With development in the region reaching record heights Bundaberg Regional Council has launched an initiative to support key industries and projects of regional significance.
Adopted at the December 2021 Council meeting, the new charges resolution and incentive scheme take effect from 1 March 2022.
Industries eligible for discounts off infrastructure charges under Council’s new charges resolution include health, community care, education, research, community, transport and logistics, manufacturing, Agtech, bioenegery and bioproducts, tourism and agriculture.
Discounts for not-for-profit organisations, emergency services and community-focused Bundaberg Regional Council projects remain unchanged under the new resolution.
Mayor Jack Dempsey said Council had outlined a number of key industries within its advocacy priorities that had the ability to grow the region or improve quality of life for residents.
“Council has been actively working to bring new industries to the region for many years now,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“We are ideally placed to service industries like defence, ecotourism and bioproducts – particularly hydrogen – and securing these opportunities would mean jobs and growth.
“Equally we recognise that, as our community continues to grow, increased access to services like health care are vitally important.”
Bundaberg Regional Council development manager Michael Ellery said in previous years, development incentive programs had focussed on stimulating the economy when building and construction activity was low.
Now, with record development and construction figures in the last 24 months, these discounts would aim to attract growth in key areas.
“There are an expanded range of discounts included in the 2021 charges resolution that align with current and future growth industries,” Michael said.
“It also looks to address issues around housing choice and affordability by encouraging increased housing density in our urban centres, that supports the efficient use of existing and planned infrastructure.”
“Aside from the discounts in the new charges resolution, Council’s new incentive scheme seeks to attract projects of regional significance – defined by a monetary value of $15 million or greater or providing more than 50 direct local jobs.
“Any qualifying project will be eligible for a discount of up to 100 per cent off the infrastructure charges levied for the development.”
Michael said the new incentive scheme replaced all previous programs.
For more information and to view the development incentive scheme details in full, head to Council’s website.
