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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Fitzroy region of Queensland, 2015

Research by the Australian Bureau of Agriculturaland Resource Economics and Sciences

About my region 15.27April 2015

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Fitzroy region of Queensland, 2015 ABARES

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ABARES 2015, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Fitzroy region of Queensland, 2015, ABARES About my region 15.27, April, CC BY 3.0.

ISBN 978-1-74323-089-3ABARES project 43009

Internet

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Fitzroy region of Queensland 2015 is available at agriculture.gov.au/abares.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)

Postal address GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933Facsimile +61 2 6272 2001Email [email protected] agriculture.gov.au/abares

Inquiries about the licence and any use of this document should be sent to [email protected].

The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture, represented by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Department of Agriculture, ABARES, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Acknowledgements

ABARES relies on the voluntary cooperation of farmers participating in the annual Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey, Australian Dairy Industry Survey, and Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey to provide data used in the preparation of this report. Without their help, these surveys would not be possible. ABARES farm survey staff collected most of the information presented in this report through on-farm interviews with farmers.

This regional profile was updated by Therese Thompson, Peter Martin, Haydn Valle, Timothy Connolly, Lucy Randall, Kasia Mazur and Sharan Singh.

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Contents1 Regional overview.................................................................................................................................. 1

Employment.............................................................................................................................................. 22 Agriculture sector................................................................................................................................... 4

Value of agricultural production......................................................................................................4Number and type of farms.................................................................................................................. 4Farm financial performance—Queensland.................................................................................6

3 Fisheries sector..................................................................................................................................... 13

4 Forestry sector.......................................................................................................................................15

References........................................................................................................................................................... 16

TablesTable 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13......................................................5

Table 2 Financial performance, Queensland broadacre industries, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm..................................................................................................................................... 7

Table 3 Farm cash income of Queensland broadacre farms, by region, 2013–14 to 2014–15, average per farm..............................................................................................................................8

Table 4 Financial performance, Queensland dairy industry, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm...................................................................................................................................11

Table 5 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses, Queensland, 2012–13 and 2013–14............................................................................................12

FiguresFigure 1 Employment profile, Fitzroy region, November 2014.....................................................3

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Fitzroy region, Queensland, 2012–13................4

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Fitzroy region, Queensland, 2012–13............................................................................................................5

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm................................7

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, grains industry, average per farm............................................9

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm.............................................10

Figure 7 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm...........................................10

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses, Queensland, 2005–06 to 2013–14........................................................................................................................................ 12

Figure 9 Area of native forest, by tenure...............................................................................................15


MapsMap 1 Broad agricultural land use of the Fitzroy region of Queensland...................................1

Map 2 Agricultural industries of the Fitzroy region of Queensland.............................................2

Map 3 ABARES Australian broadacre zones and regions.................................................................8


1 Regional overviewThe Fitzroy region of Queensland is located along the east coast of the state (Map 1). The region comprises the five local government areas of Banana, Central Highlands, Gladstone, Rockhampton, and Woorabinda, and the major regional towns of Emerald, Gladstone and Rockhampton. The region covers a total area of around 117 500 square kilometres or 7 per cent of Queensland’s total area and is home to approximately 211 300 people (ABS 2011).

Agricultural land in the Fitzroy region occupies 88 620 square kilometres, or 75 per cent of the region. Areas classified as conservation and natural environments (nature conservation, protected areas and minimal use) occupy 18 950 square kilometres, or 16 per cent of the region. The most common land use by area is grazing modified pastures which occupies 55 760 square kilometres or 47 per cent of the Fitzroy region.

Map 1 Broad agricultural land use of the Fitzroy region of Queensland

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)

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Map 2 Agricultural industries of the Fitzroy region of Queensland

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)

EmploymentAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the 2014 Labour Force Survey indicate that around 119 800 people were employed in the Fitzroy region. The Fitzroy region accounts for 5 per cent of total employment in Queensland and 13 per cent of all people employed in the Queensland agriculture, forestry and fishing sector.

