Why do business in the Scenic Rim?

There are many great reasons to invest in the Scenic Rim...

  • We welcome new investment in our region, and offer deferral of insfrastructure charges as an incentive.
  • The Scenic Rim has competitive cost advantages and access to plentiful light and heavy industrial land.
  • It is conveniently located just one hour south of Brisbane and half an hour inland from the Gold Coast.
  • It is currently home to more than 43,000 residents and its population is growing at a steady rate.
  • Beaudesert South in the region has been identified in the South East Queensland Regional Plan as an identified Growth Area and has the potential to accommodate significant residential growth.
  • It has a conducive climate, with warm wet summers and mild dry winters, a pristine landscape and fertile fields.
  • It is conveniently situated right on the east coast rail line with easy access to major road transport routes to major markets (M1, Cunningham Highway, Logan Motorway, Mt Lindesay Highway, Logan Motorway, Centenary Motorway).
  • It already has thriving sectors focusing on primary production, freight and logistics, and tourism.
  • These pillars of the regional economy are supported by Council via continuing investment in infrastructure, as well as in vibrant towns and active villages, which is helping drive further growth.

Investment incentives

We are committed to assisting potential investors and businesses looking to expand, through additional services including the provision of information, assistance identifying suitable sites as well as education and information regarding the development approval process.

A dedicated Case Manager will provide a single point of contact for proponents for all matters related to Council.

Pre-lodgement meetings and other efforts to ensure an investor is aware of all the necessary planning information is important.

Our Regional Prosperity team will be your first point of contact and will:

  • provide you with a variety of local information and market intelligence
  • assist you to identify and select a suitable site or premises
  • facilitate assistance with development applications
  • facilitate assistance with referral agencies, and
  • organise access to free of charge concept meetings where you can explore opportunities with our Planning team. This is completed before a pre-lodgement meeting or the development application being lodged and committing to the associated costs.

We also offer a deferral of infrastructure charges for eligible developments. See our brochure here.

Scenic Rim Investment Attraction Infrastructure Deferral Guidelines

Scenic Rim Investment Attraction Incentives Program Policy

Application Request Form - Negotiated Infrastructure Charges Notice/Infrastructure Agreement

Planning and Development Meeting Request Form

Economic Profile

The Scenic Rim's economic profile presents economic information that enables you to describe the area's role within the broader economy, explore options for economic development and promote the area's strengths.

View our economic profile

Key industries

Freight, logistics & manufacturing

  • The Scenic Rim has competitive cost advantages and access to plentiful light and heavy industrial land (including options for industries which require separation from residential areas).
  • The Bromelton State Development Area (SDA), west of Beaudesert, comprises a 15,000 hectare footprint with approximately 1800 hectares dedicated to rail-dependent industry, major industry and sub-industry precincts.  It is a rare and strategic location that also offers lower property costs than many other options in the region.
  • Bromelton is forecast to generate more than 15,000 jobs within warehousing logistics, freight, building, manufacturing and other businesses by 2035. 
  • In January 2017, Australia's largest privately owned rail company, SCT Logistics, opened Queensland's largest road and rail intermodal freight facility at Bromelton, adjacent to the Sydney-to-Brisbane rail line.  The strategic location of the site allows SCT to provide the region with direct rail services to/from Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.  It offers domestic rail line haulage services, as well as warehousing/property solutions.
  • For new investors, co-location at Bromelton near SCT represents a significant opportunity to become a key part of Australia's rapidly expanding freight network to meet current and projected freight needs, while at the same time offering a greener freight alternative.
  • The Commonwealth Government has committed $8.4 billion to deliver the Inland Rail Project, providing enhanced connectivity between Brisbane and Melbourne.  This project intersects the present interstate rail line at the northern end of the SDA, placing Bromelton at the crossroads of coastal and inland rail.
  • In addition to its unsurpassed access to rail networks, the Scenic Rim is also directly connected to major road highways, three airports and the Port of Brisbane.
  • Queensland's strong economic growth, along with industry and population growth and demand for resources, has created a unique opportunity for the Scenic Rim region to service South East Queensland supply chains.

Agriculture

  • The Scenic Rim is a food bowl for Queensland and markets further afield.  During winter, the alluvial valleys produce vegetables for markets up and down the Australian east coast.  The region is also home to beef, pork and poultry producers and boasts a growing reputation for boutique and gourmet food, wine and craft beer industries.
  • Generating a combined contribution of more than $400 million to the local economy, agriculture and tourism are established income sources for the region.  These attributes have encouraged regional partners to invest in celebrating the area's rural production and farming heritage through the highly successful Eat Local Week initiative.  Eat Local Week is an exciting, engaging and educational nine-day program of events that provides visitors and locals with an opportunity to learn about and enjoy the outstanding array of fresh local products on their doorstep. In 2017 (its 7th consecutive year), Eat Local Week attracted 32,000 visitors and contributed $1.9 million to the regional economy.

Visit our Eat Local Month website

Tourism

  • Known for its breathtaking scenery, array of national parks and nature-based opportunities, the Scenic Rim is home to 17 wineries, several craft breweries and distilleries and offers a number of outstanding gourmet experiences, providing the opportunity for visitors to indulge in divine food and wine in great rural settings.
  • The region welcomed over 1.3 million visitors in 2016, with the tourism industry providing over 10% of the region's jobs.
  • Recognising the importance of tourism as an economic driver, Scenic Rim Regional Council has developed a tourism strategy for 2016-2021.  The vision of this strategy is to grow the value of tourism to $300 million by 2021 with a clear mission to develop vibrant and sustainable tourism and genuine visitor experiences that celebrate the region's unique and world-class natural assets, rural and small town character, and community values.

In this section