CHRONICLE COLUMN – 27 FEBRUARY 2023 – MANUFACTURING.
There is a renaissance currently underway rejuvenating the manufacturing industry across the Darling Downs. It’s been an intense period of revival and renewed growth for the industry, characterised by increased investment, innovation, and collaboration among manufacturers in the region.
Darling Downs’ proximity to boundless natural resources and energy generation, space within our industrial precincts, our logistics hubs and access to transport is the perfect recipe for attracting new manufacturers.
The Manufacturing Industry
Has always been a heavy lifter in the Darling Downs economy, contributing over $3.6 billion to the local economy with nearly 800 businesses that manufacture. Fiona Gaske, Chair of Regional Development Australia – Darling Downs and South West, advises that, “The manufacturing industry is an important contributor to the Darling Downs economy, providing employment opportunities, generating revenue, and helping to drive economic growth in the region.
Darling Downs manufacturers are known for their quality and innovation, and this has helped them remain competitive in Australian and global markets.
With unprecedented investment and the attraction of new global entrants and new technologies, the Darling Downs manufacturing industry is set to further flourish. Darling Downs’ existing manufacturing industry is diverse, with a range of sub-sectors, including food and beverage, industrial, mining, and agricultural equipment, and advanced manufacturing. This diversity has helped to create a resilient and sustainable industry that provides employment opportunities across a range of skill levels.
The Darling Downs is also renowned for its innovation and commercialisation of new product to market. Manufacturing is the driver of research and development, with the region punching well above its weight in terms of registered patents of new technology.
The AgTech and Logistics Hub, based in Wellcamp, is a great example of this locally and is hosting two of Queensland’s most prominent leaders in innovation, the Chief Scientist Professor Bronwyn Harch and the Chief Entrepreneur Julia Spicer OAM on the 2nd of March at 10:00am to 11:30am on “Research Impact Pathways”. In the Ag Tech sphere alone, this Hub has grown over 100 new jobs and millions of dollars of new product through to market.
There are some serious players complementing our existing diverse manufacturing industry, with investments announced by Boeing, Virgin Orbit and UniSQ’s $50M iLAuNch Trailblazer University initiative. Demand has never been higher for our skilled workforce, who have a reputation for producing high-quality goods.
Adding defence, satellite, and space industries to an industry already employing nearly 9000 people across Toowoomba, the Western Downs and Maranoa, will further reinforce our manufacturing industry within the supply chain as an enabler of other industries. Manufacturing job opportunities are set to explode.
Increased collaboration across the industry will ensure the region makes the very most of this manufacturing revival. Please consider joining the Darling Downs Manufacturing Industry Action Group (DDMIAG coordinated through the Ai Group and AusIndustry).
Together with the QLD Dept of Regional Development Manufacturing & Water and TSBE’s Manufacturing group, are working together to champion the Darling Downs as an advanced manufacturing hub, which would, in turn, see additional State Government funding flow into the region. Minister Butcher, in a speech at TSBE’s Enterprise event last Wednesday, indicated that he had heard Darling Downs’s request to become an advanced manufacturing hub “loud and clear”, and this would be very much welcomed in our region.
The Darling Downs and Maranoa is certainly a powerhouse, as it supports our traditional and long-established agricultural sector, the mining sector, transport and logistics and food processors and it also stands right behind the new emerging industries like space, renewable energy and satellite telecommunications.
It is set to deliver even more jobs with world renowned companies arriving in our region. Darling Downs manufacturers, together with our new global investors, will continue to grow and export their products to markets both within Australia and overseas, generating revenue and supporting economic growth in the region. Whilst our region’s manufacturing sector drives and safeguards our current and future industries, it’s the strong innovative culture and our progressive local manufacturers that will enable small and medium businesses in the supply chain to grow and thrive.
RDA DDSW Chair says, “The region is positioned for catalytic growth.
“We are pleased to work with the State Government to ensure we can maximise this opportunity. It’s extremely exciting for our stakeholders, especially business and industry. The region looks set to ignite.”
Fiona Gaske
Jenni Rix
Toowoomba Chamber Board Member, Director of RDA DDSW, Chair of the Toowoomba Regional Jobs Committee, Co-chair of the local Trade Investment Queensland Committee.
