Biloela Industrial Incentives Initiative

The purpose of the Initiative is to drive economic diversification and growth; attracting new investment to the Shire or facilitating expansion of existing businesses.

Banana Shire's underlying comparative advantage is a skilled workforce that services existing industry, availability of industrial-zoned land, proximity to neighbouring service centres and a strong transport and logistics network, which links our industries to the Port of Gladstone, one of the world's largest commodity ports.

What the Initiative Funds
The Initiative supports shared enabling infrastructure, services and capabilities that improve competitiveness and unlock investment across multiple businesses. Shared benefit may arise under different ownership and operating models.

Illustrative project types include:

• Common or Precinct-Level Infrastructure: Infrastructure that supports multiple existing or future users within the industrial precinct or wider Shire, such as shared power infrastructure, heavy vehicle access, compressed air or gas reticulation, ICT backbone or digital connectivity improvements, and energy efficiency or distributed energy systems.
• Co-Owned or Joint-Use Facilities: Facilities developed under shared ownership, joint venture or cooperative structures, such as jointly governed training centres, shared advanced manufacturing or fabrication cells, multi-user testing or prototyping facilities, and calibration or quality assurance laboratories.
• Privately Owned Assets with Demonstrable Shared Benefit: Privately owned and commercially operated assets that are new to the region and enable access by multiple businesses on fair and transparent terms, such as specialist processing or fabrication equipment not currently available locally.
• Other: Circular economy, waste or byproduct exchange infrastructure; shared logistics interfaces; specialist training infrastructure linked to RTOs, TAFE or industry partners.

The following categories are illustrative only and are not intended to limit applications. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative solutions that align with the Initiative outcomes.

Initiative Outcomes
The Biloela Industrial Incentives Initiative aims to:

• Expand and diversify local industry for sustainable economic growth: Support expansion of existing industries and attract priority new industry participants, support job creation and workforce pathways, and increase local businesses' ability to participate in key industry supply chains and capture value, including for the significant growth in renewable energy projects in the region.
• Improve competitiveness and cost reduction across firms: Support initiatives that address identified barriers to investment in Banana Shire, including gaps in shared infrastructure, enabling technology, and access to industrial facilities, equipment or services, by delivering shared solutions that multiple firms will benefit from and that unlock investment in the Shire.
• Attract investment: Leverage public funds to attract private, industry and research capital and increase the scale of activity in the Precinct, positioning Banana Shire as a key industrial hub in Central Queensland.
• Promote collaboration and partnerships for innovation and growth: Support partnerships between businesses, research organisations and/or education and training providers that drive innovation in product and services, including for testing, research and development, and commercialisation.

Eligibility
Applications must meet all mandatory eligibility requirements to proceed to assessment. Key requirements are:

Applicant eligibility
The applicant must be an Australian-based legal entity capable of entering into a legally binding agreement with Council, hold a current Australian Business Number, and have an account with an Australian financial institution. Eligible entity types include companies incorporated in Australia, co-operatives, partnerships with a nominated lead partner, and Indigenous corporations.

Project eligibility
To be eligible, projects must:

• Have principal project activities located in Banana Shire and create jobs based in the Shire.
• Deliver enabling assets, services and/or capabilities that benefit at least two businesses in Banana Shire.
• Align with the Initiative outcomes of industry expansion, improved competitiveness, investment attraction and collaboration.
• Include a co-funding contribution from the applicant and/or project partners; meaningful cash co-investment is expected.
• Be capable of substantial delivery within the program timeframe (projects are expected to commence within 12 months of agreement execution).

Download the full EOI Guidelines for complete eligibility requirements, including eligible expenditure and ineligible project types: Download EOI Guidelines

Contact
For enquiries about the Biloela Industrial Incentives Initiative, please email IndustryIncentive@banana.qld.gov.au.
Questions must be submitted by 17 March 2026 to allow a response before the EOI closes.
For general Council enquiries: (07) 4992 9500 or enquiries@banana.qld.gov.au