Promoting region on agenda

THE region’s chief industry group is regularly called on for advice on how other regional centres can replicate Toowoomba’s growth and expansion.

“We would have a region from around Australia visit us or talk to us probably every 10 days,” Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise executive chairman Shane Charles said.

“People perceive we were a sleepy old backwater not more than 10 years ago, and now we’ve got $13 billion (of infrastructure development) in the pipeline.”

About 14 transport and logistics companies have moved to or opened depots in the Toowoomba region in the past 12 months to tap into opportunities from the road, rail and air capabilities offered.

It combines with emerging industries on the Darling Downs and advancements in agricultural technologies.

“I think we will see major international companies express a desire to be in

❝ We would have a region from around Australia visit us or talk to us probably every 10 days. — TSBE executive chairman Shane Charles

Toowoomba in the not-too-distant future with the explosion of the digital economy,” Mr Charles said.

“One of the challenges as we grow is the need to keep capable people in town.

“At TSBE, we think it’s about time we did a marketing campaign for Toowoomba.

“We’re talking to the Toowoomba Regional Council and the State Government about assisting us with trying to promote the region in terms of tourism (and) economic development to try and relocate people to the region.”