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Some Current Studies »


Economic & Social Impact : Coal Mines in Central Queensland

Cummings Economics have been pleased to have been commissioned to carry out Economic Impact studies for a proposed new coal mine development in Central Queensland with the 20/20 Group assisting with Social Impact aspects.

Advancing Tropical Green Build : Connecting Capability to Market

Cummings Economics with special assistance from Greenbuild Cairns and EcoSavvy Townsville are pleased to have been asked by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation to work with businesses in the Cairns and Townsville regions to produce strategic recommendations, capability reports and marketing material for the above.

Value of Cairns & Mackay Airports to the Regional Economy

Cummings Economics have been pleased to assist Cairns Airport Pty Ltd and Mackay Airport Pty Ltd to estimate the impact of these airports on their respective regional economies including Airport Operations and Airport Dependent Industries.

Deepening Cairns Seaport Channel & Harbour

Cummings Economics are pleased to work with Kleinhardt Business Consultants, Arup and Ports North on benefit cost analysis of proposed deepening and widening Cairns seaport channel and harbour to take larger cruise ships and other larger vessels.

Amateurs

Cummings Economics have again been pleased to assist the Amateurs Committee estimate the Value of this major sporting and social event on the regional economy.

Rugby League

Cummings Economics have been pleased to work with Kleinhardt Business Consultants to assist Cairns and District Rugby League with forward strategic planning with a role especially in identifying the economic impact of the code in the region.

Future Babinda

Compass Research, the market research arm of Cummings Economics, have been pleased to assist with surveying in the Babinda business community about where future opportunities might be to increase business and employment following the closure of Babinda Sugar Mill.

Improved Access to the Kimberley Region

Cummings Economics have been pleased to carry out research to update economic impact benefit/cost analysis for proposals to upgrade the Tanami Road (Alice Springs – Halls Creek) as a more direct route between the south and the Kimberley region for freight, Ord produce, tourism and cattle movements and to service mining development along the road that are currently expanding to be worth about $1bn per annum.

Future Workforce Needs in the Cairns Economy

North Australia Research Group / Cummings Economicshave been pleased to meet requests by Cairns Regional Council to carry out a study to identify likely future workforce needs in Cairns on a 5 to 10-year time frame.

Demand for Aerodromes in the Cassowary Coast Region

Cummings Economics have been pleased to assist Cassowary Coast Regional Council by carrying out studies into likely future demand for the Council’s aerodromes in the Cassowary Coast area at Innisfail, Tully and Dallachy (near Cardwell).

Pongamia/Bio Diesels

Pongamia also known as Millettia is an exciting new potential tree crop for the tropics as a source of bio diesels. Further information about the Millettia can be found on www.millettiaplantations.com

Various work by Cummings Economics in recent years has been tracking the crop’s development and prospects. It is a native of the region, but also of India, where the beans have been used for thousands of years since Vedic times as a source of lamp oil



Handshakes »

The Cairns Chamber of Commerce is one of the leading business organisations in Cairns, established for over 100 years and a representative of the local business community.

Advance Cairns is the peak coordination agency for economic development in TNQ. Our vision is to develop a vibrant and sustainable regional economy that promotes and facilitates diverse employment, growth, social and lifestyle opportunities.

You may recognise Tropical North Queensland (TNQ) as a world famous tourism destination in Australia, but here at Think TNQ you will also learn what it has to offer in terms of opportunities for business, investment and lifestyle.

www.cairnsgreatbarrierreef.org.au is the official website of Nature's Theme Park. The only place on earth where the world heritage listed Daintree rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef!

Regional Development Australia (RDA) is an Australian Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to enhance the growth and development of Australia's regions. A national network of RDA committees has been established to achieve this objective.

The Mareeba Chamber of Commerce is committed to business and community interests in Mareeba and surrounding districts. We provide a wide range of services to business including scheduling and co-ordination of a number of opportunities and events.

Ports North has played a significant role in the growth and development of the region over the past 100 years. It has been managing the operations of the Port of Cairns since 1906, Ports North is committed to the community and our environment.

The Cairns Airport is Australia’s leading regional airport, providing air links to a range of domestic and international locations.