Construction was the largest employment sector with 13 300 people (Figure 1), followed by with health care and social assistance 13 100 people and retail trade with 9800 people. Other important employment sectors in the region education and training were (8700 people), public administration and safety (8600 people), and mining 8600. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector employed 6800 people, representing 5 per cent of the region’s workforce.

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Figure 1 Employment profile, Fitzroy region, November 2014

- 5 10 15

Information Media and TelecommunicationsArts and Recreation Services

Financial and Insurance ServicesRental, Hiring and Real Estate Services

Wholesale TradeElectricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services

Administrative and Support ServicesOther Services

Transport, Postal and WarehousingProfessional, Scientific and Technical Services

ManufacturingAgriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Accommodation and Food ServicesMining

Public Administration and SafetyEducation and Training

Retail TradeHealth Care and Social Assistance

Construction

Employed total ('000 )

Note: Annual average of the preceding 4 quarters.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 6291.0, Labour Force, Australia

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2 Agriculture sectorValue of agricultural productionIn 2012–13, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) in the Fitzroy region was $1 billion, which was 10 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in Queensland ($10 billion). This is the most recent year for which ABS data are available.

The Fitzroy region has a diverse agricultural sector. The most important commodity in the Fitzroy region based on the gross value of agricultural production was cattle and calves (Figure 2). In 2012–13, cattle and calves contributed 64 per cent ($684 million) to the value of agricultural production in the region. Wheat accounted for 8 per cent ($76 million), cotton contributed 6 per cent ($64 million) and grapes (excluding wine grapes) contributed 4 per cent ($38 million) to the region’s total value.

In 2012–13, the Fitzroy region accounted for around 76 per cent of the total value of Queensland grape production (excluding wine grapes), 32 per cent of the total value of outdoor cut flowers and 19 per cent of the total value of cattle and calves.

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Fitzroy region, Queensland, 2012–13

$m 200 400 600 800

Other

Poultry

Eggs

Maize

Vegetables

Nurseries, cut flowers and turf

Pigs

Milk

Hay

Fruit and nuts (excluding grapes)

Sorghum

Grapes (exc wine grapes)

Cotton lint

Wheat

Cattle and calves

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia

Number and type of farmsABS data indicate that in 2012–13 there were 3154 farms in the Fitzroy region with an estimated value of agricultural operations of more than $5000 (Table 1). The region contains 12 per cent of all farm businesses in Queensland.

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Table 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13Industry Classification Fitzroy region Queensland

no. % no. %

Beef Cattle 2 247 71 12 741 48

Grain growing 171 5 1 315 5

Mixed grains and livestock 137 4 1 060 4

Fruit and nuts 102 3 1 630 6

Other livestock 64 2 811 3

Other Crop growing 43 1 485 2

Cotton 33 1 270 1

Vegetable 32 1 932 4

Dairy 21 1 634 2

Other 304 10 6 664 25

Total Agriculture 3 154 100 26 541 100

Note: Estimated value of agricultural operations greater than $5000.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Farms are classified in Table 1 according to the activities that generate most of their value of production. Beef cattle farms (2247 farms) were the most common, accounting for 71 per cent of all farms in the Fitzroy region, and 18 per cent of all beef cattle farms in Queensland.

There is a large percentage of small farms in the region in terms of their value of agricultural output. Estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) is a measure of the value of production from farms and a measure of their business size. Around 31 per cent of farms in the Fitzroy region had an EVAO of less than $50 000 (Figure 3). These farms accounted for only 2 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in 2012–13. In comparison, 24 per cent of farms in the region had an EVAO of more than $350 000 and accounted for an estimated 77 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in the region in 2012–13.

