THE SURAT Basin Energy and Mining Expo is being staged on June 22-23 at the Toowoomba Showgrounds. It will be the biggest trade event ever held in Toowoomba, with more than 400 sites booked and delegates attending from Nigeria, the United States, Asia and New Zealand plus Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia.

Toowoomba-based Easternwell, one of the world's most innovative mining engineeering companies, is backing the Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo as its platinum sponsor.

The expo is a very timely event that should help to connect business and communities in the region, while promoting Toowoomba's key role in the Surat Basin's development, especially in mining and resources support
services.

Surat Basin is widely  regarded as having the richest resources cache yet discovered in Australia, ranging from minerals to oil, coal and coal seam gas for liquefied natural gas production.

"Never before has a trade event of this size been run in Toowoomba," said a Toowoomba Regional Council spokesman. "The spin-off, in terms of local support is conservatively estimated at over $6million."

Toowoomba Regional Council expects the benefits will flow through to accommodation houses, restaurants, taxi and bus services along with other service and retail industries.

"Real estate is also likely to get a boost, with people from out of town discovering the region for the first time," the
spokesman said.

Surat Basin Expo organisers, Australian Events, have had to draw from over 25 years experience in the events management industry to bring this vast inaugural event together.

Surat Basin Expo organiser, Bob Carroll said, "The Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo has been well supported by the industry and by those wishing to do business with the energy and mining sectors.

"The event has taken considerable planning, starting with serving breakfast for over 700 exhibitors at the Mayoral Breakfast through to making sure that the large number of visitors get all the information that they need and benefit from the event."

The Surat Basin Conference and meeting programs are also filling rapidly with plenty of interest in these facilities.

Platinum sponsor of the event, Easternwell has expressed great satisfaction in the marketing and professional way in which the event has been constructed, receiving several positive comments from staff and suppliers congratulating them on their involvement.

Gold sponsors, Hutchinson Builders, On Site Rental Group and Protector Alsafe have also offered plenty of assistance including designing and building a special entrance way into the expo.  

Silver sponsors, Southern Queensland TAFE, Finlease, Wild Desert, University of Southern Queensland, Coffey, On Site Gas and Ironclad have  all contributed towards making this event a great success, Mr Carroll said.

"The biggest opportunity to come to this region is also catered for, and that is, employment," Mr Carroll said.

"Exhibitors SQI T and USQ offer a number of courses for those wanting to be involved in the future of energy and mining and a number of recruitment companies are also represented, and they offer terrific opportunities within the industry for all levels of education, " he said.

"The first step is to register to attend. It's free and takes only a few minutes, so log on today and see for yourself. "

Pre-registration online is free, but registration on site at the event costs $10.

 www.suratbasinexpo.com.au

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The Gold Coast City Council's program to attract investment has returned lucrative dividends for the city. BusinessGC research shows the efforts are equal to almost two new jobs and more than $105,000 a day injected into the local economy.

Surfers Paradise: GC waves in better business.

Gold Coast City Council's Economic Development branch, BusinessGC has released figures showing the effectiveness of the Investment Attraction Program that has been running for the past two years.

Gold Coast City Council Economic Development and Tourism Chair, Councillor Susie Douglas, said the Investment Attraction Program had helped push the region to one of the fastest-growing urban development areas anywhere in the world.

"A combination of lower costs, a highly-skilled local workforce, world-class infrastructure and a supportive business environment means the Gold Coast is garnering a global reputation as a hotspot for investment and business success,'' Cr Douglas said.

"This is good news for businesses looking to establish, expand or relocate in Australia and fantastic news for the Gold Coast.

"Through the Investment Attraction Program 1300 direct jobs have been created so far. That's the equivalent of two new jobs every day.

"The program has also yielded $77million in direct capital expenditure, or more than $105,000 invested into the local economy each day.''

The Investment Attraction Program and incentive fund is aimed at driving investment into the city, attracting new companies to move or expand on the Gold Coast, retaining highly skilled workers and diversifying the local economy away from the city's reliance on the construction and tourism industries.

The program is aimed at expanding export focussed and knowledge-based industries in nine sectors including the creative industries of film, fashion and music, education, environment, food and beverage, health and medical, information communication technology, sport business and marine industries.

The program's report card to date shows it has secured major creative investment including $62million in capital expenditure and 1100 direct jobs through film projects.

Movie production attracted to the Gold Coast during the past two years include the killer shark movie Bait 3D, Sea Patrol Series 5, Singularity' a $25million film directed by Roland Joffe, and the upcoming PJ Hogan's Mental starring Toni Collette.

The program has produced a further 200 direct jobs and $15million in direct capital expenditure through major companies that have established or relocated to the Gold Coast.

Key successes include international IT specialist IBM establishing a new software development team in the city.

Information and communication technology (ICT) software development company Opmantack has also chosen the Gold Coast to base operations.

Cr Douglas said the Gold Coast is fast becoming a location of choice for companies and businesses in the sustainability, eco-efficiency and alternate energy sectors with companies such as Eco-Kinetics choosing the Gold Coast for their solar assembly plant.

"And retailers and manufacturers have identified the Gold Coast advantage with companies such as surfwear manufacturer SurfStitch relocating its headquarters to the Gold Coast."

Cr Douglas said the Gold Coast was ideally placed to attract further global business.

The Gold Coast City has a similar time zone to that of the major trading nations in Southeast Asia, is accessible from both the Brisbane and Gold Coast airports, has excellent access to major sea ports, and boasts major road and rail transport initiatives, including the under construction $1billion Light Rail System, she said.

Business Gold Coast is the business development arm of Gold Coast City Council. It is committed to proactively developing a sustainable economy through industry development initiatives and investment attraction opportunities. Business Gold Coast partners with potential investors, creates business opportunities, facilitates access to funding and generates networking connections across nine industry sectors.

www.businessgc.com.au

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