Resources for business
RDA Wide Bay Burnett supports local businesses by connecting them with opportunities, networks and reliable information sources. This includes advocacy on policy and workforce; linking stakeholders with tendering, procurement and employment opportunities; and providing information to help organisations and industries to plan and grow.
Economic Development Tools
RDA Wide Bay Burnett has invested in a suite of online demographic and economic information tools to help business and industry make more informed, evidence-based decisions.
The tools feature statistical, historical and economic data and trends across our five local government areas, with information including population, economic, housing and social data. They help businesses and organisations by providing reliable information on which to base applications for government funding or investment in community services and infrastructure.
To access online economic data from a range of sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Accounts, Business Register and National Institute for Economic and Industry Research, click on the economy.id button.
To access comprehensive socio-demographic profile for local government areas, click on the profile.id button.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? The Queensland Treasury provides a free online regional profiling service, which enables users to select different-sized statistical and government areas and generate data reports using the latest available information.
Grants and funding
RDA Wide Bay Burnett works to connect business, industry and community with a range of state- and federally-funded grants to support growth and development, including investment in infrastructure and community projects. To find out more about grants and funding opportunities, visit our Grants and funding page.
Jobs Programs
Looking for workers? Then you need to know about these great local resources.
Fraser Coast Jobs Hub
The Fraser Coast Jobs Hub is a one-stop employment shop in the Fraser Coast region, with the simple aim of connecting people to jobs. The hub enables local jobseekers to sign up for free to search for local jobs and create a digital CV, and businesses looking for staff to post job vacancies at no cost and see who’s looking. The Jobs Hub is backed by Fraser Coast Regional Council.
Jobs Bundaberg, Jobs Fraser Coast The Wide Bay Burnett is fortunate to have two Regional Jobs Committees (RJCs), Jobs Bundaberg and Jobs Fraser Coast, which support the growth and development of strong, capable and skilled workforces across industry sectors in their regions. These jobs programs can support local employers in a variety of ways, such as:
- Proactively monitoring industry trends and identifying upskilling and reskilling opportunities through education and training
- Advocating for investment in training and skills that aligns to regional employment needs and opportunities for growth.
- Partnering to build education pathways that support a job-ready workforce.
- The RJCs are proudly funded by the Queensland Government.
Major Projects
RDA Wide Bay Burnett aims to connect businesses in the region with procurement, supply and workforce opportunities connected to major projects. These opportunities include:
- Paradise Dam improvement project (total $1.2 billion), to upgrade and restore the dam to its original height and capacity
- Bruce Highway – Cooroy to Curra Section D (total $1 billion), to construct a new 26km, 4-lane divided highway from Woondum to Curra
- Southern Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Battery Project (total $206.9 million), to build and operate the new 150-megawatt battery near Tarong Power Station for energy storage capacity
- Queensland Train Manufacturing Program(total $600 million), to construct new rollingstock in Maryborough
- Tarong Power Station overhauls and sustaining work (total $66.7 million), to replace and refurbish existing infrastructure
- Port of Bundaberg upgrades (total $15 million), including conveyor project, wharf redevelopment and tug facility upgrades.
- Hervey Bay Library & Administration Centre project (total $100 million), to build a new library, administration and disaster resilience centre, and community hub. Information for local tradespeople, subcontractors and suppliers on Fraser Coast Regional Council’s engagement hub
For more detail on these projects, visit their individual sites or go to the Queensland Government’s Wide Bay Regional Action Plan
Tender opportunities
If you’re looking to grow your business through large-scale tenders or breaking into new supply chains and markets, there are a range of government and independent platforms that can connect you with these opportunities.
AusTender: Providing centralised publication of Australian Government business opportunities, annual procurement plans and contracts awarded.
QTenders: Providing information on Queensland Government tender opportunities and contracts awarded, including a Forward Procurement Pipeline dashboard by region.
Local government tenders: All councils manage their own tendering processes. To visit the websites for councils across the Wide Bay Burnett, go to Our Partners
ICN Gateway: An independently run and publicly searchable database of projects across Australia, for both suppliers and buyers. Subscription packages available at an annual cost, with limited functionality for free. Includes a directory of Indigenous businesses.
Supply Nation: Australia’s largest database of verified Indigenous businesses. Registration for Indigenous businesses is free. Membership fees apply for procuring organisations.
Procurement Events
RDA Wide Bay Burnett hosts events throughout the year that aim to support local companies to become suppliers to government and major projects, helping them to grow their business and create local jobs.
These events step businesses through how they can access these potential opportunities (including through the State Government’s Buy Queensland initiative), either by educating them on requirements or by helping them through a capability self-assessment process.
Watch our events page and our social media channels for procurement events and updates