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Fitzroy region, Queensland, 2012–13

%

10

20

30

40

50

< $50k $50k to $150k $150k to $350k $350k to $500k $500k to $1 m > $1 m

Share of farms Share of value of agricultural operations

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

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Farm financial performance—QueenslandEach year, ABARES interviews Australian broadacre, dairy and vegetable producers as part of its annual survey program. Broadacre industries covered in this survey include the grains, grains–livestock, sheep, beef and sheep–beef industries. The information collected is a basis for analysing the current financial position of farms in these industries and expected changes in the short term. This paper uses data from the ABARES Australian agricultural and grazing industries survey (AAGIS), Australian dairy industry survey (ADIS), and Australian vegetable growing industry survey to report estimates of financial performance indicators (Box 1) for broadacre, dairy and vegetable farms in Queensland.

Box 1 DefinitionsMajor financial performance indicators Total cash receipts: total revenues received by the business during the financial year. Total cash costs: payments made by the business for materials and services and for permanent and casual hired

labour (excluding owner manager, partner and family labour). Farm cash income: total cash receipts – total cash costs Farm business profit: farm cash income + changes in trading stocks – depreciation – imputed labour costs Profit at full equity: return produced by all the resources used in the business, farm business profit + rent +

interest + finance lease payments – depreciation on leased items Rate of return: return to all capital used, profit at full equity * 100 / total opening capital Equity ratio: Farm capital minus farm debt expressed as a percentage of farm capitalIndustry types Grains: farms mainly engaged in producing broadacre crops such as wheat, coarse grains, oilseeds and pulses, and

including farms running sheep and/or beef cattle in conjunction with substantial broadacre crop activity. Sheep: farms mainly engaged in running sheep. Beef: farms mainly engaged in running beef cattle. Dairy: farms mainly engaged in milk production. Vegetable: farms mainly engaged in growing vegetables.

Performance of broadacre farms—QueenslandIn 2014–15, farm cash incomes are also projected to rise in Queensland mainly because of higher beef cattle prices. Drought continued to affect Queensland broadacre farms in 2014-15, subduing crop and livestock production and maintaining high turn-off of cattle and sheep.

Average farm cash incomes are projected to increase in all regions of Queensland in 2014–15 except the Central North and the West and South West (Table 3). Relatively low farm cash incomes were recorded in most regions in 2013–14 and high turn-off of beef cattle resulted in reduced herd sizes.

Receipts from beef cattle are projected to increase in 2014–15. However, overall, crop receipts are expected to be reduced, with low receipts from winter grain crops and while a large increase is expected in grain sorghum production, businesses are likely to sell a part of this production in 2015–16.

Average total cash costs are projected to decrease by around 5 per cent in 2014–15, mainly as a result of a projected decrease in expenditure on fodder, fuel and interest payments and a decline in beef cattle purchase in some regions.

Despite higher beef cattle receipts, average farm cash income for Queensland broadacre farms is projected to increase only slightly to an average of $79 000 a farm in 2014–15 (Table 2 and

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Figure 4). This is only a small increase from the $68 200 recorded in 2013–14 and is still around 10 per cent below the average for the decade ending 2013–14.

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Australia Queensland

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Table 2 Financial performance, Queensland broadacre industries, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Performance indicator units 2012–13 2013–14p RSE 2014–15yTotal cash receipts $ 367 550 356 600 (4) 363 000Total cash costs $ 270 830 288 400 (5) 284 000Farm cash income $ 96 720 68 200 (12) 79 000Farms with negative farm cash income % 32 31 (12) 25Farm business profit $ –5 680 –77 400 (13) –54 000Profit at full equity excluding capital appreciation $ 36 500 –32 600 (28) –11 000Farm capital at 30 June a $ 4 989 410 5 022 300 (3) naFarm debt at 30 June b $ 592 510 618 100 (8) 612 000Equity ratio bd % 89 87 (1) naRate of return excluding capital appreciation e % 0.7 –0.6 (29) –0.2Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b $ 24 390 28 300 (10) na

a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Farm capital minus farm debt. d Equity expressed as a percentage of farm capital. e Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. p Preliminary estimates. y Provisional estimates. na Not Available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate providedSource: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

