News
QREX leading potential business and tourism boom
18th April, 2007
The possibility of businesses wanting to service resource operations in Central Queensland locating in or re-locating to Rockhampton will be key factor for many businesses attending the Queensland Resources Expo (QREX) which will be held in Rockhampton from 23 to 26 May 2007."The two aims of QREX are: for the Expo and Conference to be firmly established in the international resources calendar as a must-attend event; and to build business and tourism in Rockhampton and the surrounding district, said Event Director Rick Palmer.
The bi-annual resources sector event would have a similar stature to Rockhampton's world renowned beef expo, with the potential of creating a sustained business and tourism boom for the area, he said.
"Some trade expo exhibitors which service mining, particularly coal mining, power and water production, and light metal processing, are participating in QREX for the express purpose of gauging whether Rockhampton and the surrounding district is a suitable place in which to base their Central Queensland operations," he said.
"Other business people are planning to visit the expo trade fair, to research the availability of industrial land and the impacts of zoning under the relevant Rockhampton town plan.
"Potential purchasers will be able to discuss the zoning of land with the relevant local authority planners as part of the concurrent Rockhampton Regional Showcase being organised by Rockhampton Regional Development. They will also be able to discuss the opportunities with companies already well-established in servicing the resources sector from the district."
The beef expo was developed in Rockhampton as a result of the major beef industry infrastructure existing in Central Queensland, Mr Palmer said. Operations such as the two meat works, Gracemere Saleyards, the Australian Brahman Breeders Association office and the Belmont Research Station all existed in 1988 when the first beef expo was held.
The situation with the resources sector was quite different. This resources expo, and associated resources conference was expected to result in a significant stimulus to the development of industries servicing the resources sector from Rockhampton and district.
"Rockhampton's beef expos have gained a world wide reputation as an outstanding market for all sorts of beef industry business," he said. "One United Kingdom based exhibitor has visited the 2003 and 2006 expos for the express purpose of selling their genetics on the global market place.
"We hope QREX can develop a similar reputation within the resources sector, with visitors coming to Central Queensland to investigate Australia's solutions to some of the industry's most difficult questions. This in turn should have a beneficial affect on tourism visits to the area, just as the beef expos have made make a special contribution to the Capricorn Region's tourism figures."