most economically diverse regions. It features key industry sectors such as mining, manufacturing, biofutures, agriculture, aquaculture and tourism.

The region produces the majority of Queensland’s prime coking coal in the Bowen Basin. It boasts the largest mining services industrial precinct in the southern hemisphere.

Greater Whitsunday is also a strategically significant location for emerging industries such as biofutures thanks to abundant feedstocks, favourable climate, strong manufacturing base, efficient transport networks and proximity to global markets.

The world-renowned Whitsundays attract approximately two million domestic and international overnight visitors annually. Emerging areas like the Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Trails, Eungella National Park and Cape Hillsborough are driving innovation and promoting the region as a world-class ecotourism destination.

Our Greater Whitsunday regional office is one of eleven regional offices across Queensland helping businesses to mature, grow and invest.

Key features of Great Whitsunday

Population

192,302 (2024) - expected to increase to 236,081 by 2046.

Employment

• 2.2% unemployment
• Labour force 106,043 (December quarter 2024)

(Source: Queensland Government Statisticians Office, December quarter 2024)

Strengths

• Gross regional product estimated at $50.237 billion¹
• $9 billion of construction work across more than 140 projects in the pipeline²
• Four regional airports, two deep-water seaports, three bulk-shipping terminals, and a reliable freight service rail network
• Majority of Queensland’s prime coking coal is mined in the Bowen and Galilee Basins
• Paget Industrial Estate is home to over 500 mining and manufacturing businesses (largest mining services industrial precinct in southern hemisphere)
• Biofutures Mackay State Development Area at Racecourse and Rosella - brown field and green field investment opportunities, QUT Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant and Wilmar Bioethanol refinery
• Higher education and research opportunities through Central Queensland University and the QUT Biocommodities Pilot Plant
• Strong and diverse agricultural sector:
  • sugar cane contributes an estimated $564 million
  • horticultural outputs more than $290 million
  • livestock beef cattle industry contributes an estimated $718 million
• Burgeoning aquaculture sector with annual production rates growing to almost 5,000 tonnes in 2020-21 and total production value of $73 million in value³
• Tourism including access to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef attracts approximately two million domestic and international overnight visitors annually⁴

Industries

• Mining
• METS and manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Horticulture
• Fisheries and aquaculture
• Construction
• Island and reef tourism

Top ten output industries – total regional output of $79.71 billion:

• Mining
• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Rental, hiring and real estate services
• Transport, postal and warehousing
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing
• Health care and social assistance
• Accommodation and Food Services
• Public administration and safety
• Retail Trade

Top ten employment industries – total regional employment 97,582 jobs:

• Mining
• Health care and social assistance
• Construction
• Accommodation and food services
• Retail trade
• Education and training
• Transport, postal and warehousing
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing
• Other services

Top ten value-add industries – total regional value add $49.08 billion:

• Mining
• Rental, hiring and real estate services
• Construction
• Health care and social assistance
• Transport, postal and warehousing
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing
• Education and training
• Retail trade
• Public administration and safety

Key projects

• Mackay State Development Area
• Abbot Point State Development Area
• Mackay Base Hospital expansion
• Mackay Port Access, Bruce Highway to Mackay - Slade Point Road (Stage 1)
• Resource Centre of Excellence Projects
  • Stage 2 Future Industries Hub – Mackay
  • Stage 3 Isaac Resource Excellence Precinct - Moranbah

Events and activities

View upcoming events and opportunities in the region. Our workshops and industry briefings support businesses at all stages of project supply chains.

You can also view pre-recorded sessions on how to promote your business’ products and services to others.

Contact us

Contact our Greater Whitsunday regional office.

References

1. REMPLAN 2024 Release 2
2. Cordell Connect, June 2025
3. Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences 2020, Agriculture Sector in Mackay Region, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, 20 May 2024
4. TEQ, Year ending 2024