Regional Development Australia - Central and Western Queensland

21/09/2026

📢 Have your say on the future of water in Western Queensland

Public feedback is now being sought on the draft Georgina and Diamantina water plan, which will guide how water is managed across around 266,000 km² of Western Queensland, including the Georgina and Diamantina river systems and communities such as Birdsville, Bedourie, Boulia, Camooweal, Dajarra, Duchess, Urandangi and Winton.

Key proposed changes include:
💧increasing identified unallocated water from 13,500 ML to 27,000 ML
💧changes to the management of overland flow
💧new reserve categories to support future economic development, community needs and projects of regional or State significance
💧clearer arrangements for managing connected underground water

The draft plan is intended to support long-term water security while balancing existing users, future demand, environmental needs and regional development opportunities.

💬 Local water users, businesses, industries and communities are encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback to help shape the final plan.

⏰ Consultations close 16th December, 2026
👉 Find out more and have your say;

Find out how we are reviewing and replacing the Georgina and Diamantina water plan.

16/09/2026

📣 SAVE THE DATE!

🌱 CHRRUP Regional Futures Forum
📍 Emerald
📅 Thursday, 19 November 2026

Join CHRRUP for a day of connection, collaboration and conversation as the regional community comes together to explore the opportunities, challenges and possibilities shaping the future of our region.

🤝 The forum will bring people together to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and look ahead to the future of the Central Highlands. Further details, including the program, speakers and registration information, will be shared soon.

🔗 Learn more: CHRRUP – Rural Business Support & Community Development, Central Highlands QLD

https://www.chrrup.org.au/

16/09/2026

Chair John Anderson and Director Stephen Smith are in Canberra for the Central to Defence Delegations 🤝

RDA Central and Western Queensland is proud to be part of these discussions and to continue promoting opportunities for our region. 💼

14/09/2026

💫 Ensuring we have the right people, the right processes and the right governance is important to us!

Katrina Grange RDA Central and Western Queensland board member attended the Australian Institute of Company Directors training on Governance for Not for profits in Brisbane.

🤝 Katrina was joined by fellow RDA Board members Brett Moller from RDA Regional Development Australia Tropical North and Terri Cooper from RDA Brisbane, bringing together valuable RDA perspectives from across Queensland.

📚 Ongoing professional development helps strengthen leadership, support good decision-making and ensure our organisation continues to operate with transparency, accountability and purpose.

31/08/2026

🚸 A new Crime Prevention School is set to be established in Rockhampton to help restore community safety and support at-risk young people.

The Queensland Government has announced that Y-Schools will deliver the new school, focused on re-engaging young people in Years 7–12 who have fallen out of mainstream education.

📚 The school will provide tailored support, including:
✅ specialised education
✅ mentoring
✅ life skills
✅ family support
✅ pathways to training and employment

The aim is to help young people reconnect with education, their community and positive future opportunities.

📍 It will be one of four new or expanded Crime Prevention Schools being delivered across Queensland, supported by a $50 million investment over five years.

🛡️ The program is expected to commence in the first half of 2027, subject to national accreditation approvals.

A strong investment in early intervention, education and community safety for Central Queensland.
👉

The Crisafulli Government is delivering on a key election commitment, announcing Y-Schools will deliver a new Crime Prevention School in Rockhampton to make Queensland safer.   

25/08/2026

✨ New grant funding is helping grow advanced manufacturing and support local jobs in Central Queensland.

Yeppoon-based CQ Fiberglass Direct has been announced as the first recipient under the $79.1 million Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Grant Program, receiving up to $113,000 in funding.

🏭 The business supplies high-performance ventilation products to underground coal mines and fibreglass products to the maritime industry.

⚙️ The grant will support the installation of an automated advanced fibre composite manufacturing system, helping the business:

✅ reduce waste
✅ improve productivity
✅ meet growing product demand
✅ create seven new jobs
✅ upskill its workforce

📍 A total of $12.5 million has been awarded in the first grant round to 18 manufacturers, including 11 regional Queensland businesses.

👏 This investment is a great boost for regional manufacturing, advanced technology and local employment across Queensland.
Visit 👉 https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/105930

18/08/2026

🏫 A new high school is one step closer for Gracemere

The new secondary school will support Gracemere’s fast-growing community and is scheduled to open in Term 1, 2028, initially welcoming students in Years 7 and 8.

📚 Once fully developed, the school is expected to accommodate around 1,000 students from Years 7 to 12, along with 100 staff.

Stage 1 will include:
✨ 16 general classrooms
🔬 9 specialist learning areas, including science, food studies and junior industrial technology
🏢 Administration facilities
🏀 Outdoor multi-purpose courts
🏉 An oval
🚗 Car parking and a pick-up/drop-off zone

This is a significant milestone for the Gracemere community and will help provide local families with greater access to secondary education closer to home.
👉Visit,

17/08/2026

✨ Hundreds of regional jobs are set to be supported in North West Queensland through one of the first investments from the strengthened $250 million Queensland Critical Minerals Fund.

A $20 million investment in Aeon Metals’ Walford Creek Project, located around 350km north-west of Mount Isa, will support feasibility studies and resource expansion drilling at one of Queensland’s significant untapped critical mineral deposits.

⛏️ The project contains an estimated 75 million tonnes of mineral resources, including copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, silver and nickel, and is expected to support up to 200 construction jobs and 60 ongoing roles. The investment forms part of Queensland’s broader focus on growing the critical minerals sector, attracting investment, supporting regional jobs and strengthening supply chains for minerals needed in the global transition to new technologies and energy systems.

👏 This is a significant opportunity for regional Queensland and another step toward unlocking the economic potential of the State’s critical minerals industry.

More information, visit;

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural DevelopmentThe Honourable Dale Last

10/08/2026

Huge couple of weeks across Western Queensland and beyond. 🚙

Over 10 days, Stephen has travelled approximately 3,500 kilometres, taken part in 16 meetings and stakeholder engagements, and crossed paths with councils, government agencies, regional organisations, businesses and community leaders right across the west. 🤝

Visits included Boulia, Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Birdsville, and surrounding areas, followed by the Developing Northern Australia Conference in Alice Springs. 📍

A few key themes emerged consistently throughout the conversations included; water, roads and digital connectivity. 💧🛣️📡

The trip provided an opportunity to visit key tourism, community and infrastructure assets, including the Boulia Sports and Aquatic Centre, Winton’s tourism attractions, the GroWQ event in Longreach and the Barcaldine Radio Theatre. 🏊‍♂️🦕🎭

The Developing Northern Australia Conference then provided a valuable opportunity to take many of these regional priorities into broader conversations with RDAs, government, the Office of Northern Australia, NAIF and other organisations working across Northern Australia. 🌏

Most importantly, a huge thank you to the councils, stakeholders, businesses and community leaders who gave so generously of their time. 🙌 These conversations help us better understand the issues on the ground and strengthen the case when advocating for investment and support for our region.