Chairman’s Report 2024
2nd December 2024
Re: Chairman Report for AGM December 2024
Yet another year has passed and this is now my 8th Chairman’s report after agreeing to the chairman’s role for a 2-year period.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all BCE members for your input and a special thanks to Stephen Darwen for the work he does to assist the secretary role. Also, thanks to Ry who was our official Secretary, John Finlay as role of Treasure and Kyle as Vice Chair.
I would also like to thank the Whitsunday Regional Council for their ongoing support and assisting with funding to cover our expenses for the year. I also acknowledge our strong support from our new Mayor Ry Collins and councilor John Findlay as well as ongoing support from councilor Michelle Wright who always find time to attend our BCE meetings and are active supporters of BCE. I also thank our WRC CEO, Warren Bunker for his commitment to BCE, and of course a big thanks to WRC economic team who always keep us informed and involved in economic projects across the region.
This year, BCE continued to work on our 5 priority projects as per below.
Bowen Boat Harbour – Champion Ashley Darwin
BCE have continued to lobby all stakeholder with regard to the Bowen Boat Harbour. We have seen movement with TMR with a number of current tenants being offered new leases this year. We have also seen the Bowen Marina change hands with the new owner starting on improvements project in this area. After lobbying the LNP, they have announced $400,000 funding to fast track the Master Plan for the Bowen Harbour. In conjunction with this, the WRC are completing a master plan for the whole of the front Beach area of Bowen, including the Bowen Harbour and the Jetty. The WRC are using the same consultants as NQBP used for the jetty, (ARUP) which will fast track the project and ensure a connected solution for all of this area. I have discussed with Dale Last and suggested that they should also jump on board and use ARUP at the same time to complete the Master Plan for the harbour so it fits with the overall plan. Dale is following up on timeframes and this suggestion directly with the Treasurer and Transport Minister.
Front Beach – Bowen Jetty – Champion Tony Bale
We have seen this move forward this year with a plan in place to replace the jetty. NQBP have completed a very though consultation process using ARUP consultants and signed off on a design plan. It was a great outcome to see the $50M funding for this project be moved from the Treasury department direct to NQBP so it is locked in. This along with the $16M already allocated to demolish the existing jetty means there is a total of $68M to replace the Bowen Jetty. Out challenge now is to make sure we get the best bang for buck and the new jetty has all the bells and whistles it should have for this substantial funding. The project cannot go over this, however we need to push to make sure the full amount is spent on delivering the best outcome for this area.
From a timing point of view, NQBP still need to have a solution for their tugs in place before the old jetty can be demolished. In late 2022 and early 2023, NQBP completed an option analysis for the location for the tugs. NQBP looked at three options, The current Jetty, the Bowen Harbour and the Port of Abbot point. BCE pushed for the Bowen harbour to be a preferred option due to our belief it would be a great catalytic project to kick start the full development of the harbour. We also had concern that moving the Tugs to Abbott Point and having nowhere to service these in Bowen, would mean loss of business for our community. After they completed their work, NQBP announced their preferred option was to relocate their towage infrastructure to Port of Abbot Point due to operational efficiency, safety, costs and future port development factors. It is interesting that NQBP has now issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) for consulting services to develop a business case for towage infrastructure. I believe BCE should continue to actively engage with NQBP and put the Bowen Harbour back into the mix for a preferred solution.
Bowen Pipe Line – Water for Bowen – Champion Ry Collins
Bowen Pipeline Company has continued to complete the work required to get this project approved and started. From discussions with their CEO, Sean Brown, the following is an summary update on where their project is sitting.
- Secured the 182 kilometer’s of trunk and branch lines, with the exception of 40 meters under an open channel (a Water Board easement).
