THE TABLELANDS ONE BIG ECONOMY Mareeba Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Economic Development Forum Ref: J August 2008 W S (Bill) Cummings W S (Bill) Cummings CUMMINGS ECONOMICS CUMMINGS ECONOMICS

2 Queensland’s Northern and Central Regions & Regional Capitals

3 The Tropical North Queensland region serviced by the city of Cairns is 1½ times the size of Victoria. It is as deep from north to south as the State of New South Wales, in area as large as the British Isles, and about the size of California. CAPITAL OF A LARGE, PREVIOUSLY UNDERDEVELOPED, RESOURCE RICH FRONTIER REGION

4 TABLELANDS COMPARED WITH TASMANIA

5 TROPICAL -  Initial challenges to technology from north west Europe. from north west Europe.  Late settled.  Initially slow to develop.  Now catching up.

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9  Asian Crisis – mineral prices.  Asian Crisis – tourism.  Tobacco industry closure.  Dairying deregulation.  Slower growth of whole region. LATE 90’S SLOW GROWTH PERIOD

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12 TABLELANDS MEDIAN VALUE ALLOTMENT (250 – 2500 m 2 ) SALES Atherton $ Eacham $ Herberton $ Mareeba $ 2001/0239,00053,50022,00045, /0344,10046,10020,00044, /0452,60042,30023,80042, /0572,80060,70031,00050, /0685,20081,70036,70066, /07104,300120,40051,30068,900 Source : Cummings Economics from Q’ld Dept of Infrastructure & Planning data.

13 TABLELANDS MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES Atherton $ Eacham $ Herberton $ Mareeba $ ,500109,00070,00098, ,000104,00078,000103, ,000138,00090,000130, ,000180,000120,000163, ,250250,000175,000197, ,000285,000210,000208,000 Source : Cummings Economics from RP Data.

14 Value of Agricultural Production CROPS Mareeba Shire ABS data 2000/01 $107 m Est Mareeba Dimbulah Irrigation Area based on DPI information, 2004/05 $146 m

15 TOURISM RESOURCES Tourism Growth Phases CAIRNS AIRPORT PASSENGER MOVEMENTS (Excluding international transits) No. % 1997/98 2,725,0000.4%Asian crisis 1998/99 2,770,0001.7% 1999/00 2,882,0004.0%+6% 2000/01 2,972,0003.1% 2001/02 2,878,000(-3.2%)Ansett collapse 2002/03 3,083,0007.1% + 32% 2003/04 3,402, % 2004/05 3,689,0008.4% 2005/06 3,832,0003.4% 2006/07 3,889,0001.4%High dollar Source : Cummings Economics from TRA.

16 MINING EMPLOYMENT UP

17  Sugar mill.  Poultry.  Stockfeeds.  Stock licks and supplements.  Wines.  Dairy products.  Chocolates.  Coffee.  Timber. ADDITIONAL PROCESSING TABLELANDS INCLUDE:

18 DECENTRALISED REGIONAL FACILITIES. BUILDING AND LANDSCAPING RAW MATERIALS AND BRICKS. LIFESTYLE MOVEMENTS. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE:

19 GOOD REASONS FOR CONTINUING OPTIMISM

20 A diversity of microclimates and production reduces vulnerability  Avocado  Banana  Basil  Bush foods  Cashews  Coffee  Custard apple  Flowers  Grapefruit  Grass seed  Hay  Legume seed  Lemons ‘Eureka’  Limes  Longan  Lychee  Macadamia  Maize  Mandarin  Mango  Mixed vegetables  Native foliage  Pawpaw  Peach  Peanuts  Pineapple  Potatoes  Poultry  Pumpkin  Sorghum grain  Soybeans  Sugarcane  Sweet potatoes  Table grapes  Tea  Tea-tree  Tea-tree mulch  Turf  Watermelon

21 THE REGION ACCOUNTS FOR 26% OF AUSTRALIA’S WATER RUNOFF

22 Per Capita Supply (1) of Some Selected Food Stuffs India, China & Australia, 2002 IndiaChinaAustralia Food Calories2,4592,9513,054 Food Protein (Gr) Fat (Gr) Sugar & Sweeteners Kg/Year Fruits (excl wines) Stimulants (coffee/tea etc) Meat Fish/Seafood (1) Note : Supply – Production, Imports, Stock less exports. Source : Cummings Economics from FAO (website).

23 HIGH OIL PRICES AND CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSES  INCREASED BIOFUEL PRODUCTION NEED FOR EXPANDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

24  TROPICAL LAG CLOSING  NEW BIO TECH PRODUCTS  Bio pharmaceuticals  Nutriceuticals  Cosmeceuticals  Bio fuels  Bio energy  Bio degradable fibres  Bio degradable plastics  Industrial – chemicals, paints, etc. BIO TECHNOLOGY

25 Motor Vehicle Numbers & Television Sets per ‘000 Pop’n India, China & Australia, 2004 IndiaChinaAustralia Motor Vehicles Television Sets Source : Cummings Economics from UN Statistics.

26  Support/Need for New Infrastructure.  Possible New Industrial Development Opportunities. MINING GROWTH.....

27  Fuel cost – locals at home.  Baby boomer grey nomads.  Downward correction in the Australian dollar.  New airline capacity. TOURISM PROSPECTS LIKELY TO CHANGE.....

28 TOURISM GROWTH A NEW PHASE IN SIGHT TOURISM GROWTH A NEW PHASE IN SIGHT New Generation of Aircraft in 2009 Boeing Dreamliners Airbus A380

29 NEW TOURISM MARKETS EMERGING, EG. CHINA

30  SOUTHERN TABLELANDS  Continuing agricultural intensification and diversification.  Continuing major focus for tourism growth.  Continuing major focus of lifestyle population movements. IMPLICATIONS FOR TABLELANDS

31  NORTHERN TABLELANDS  Major irrigation expansion (Nullinga), (also Mt Garnet area).  Focus of cattle industry services.  Focus of mining industry services.  Industrial expansion for mining industry and diversion from coast.  Any airport services diversion.  Transport hub.

32  KURANDA RANGE ROAD – LARGE FREIGHT EFFICIENT VEHICLES.  CAPE YORK and MITCHELL RIVER FEEDER ROADS.  ROAD TRAIN ROUTE – FROM MAREEBA VIA PETFORD/ALMADEN TO KENNEDY HWY AT MT GARNET.  KENNEDY DEVELOPMENTAL ROAD – MISSING LINK LYND TO HUGHENDEN – DIRECT PRODUCE FREIGHT ROUTE TO MELBOURNE and ADELAIDE. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT VITAL...

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34 NEED FOR NEW THINKING ABOUT WHERE THE REGION IS GOING...