The Queensland Government is proposing to invest $13 billion to develop more than 30 tourism infrastructure projects over the next five years.
Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the projects, located across the state from the Gold Coast to Cairns, would create thousands of jobs, inject billions into the economy and make Queensland a more attractive destination for tourists.
Ms Palaszczuk said, “These are exciting times for tourism. We need to be looking to the future and ensuring that we have the right infrastructure and experiences to meet the needs of the millions of tourists who are coming here now and the millions more we expect in the years to come.”
The tourism infrastructure investment pipeline includes:
- $3 billion Queen’s Wharf development
- $1 billion Jewel development
- $600 million Lindeman Island upgrade
- $2 billion Laguna Whitsundays upgrade
- $50 million Cairns Aquarium
- $100 million Brisbane International Cruise Terminal
“In Brisbane, there are more than $4 billion slated for future hotel and integrated resort development such as Howard Smith Wharves, Queen’s Wharf, Mary Lane and the new Emporium at South Bank,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Brisbane Airport’s new runway has also entered its next phase of construction. This project will support more than 2,700 jobs.
“There is $2.7 billion in infrastructure investment is fuelling development at Lindeman, South Molle and Daydream islands in the Whitsunday region.”
Ms Palaszczuk said recent discussions between the government and Yoshitaro Iwasaki about his proposed $600 million redevelopment of Capricorn Integrated Resort Development at Yeppoon had been very positive.
“The proponent estimates the redevelopment will support 19,000 jobs over 20 years,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Investing in new tourism assets and improving infrastructure that supports the tourism industry drives real growth in tourism and jobs.
“Under my government we have seen a double digit growth in the number of visitors coming to our great state.
