Optimism in our Region

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) has hosted their first Enterprise Evening since the start of the pandemic, discussing the state of the region to business, industry, government and community leaders.

Held at the newly opened Oaks Hotel Toowoomba, TSBE CEO, Ali Davenport, said that the breadth of our regional economy is one of our greatest strengths, as we continue to face challenges presented by COVID-19.

“The Darling Downs has one of the most resilient and diverse economies in Australia, and therefore we will recover quicker than most parts of the country,” said Ms Davenport.

"We have six pillars to our economy - energy and resources, agriculture, health, education, retail and defence.”

"It's this diversity that gives us our strength economically and has provided Toowoomba with an average growth rate of four per cent over the last ten years, which is double that of Queensland and Australia.”

Guest speaker of the evening, Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio, said the region had seen disasters before, and was optimistic for the region.

"In the past 12 months, we have faced drought, bushfire, minor floods and a global pandemic," Mayor Antonio said.

"We are a resilient Region, and now more than ever is a time for our community to come together to rebuild, once the ills of the global pandemic have passed."

"I'm optimistic that our region has the resolve and the broad base from which we will see a strong rebound and a return to more normal activity with the right support measures."

TSBE will hold another Enterprise Evening in Dalby on 23 July, with guest speakers Western Downs Region Mayor, Paul McVeigh, and Arrow Energy CEO, Cecile Wake.