The Bowen Shire has a strong local economy. This economy is boosted by a number of local people working in and around our local Central Business District.

There are many ways that you can discover Bowen, the Big Mango is a information centre that is located just south of Bowen on the Bruce highway. This centre has many information booklets on every topic of bowen.

Bowen has many people that are all to happy to point you in the right direction which you are wanting to go. From the latest in fashion to the latest lookouts Bowen seems to have it all.

For more information check out the Bowen Shire Economic Profile (PDF - 635 Kb)

• Agriculture
• Aquaculture
• Coke Works
• Commercial Fishing
• Salt Works
• Small Business
  

For any further enquiries contact Mr. Martin Homisan at the Regional Council in Bowen.

Or Email: manager@bce.org.au

To find out more information on the Bowen Collinsville Enterprise, click here.

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The Bowen Shire has a strong local economy. This economy is boosted by a number of local people working in and around our local Central Business District.

There are many ways that you can discover Bowen, the Big Mango is a information centre that is located just south of Bowen on the Bruce highway. This centre has many information booklets on every topic of bowen.

Bowen has many people that are all to happy to point you in the right direction which you are wanting to go. From the latest in fashion to the latest lookouts Bowen seems to have it all.

For more information check out the Bowen Shire Economic Profile (PDF - 635 Kb)

• Agriculture
• Aquaculture
• Coke Works
• Commercial Fishing
• Salt Works
• Small Business
  

For any further enquiries contact Mr. Martin Homisan at the Regional Council in Bowen.

Or Email: manager@bce.org.au

To find out more information on the Bowen Collinsville Enterprise, click here.

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Bowen is a significant contributor to the Region's agricultural commodities. The Shire produced around $160m worth of Agricultural product in 1988/99 or almost 25% of the Region's total production. Bowen is famous in particular for its production of tomatoes as the largest tomato-producing region in Queensland. In 1998/99 this represented a value of $59.5m followed by capsicum at $30.5m.

Bowen's livestock production was worth $30.5m or 19.3% of the Region's total. Estimates for the 2000 season suggested these figures increased significantly to $230 million of produce (farm gate value 2000).

The Bowen Horticulture Industry produces $230 million worth of fruit and vegetables per year (farm gate value), which is predominately sold through the central market system, supermarket chains and to export agents.


Sugar

Several trial crops have been produced in recent years, which indicate that the Bowen Shire would be an ideal location for sugar production if sufficient quantities of water were available for irrigation.

Options are currently being examined to provide water for sugar production in the Bowen Shire. These are the Urannah Dam project, which would provide water for up to 20,000 hectares of irrigation development near Collinsville; and the Elliot Main Channel project, which is an irrigation channel to bring water from the Burdekin River down the Coastal Plain to Bowen, creating up to 26,000 hectares of new irrigation areas in the Bowen Shire between Bowen and Ayr.

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Bowen is a significant contributor to the Region's agricultural commodities. The Shire produced around $160m worth of Agricultural product in 1988/99 or almost 25% of the Region's total production. Bowen is famous in particular for its production of tomatoes as the largest tomato-producing region in Queensland. In 1998/99 this represented a value of $59.5m followed by capsicum at $30.5m.

Bowen's livestock production was worth $30.5m or 19.3% of the Region's total. Estimates for the 2000 season suggested these figures increased significantly to $230 million of produce (farm gate value 2000).

The Bowen Horticulture Industry produces $230 million worth of fruit and vegetables per year (farm gate value), which is predominately sold through the central market system, supermarket chains and to export agents.


Sugar

Several trial crops have been produced in recent years, which indicate that the Bowen Shire would be an ideal location for sugar production if sufficient quantities of water were available for irrigation.

Options are currently being examined to provide water for sugar production in the Bowen Shire. These are the Urannah Dam project, which would provide water for up to 20,000 hectares of irrigation development near Collinsville; and the Elliot Main Channel project, which is an irrigation channel to bring water from the Burdekin River down the Coastal Plain to Bowen, creating up to 26,000 hectares of new irrigation areas in the Bowen Shire between Bowen and Ayr.

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Bowen Shire has an attractive dry tropical climate, pristine clean sea water, and large quantities of suitable land, making it an ideal location for a wide range of aquaculture activities.

Fish farming

Additional sites suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fish production can be found in the Bowen Shire.

Prawn Farming

4 large scale marine prawn farming sites have been identified in the Bowen Prawn Farm Site Identification Study 2001 (Pacific Aquaculture & Investments, 2001 - copies available from Bowen Collinsville Enterprise).

Bowen is the home of Australia’s largest marine prawn farm (200 ha of pond based production) 25km South of the town.

Studies completed by the Mackay Tourism & Development Bureau (Burdekin Broadsound Aquaculture Area Identification Study 1998) identified that over 50% of the suitable land for aquaculture development between Boradsound and Ayr lay within the Bowen Shire.

Following the commencement of an Aquaculture Industry Development program in 1999, four addition marine prawn farm sites have been identified, and two new prawn farm developments have commenced approvals and regulatory assessment. Once operational, these two farms will have a combined total of 300ha of production, employing close to 200 workers.

At full potential, the aquaculture industry will deliver approximately 350 new jobs in the Bowen Shire.

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Bowen Shire has an attractive dry tropical climate, pristine clean sea water, and large quantities of suitable land, making it an ideal location for a wide range of aquaculture activities.

Fish farming

Additional sites suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fish production can be found in the Bowen Shire.

Prawn Farming

4 large scale marine prawn farming sites have been identified in the Bowen Prawn Farm Site Identification Study 2001 (Pacific Aquaculture & Investments, 2001 - copies available from Bowen Collinsville Enterprise).

Bowen is the home of Australia’s largest marine prawn farm (200 ha of pond based production) 25km South of the town.

