Prioritising, de-risking and brokering agricultural development in northern Queensland

Project locations: Torres Strait, Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Brisbane

Project partners: CRCNA

Project summary and impacts

Northern Queensland has significant potential to expand its agricultural sector, supported by abundant land and water resources, proximity to growing Asian markets and strong existing agricultural industries. However, new investment and development opportunities often face complex planning, regulatory, environmental, infrastructure and financing challenges.

This project examined how agricultural development is prioritised, assessed and progressed across northern Queensland, with a focus on identifying practical ways to reduce investment risk while ensuring development remains environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. The research involved extensive consultation with government agencies, industry representatives, investors, Indigenous organisations, community stakeholders and agricultural businesses.

The project found that northern Queensland’s agricultural development system is not fundamentally broken, but that improvements are needed to better coordinate planning, clarify development priorities and streamline pathways for investment. Key challenges identified included fragmented planning processes, uncertainty around water access and land use, infrastructure constraints and limited support for proponents developing investment-ready projects.

The project developed a series of policy directions and recommendations aimed at supporting sustainable agricultural growth. These included establishing clearer long-term development priorities, improving collaboration between governments, industry, Traditional Owners and communities, strengthening regional planning approaches and enhancing support for agricultural proponents seeking to attract investment and navigate approval processes.

The findings provide a roadmap for governments, investors and industry to work together to unlock agricultural opportunities across northern Queensland while balancing environmental protection, Indigenous interests and regional economic development. By improving the way agricultural opportunities are identified, planned and supported, the project has helped inform future approaches to agricultural investment and development across northern Australia.