February Enterprise Evening: Queensland Treasurer Hon David Janetzki reaffirms importance of local content and community benefits from major projects

Friday 14 February 2025. Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) hosted a crowd of almost 250 locals and industry leaders in Civic Square, Toowoomba for our first Enterprise Evening of the year. 

The evening was highlighted by the address of Toowoomba's own, the Hon. David Janetzki, Treasurer, Minister for Energy, Minister for Home Ownership, and Member for Toowoomba South. This was his first hometown address since his appointment to the Cabinet in late 2024. The Treasurer's speech reaffirmed TSBE's key advocacy priorities, emphasising the support for critical regional infrastructure and the importance of ensuring local content and community benefits from major projects.

The Hon. Dr. John McVeigh, Executive Director of TSBE, echoed these sentiments by underscoring the significance of the region speaking with a unified voice to secure its fair share of opportunities. "Queensland is open for business, and our region is open and ready for business,” said Dr McVeigh.

TSBE has long championed the concept of local content, which demands providing local businesses and services the opportunity to tender and secure work on major projects within their communities. This approach not only supports local enterprises but also ensures that the economic benefits flow through the towns, strengthening the regional economy.

With a diverse energy landscape and billions of dollars' worth of projects in various stages, the construction phase offers a quick boost to our region. Small to medium-sized businesses across Toowoomba and the Surat Basin excel in this phase, offering services such as excavation, drainage works, civil engineering, and the supply of goods and services to construction sites. This creates local jobs and stimulates economic activity.

TSBE's hosts a Major Projects Round Table which highlights the immense potential within the region, with $10 billion in projects and approximately 7,450 jobs at peak construction represented around the table.  Dr McVeigh says the project is a testament to the region’s capability. “We know we can achieve local content outcomes. Look at what we achieved with the build of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, where 80% of contracts were awarded to local businesses.”

One of the promising projects on the horizon for our region is the proposed Equestrian Centre at the Toowoomba Showgrounds, with a build estimated to be worth approximately $60 million. Achieving similar levels of local content on this project would translate into tens of millions of dollars' worth of work for local businesses.

Outside of the build, equestrian events at the Olympic and Paralympic Games pose unique challenges, but they also offer substantial rewards. The region has the capability and capacity to support athletes and horses through quarantine, training, and competition stages.

To ensure readiness for upcoming projects, we also need a region that is equipped with enabling infrastructure such as road, rail and air connectivity and water security infrastructure. These projects will empower communities with the confidence that they will receive fair and equitable outcomes.

TSBE will continue to advocate for a robust local content framework across all major projects. A framework should be full, fair, reasonable, and transparent, allowing everyone to understand and appreciate the benefits.