Links »

> Australian Bureau of Statistics
> Australian Market and Social Research Society
> The Economic Society of Australia
> Regional Science Association Australia and New Zealand Section Inc.

SOME INFORMATION RELEASES »


April 2012
The Cairns Story : Some Comparisons With Townsville & other Northern & Regional Cities

This 51 page document provides a geographical and historical background to the growth of the Cairns regional economy, its early and more recent growth including comparisons with the growth of Townsville and other northern and regional cities.

It then goes on to provide a demographic and economic statistical comparison of the cities of Cairns and Townsville.

2.8mb .pdf RefJ2545

April 2011
The Outback Way : A Third Trans Continental East West Route Across Australia

Cummings Economics have been pleased to carry out research to update an economic and social impact and benefit cost analysis of the proposal to create direct sealed road route from Western Queensland (Winton) through the Red Centre to Western Australia (Laverton) (The Outback Way). The study indicates that the upgraded road will have massive benefits in directly linking Australia’s major mining areas in Western Australia and Queensland, reducing transcontinental freight costs for tourism and for the improvement of prospects for Indigenous communities along the route.

244kb .pdf 2012 Update Study RefJ2494

April 2012
Value Of Mining In Far North Queensland Up In 2010/11 : Research Note

Records the continuing growth of value of mining in Far North Queensland to reach the $1bn mark.

131kb .pdf RefJ2551

March 2012
2010/11 Population Figures Cairns & Far North Qld : Research Note

Records the slowing of the city and region’s population growth, but the region’s continued leadership in population in northern Australia.

132kb .pdf Ref2550

March 2012
The Position Of Far North Queensland In Manufacturing In Regional Queensland

This brief note records the comparative strength of manufacturing in Far North Queensland, in leading northern Australia in number of manufacturing locations, and in turnover being 77% of the Townsville region and on a par with the Rockhampton/Gladstone area.

149kb .pdf RefJ2543

March 2012
International Visitors : Research Note

This research note records that the drop in international holiday purpose visitors to Queensland destinations since 2005 has been worse than national averages.

134kb .pdf RefJ2542

December 2011
Being Tropical : The Positives & Negatives For Regional Development

Bill Cummings presented a paper to the Australia & New Zealand Regional Science Association Conference in Canberra in December 2011 on the above subject.



125kb(pdf text) 2mb(pdf presentation) RefJ2471

November 2011
The Tablelands & A Changed World Economy

Bill Cummings presented an address to the recently reconstituted Atherton District Chamber of Commerce that outlined some of the major implications of the rapid industrialisation taking place in China and India for the region’s economy, including the negative impact of a high Australian dollar on tourism, the increased demand for mining and basic agricultural products taking place and the need for the region to react with improved seaport and connecting land transport infrastructure.



85kb(pdf text) 1.2mb(pdf presentation) RefJ2511

October 2011
Can Cairns Become A Major Mining Services Centre Again

Bill Cummings presented a paper at the “Cairns and Mining Conference” outlining Cairns history as a mining services centre, the expanding value of mining activity taking place in the region including the income being derived from fly-in services to mines outside the region and through supply of goods by ship to mining in the wider area serviced by Cairns across northern Australia, in Papua New Guinea and Papua Indonesia. Copies of other papers presented to the conference can be accessed by going to www.cairnsandmining.com.au.

104kb(pdf text) 1mb(pdf presentation) RefJ2462

October 2011
Current Infrastructure & the Limitations It Presents To A Growing Far North Queensland Mining Industry

In this paper presented to the “Cairns and Mining Conference”, Bill Cummings identifies a need for the region to upgrade its seaport and land transport infrastructure to benefit from the current high global demand for minerals and energy and development taking place in the immediate Cairns/Tablelands hinterland, the Peninsula, and further afield in Central and Northern Queensland, the Northern Territory, Papua New Guinea and Papua Indonesia. Copies of other papers presented to the conference can be accessed by going to www.cairnsandmining.com.au.

118kb(pdf text) 2.1mb(pdf presentation) RefJ2462

Recent Key Information Releases Archive ...