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Table 3 Farm cash income of Queensland broadacre farms, by region, 2013–14 to 2014–15, average per farm

Region units 2013–14p RSE 2014–15y

311: QLD Cape York and the Gulf $ 14 700 (481) 440 000312: QLD West and South West $ 208 000 (37) 134 000313: QLD Central North $ 88 300 (55) 41 000314: QLD Charleville - Longreach $ 75 100 (44) 96 000321: QLD Eastern Darling Downs $ 71 500 (26) 84 000322: QLD Darling Downs and Central Highlands $ 81 200 (19) 93 000331: QLD South Queensland Coastal $ 32 700 (28) 46 000332: QLD North Queensland Coastal $ 15 000 (102) 31 000

p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Map 3 ABARES Australian broadacre zones and regions

Note: Each region is identified by a unique code of three digits. The first digit identifies the state or territory, the second digit identifies the zone and the third digit identifies the region.Source: ABARES

Performance of grains industry farms—QueenslandAverage farm cash receipts decreased for Queensland grains industry farms in 2013–14 as a result of reduced production of summer and winter grain, oilseed and pulse crops. Farm cash income for grains industry farms in Queensland decreased to average around $91 000 a farm in 2013–14, after an historic high of $211 000 in 2012–13 (Figure 5).

In 2014–15, production of winter crops is estimated to have declined by around 15 per cent and despite an expected increase in production of grain sorghum and other summer crops, total crop receipts are expected to decline. On mixed enterprise farms decreased receipts from beef cattle

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due to reduced turn-off are also expected to contribute to lower projected farm cash receipts. The reduction in receipts is expected to be only partly offset by reduced expenditure on interest payments, repairs and maintenance, fuel and livestock purchase compared with 2013–14. As a result, farm cash income is projected to decline slightly to average $84 800 a farm, the lowest farm cash income since 2006–07 when drought severely reduced incomes for Queensland grains industry farms.

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, grains industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200

250


p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Performance of beef industry farms—QueenslandIn 2013–14, expansion of drought conditions resulted in a 20 per cent increase in the average number of cattle sold per farm by Queensland beef industry farms. The increase in turn-off more than offset the reduction in the average price received for cattle sold, resulting in an increase in farm receipts. This increase was more than offset by increased expenditure on fodder (which almost doubled), fuel and interest payments, resulting in average farm cash income for beef industry farms declining to average $68 200 a farm (Figure 6).

In 2014–15, receipts from beef cattle are projected to increase as a result of higher beef cattle prices and continued high cattle turn-off during the first half of 2014–15. Farm cash costs are also projected to increase, mainly as a result of increased expenditure on repairs and maintenance and despite an expected reduction in expenditure on beef cattle purchases and fuel. Farm cash income for Queensland beef industry farms is projected to increase slightly to average $82 000 a farm in 2014–15 and still around 5 per cent below the average for the previous 10 years, in real terms (Figure 6).

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Figure 6 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200

250


p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Performance of dairy industry farms— QueenslandIn 2013–14, average farm cash incomes increased in most states as a result of higher milk prices. Nationally, average farm cash income increased from $44 130 in 2012–13 to $163 900 in 2013–14. In Queensland, there was only a very small increase in the average milk price received and both total milk production and the number of dairy farms declined. For Queensland dairy farms, average farm cash income increased only slightly from $71 520 in 2012–13 to $73 800 in 2013–14 (Table 4 and Figure 7).

Figure 7 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200


p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

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In 2014–15, a further small decrease is expected in milk production in Queensland. This decrease is projected to be offset by a small increase in farmgate milk prices. Overall, average farm cash income is expected to remain largely unchanged in Queensland at an average of $73 000 a farm, or around 30 per cent below the average for the previous 10 years, in real terms.