- Lodged the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation application for endorsement by the Minister. – endorsement delayed due to new Government;
- Secured all agreements with the Traditional Owners
- Lodged the Detailed Business Case with DRDMW, funded by a $5 million Commonwealth Grant;
- 41 private investors (the majority of whom are based in the Burdekin and Bowen regions) who to date have invested some $2.5 million;
- Completed Engineering design and costings (Class 2);
- Provided Common User Infrastructure engineering designs to EDQ, Han Ho and HyNQ for the APSDA Green Energy Hub;
- Lodged an Initial Advice Statement (IAS) with the Office of the Coordinator-General for review
- Engaged a Project financial advisor to arrange equity and debt sources;
- Negotiating with a US funds manager for Capital.
- Is seeking to negotiate an In Principle Agreement with Sunwater for the supply of water for the Project.
With the change in State Government, I feel it is also time to kick start Urannah Dam again. We have spent over $20M on this project in the past 10 years and it is ready to go. The business case has been completed and shows this is the best option for a new dam in Qld, design is done, EIS started, water demands completed, irrigation designs completed etc, We just need a State and Federal government who believe in Dams to kick this project along. I have reached out to brief the new water minister, (Anne Leahy) and just waiting on a date that suits all to do this.
State Development area – Champion Damian Dederer
This year we saw Allan Brown leave his role as GM of APO as well as the BCE board. I thank Allan for his support over the years and wish him the best in his new chapter.
We welcome Damian both into the role of new APO GM and onto the BCE board.
Abbot Point Operation continue to be the main business in this area and they have continued to increase their output. Another record year of around 34.6 M tonnes of coal were exported through AP. This is also on track to ramp up again this year. A conservative calculation is this equates to $10M per week in coal royalties that the State government take from the coal going through Abbot Point. Our challenge to get more of this royales returned to the regions where it is generated.
Gilmore Space continues to tick boxes and I am looking forward to a rocket launch in the very near future. Economic diversity in a great thing for our region and adding a space industry is about as diverse and exciting as it gets.
State development area still needs future development and while there are Billions of dollars of proposed projects around wind, solar and Hydrogen, they all need Government money to stack up. My belief is we should be using government money to get water, power and digital infrastructure in place and then work with private enterprise to develop new industries in this area. I have reached out to Adam Jones who is director at the office of the coordinator General Department of State Development and Infrastructure. Adam is leading the Abbot Point Activation Initiative Group, working closely with state agencies, Government Owned Corporations and proponents. I have requested BCE have representation on this group and I am just waiting to hear back from Adam.
Whitsunday Paradice – Housing – Champion Kylie McRea
Available housing continues to be a challenge for our region. It is great to see our new Mayor has met with Whitsunday Paradice and are looking at how they can work together to move this project forward. At the end of the day, it comes down to the cost of trunk infrastructure and hopefully some grant money can flow to help in this area. Greater Whitsunday Communities and RDA are expanding the housing project they completed in Mackay to the Bowen and Collinsville region. The concept is to collect data, present to a community stakeholders, determine current demand and future demand for workers accommodation and work with developers to supply demand. It does rely on some commitment from businesses to “lock in” to rent this accommodation should it be built. Early days yet, however some good work from GWC and RDA in this area.
Some interesting data is that there are 5,400 approvals across the Greater Whitsunday area that have not been started There are a range of issues, however a lot point back to infrastructure cost and conditions imposed with the approvals. I believe there are opportunities for the councils to work closer to the developers and look at economic outcomes for the region and not just follow the tick and flick box when to getting some of these approvals moving.
Other
At the end of 2023, BCE submitted a grant application in conjunction with the WRC for funding for a Uni Hub in Bowen. We were not successful; however, we were asked to submit again this year. We have done this and asked for a total of $1.4 M over a 4 period to set this Uni Hub up in Bowen. We will find out in the first quarter of 2025 if we have been successful with this grant.
WRC have set up a new Economic Advisor group and a number of BCE members have been asked to be on this team. I believe this is a great initiative and the outcomes from this group will align with BCE priorities.
Finally, a reminder that our next BCE Breakfast is being held on the 31st of Jan 2025. We will have three levels of Government presenting at this breakfast. I encourage you all to put in your diaries and I will send out ticket info in the coming weeks.
Thanks again to all our members and I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy new year
Regards
Paul McLaughlin
Chairperson
Bowen Collinsville Enterprise