Studies completed by the Mackay Tourism & Development Bureau (Burdekin Broadsound Aquaculture Area Identification Study 1998) identified that over 50% of the suitable land for aquaculture development between Boradsound and Ayr lay within the Bowen Shire.

Following the commencement of an Aquaculture Industry Development program in 1999, four addition marine prawn farm sites have been identified, and two new prawn farm developments have commenced approvals and regulatory assessment. Once operational, these two farms will have a combined total of 300ha of production, employing close to 200 workers.

At full potential, the aquaculture industry will deliver approximately 350 new jobs in the Bowen Shire.

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Bowen Coke Works supplies metallurgical coke to one of the world’s largest producers of lead, Xstrata Copper’s Mount Isa Mines. Located in Norris Street, Bowen Coke is owned and operated by Xstrata Copper.

Bowen Coke has a permanent work force of 15 employees. Coking coal from Collinsville is transported to Bowen by rail for processing in the 54 ovens at the site. The coal is crushed to a fine texture and up to a maximum of 16 tonnes is loaded into each oven.

The heat inside the ovens ignites the coal and a controlled burning process lasting between three and four days removes the volatiles to leave carbonised coal, better known as coke. The red hot coke is then pushed out of the ovens onto a receiving car before being quenched under water sprays. It is then crushed and screened to various sizes.

Bowen Coke produces up to 45,000 tonnes of coke each year. It is transported by rail to Mount Isa for use in the lead smelting process. Each year about 9,000 tonnes of smaller coke is trucked to other purchasers.

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Bowen Coke Works supplies metallurgical coke to one of the world’s largest producers of lead, Xstrata Copper’s Mount Isa Mines. Located in Norris Street, Bowen Coke is owned and operated by Xstrata Copper.

Bowen Coke has a permanent work force of 15 employees. Coking coal from Collinsville is transported to Bowen by rail for processing in the 54 ovens at the site. The coal is crushed to a fine texture and up to a maximum of 16 tonnes is loaded into each oven.

The heat inside the ovens ignites the coal and a controlled burning process lasting between three and four days removes the volatiles to leave carbonised coal, better known as coke. The red hot coke is then pushed out of the ovens onto a receiving car before being quenched under water sprays. It is then crushed and screened to various sizes.

Bowen Coke produces up to 45,000 tonnes of coke each year. It is transported by rail to Mount Isa for use in the lead smelting process. Each year about 9,000 tonnes of smaller coke is trucked to other purchasers.

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The fishing industry has an annual gross turnover of $28.8 million. It employs 101 full-time and 162 part-time workers. A major reason for the increased activity in Bowen in recent years has been the export of live Coral trout. The market fish vary between $26 to $63kg.

The harbour has three integrated trawler berthing facilities. These facilities are attached to fish receiving and processing businesses.

These companies receive large quantities of prawns, bugs, scallops, lobsters, live fish, fresh and frozen fish and crabs. Besides Coral Trout Bowen exports (live) large numbers of Cod, Barra Cod and Maori Wrasse to Asian Markets.

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The fishing industry has an annual gross turnover of $28.8 million. It employs 101 full-time and 162 part-time workers. A major reason for the increased activity in Bowen in recent years has been the export of live Coral trout. The market fish vary between $26 to $63kg.

The harbour has three integrated trawler berthing facilities. These facilities are attached to fish receiving and processing businesses.

These companies receive large quantities of prawns, bugs, scallops, lobsters, live fish, fresh and frozen fish and crabs. Besides Coral Trout Bowen exports (live) large numbers of Cod, Barra Cod and Maori Wrasse to Asian Markets.

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The Bowen Saltworks is located on the Bruce Highway at the town's entrance, it commenced operations in 1925.

Salt production at the Bowen Saltworks involves seawater being pumped from a tidal creek onto a broad expanse of low-lying land which is impermeable to water. The land used for solar evaporation is about 154 hectares. Most of the area is comprised of a series of interconnected ponds through which seawater continually passes as it evaporates.

At the stage of which salt crystals are starting to form the brine is pumped into specially prepared crystallizers. As long as evaporation exceeds rainfall a crust of salt grows on the bottom. In a good year, the crust can be 150mm thick.

Once harvestered the salt is washed in a concentrated brine to remove the impurities. After about a year the salt is crushed to the correct grain size for use in many industries. Most out put goes to rural suppliers where it is incorporated for feeding stock. It is also used in swimming pools, meat products and salting hides.

The plant is classed as a 15,000 tonne field but has harvastered up to 29,000 tonnes.

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The Bowen Saltworks is located on the Bruce Highway at the town's entrance, it commenced operations in 1925.

Salt production at the Bowen Saltworks involves seawater being pumped from a tidal creek onto a broad expanse of low-lying land which is impermeable to water. The land used for solar evaporation is about 154 hectares. Most of the area is comprised of a series of interconnected ponds through which seawater continually passes as it evaporates.

At the stage of which salt crystals are starting to form the brine is pumped into specially prepared crystallizers. As long as evaporation exceeds rainfall a crust of salt grows on the bottom. In a good year, the crust can be 150mm thick.

Once harvestered the salt is washed in a concentrated brine to remove the impurities. After about a year the salt is crushed to the correct grain size for use in many industries. Most out put goes to rural suppliers where it is incorporated for feeding stock. It is also used in swimming pools, meat products and salting hides.

The plant is classed as a 15,000 tonne field but has harvastered up to 29,000 tonnes.

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Assistance

• QLD Business help : www.smallbusiness.qld.gov.au

• Commonwealth Business help: www.business.gov.au

Assistance

• QLD Business help : www.smallbusiness.qld.gov.au

• Commonwealth Business help: www.business.gov.au