World Class Infrastructure
The Gladstone Advantage
The infrastructure needs of industry and business sectors in the Gladstone Region have been comprehensively addressed and are continuously monitored to identify and act on the changing needs of a growing industrial based economy. Key regional infrastructure that ensures Gladstone delivers as a world competitive investment location include:
Transport
- The Gladstone Ports Corporation manages a world class, natural deep-water port in Gladstone. The Port of Gladstone is Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port and permits a wide range of shipping operations including bulk carrier loading and unloading, fuel loading facilities and a dedicated container terminal. The Port, which allows for vessels of up to 220,000+ dwt, has six wharves that can simultaneously berth 14 vessels along a 20 kilometre foreshore. The Asia Pacific area is within 10-12 days sailing time and is the Port’s main international destination. Port trade during 2006/07 was in excess of 74 million tonnes to over 35 countries with 69% of this coming from coal exports. When the current expansion of the RG Tanna Coal Terminal concludes at the end of 2007 it will take capacity and shiploading of coal from 45 million tonnes to 75 million tonnes.
- As a significant coal exporting centre, Gladstone is also a major operations hub for Queensland Rail. Efficient transport links integrate mine, road, rail and port logistics into a world-class system with strategies in place to meet future demands. Electrified rail links Gladstone to Brisbane, Rockhampton and the coal mines in the Bowen Basin, with trains more than 1.5 kms long carrying in excess of 5,500 tonnes of coal to Gladstone’s coal terminals. Non-electrified rail extends the network to encompass agriculture and other mineral resources. In addition to the coal distribution system within Gladstone, Queensland Rail has established a dangerous cargo spur line and direct access to the Port of Gladstone and the Port’s container facility.
- Gladstone has a modern regional airport with connections to Brisbane, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.
- With abundant high quality coal deposits nearby, a reliable state transmission network and three base load power stations Gladstone, Stanwell, and Callide located within 100 kilometres of the area, Gladstone has access to reliable and internationally competitive electric power. While most industrial consumers access electricity from retailers who buy in bulk from the National Electricity Market, for large industry contestable contracts, Gladstone specific pricing can be negotiated directly between proponents and the power stations.
- The Gladstone region is also well serviced with natural gas (via the Queensland Gas Pipeline owned by Alinta Ltd. Further expansion to gas supply in Central Queensland is proposed with the completion of potential projects such as the Central Queensland Gas Pipeline.
- The Gladstone Area Water Board is the provider of raw and treated water for industrial use to the Gladstone Region from nearby Lake Awoonga. Recently the Dam Wall was raised to a height of 40 metres, increasing storage capacity to a total of 777,000 megalitres and a No Failure Yield (NFY) of approximately 80,000 ML per year. Long-term strategies are in place to monitor, match and augment future projected industrial demands for water.
- Extensive raw material deposits are available within economic transport distance. These include – coking and steaming coal, coal seam gas, oil shale, limestone and calcite, magnesite, salt and mineral sands.
- A highly skilled and competitive labour force exists in the Gladstone Region with productivity equal to any in the world.
- There is strong community support for responsible and sustainable industrial development.
- Central Queensland University (CQU) provides Gladstone with world-class research and development capabilities. The University in partnership with Industry and Government has established the CQU Process Engineering and Light Metals (PELM) Centre in Gladstone to undertake research and development into innovative process technology and value-adding solutions for industry.
- CQU, the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE and Education Queensland work in partnership with the NRG Skills Centre, CQ Employment and Training Strategy and industry to provide opportunities for tailor made, first-class training programs to supply and grow a skilled local workforce.
Low Sovereign Risk & Strong Government Support
- Australia is one of the most stable democracies in the Asia Pacific Region and the world.
- Both the Federal and State Governments have invested heavily in planning and developing infrastructure for industry in the Gladstone Region, in addition to significant investment from the private sector.
- The Gladstone State Development Area (GSDA) is 21,000 hectares of land to the north west of Gladstone that has been dedicated and set aside by the Queensland Government for future large-scale industrial development. The GSDA is managed under a dedicated development scheme that is designed to streamline project approvals, process and facilitate the timely and orderly provision of infrastructure needs.