Nationally, the average farm cash income of Australian dairy farms is projected to decrease in 2014–15 with lower farmgate milk prices in most states and regions except Queensland, northern New South Wales and Western Australia. The overall average farm cash income of Australian dairy farms is projected to decrease to average $97 000 a farm in 2014–15, around 14 per cent below the 10-year average to 2013–14.

Table 4 Financial performance, Queensland dairy industry, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Performance indicator unit 2012–13 2013–14p RSE 2014–15yFarm cash income $ 71 520 73 800 (30) 73 000Farm business profit a $ –11 540 –16 900 (157) –38 000Rate of return excluding capital appreciation b % 0.7 0.8 (95) 0.1

a Defined as farm cash income plus buildup in trading stocks, less depreciation and the imputed value of operator partner and family labour. b Defined as profit at full equity, excluding capital appreciation, as a percentage of total opening capital. Profit at full equity is defined as farm business profit plus rent, interest and lease payments less depreciation on leased items. p Preliminary estimates. y Provisional estimates. na Not available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided.Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

Performance of vegetable industry farms—QueenslandNationally in 2013–14, average farm cash income is estimated to have declined to $156 000, 4 per cent lower than in 2012–13. Average to above average seasonal conditions helped growers to maintain the high yields of 2012–13. Overall vegetable production was also higher because the average area planted to vegetable crops increased. However, the resulting increase in vegetable cash receipts was partially offset by lower vegetable prices.

Average farm cash income in Queensland declined 8 per cent in 2012–13 to an average of $165 800 (Table 5), 11 per cent lower than the estimated average farm cash income (in real terms) over the eight years to 2012–13 (Figure 8). Changes in the total quantity of vegetables produced were mixed across vegetable types, with increased yields for some vegetables being offset by declines for other vegetables. Greenbeans, an important vegetable crop in Queensland, had much higher prices in 2012–13.

Average farm cash income is estimated to have declined in 2013–14 to $58 000 (Table 5), the lowest estimated farm cash income since ABARES began surveying vegetable growing farm businesses in the state (Figure 8). Crop yields were generally just below average and lower prices for the main vegetables grown in Queensland contributed to reduced average total cash receipts. Average total cash costs also increased as a result of increased expenditure on hired labour associated with planting and harvesting a larger vegetable crop.

Changes in the average area operated and total quantity of vegetables produced in Queensland (Table 5) mask the change in the mix of vegetables grown between 2012–13 and 2013–14. The average quantity produced of the main vegetables, particularly greenbeans and potatoes, declined. However, the average area planted to pumpkins, carrots, cauliflower and greenpeas increased.

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Table 5 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses,Queensland, 2012–13 and 2013–14

average per farmSelected estimates units 2012–13 p RSE % Change

from 2011–122013–14 y RSE % Change

from 2012–13Vegetable cash receipts $ 705 000 (18) 10 679 000 (22) –4Area sown to vegetables ha 32.9 (18) –12 35.5 (34) 8Quantity of vegetables produced t 593 (16) –20 714 (27) 20Farm cash income $ 165 800 (30) –8 58 000 (94) –64

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate. Updated data for vegetable farm businesses will be available November 2015.Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses,Queensland, 2005–06 to 2013–14

average per farm

2013–14 $’000

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2005

–06

2006

–07

2007

–08

2008

–09

2009

–10

2010

–11

2011

–12

2012

–13

p

2013

–14

y

Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

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3 Fisheries sectorGladstone is a key fishing port in the Fitzroy region, for both commercial and recreational fishing. The East Coast Trawl Fishery, which is the largest of Queensland’s commercial fisheries, operates in the region. The fishery targets mostly prawns, primarily king, endeavour and red spot king prawns, which are caught mainly in the central Queensland region. The fishery also harvests bugs, squid, scallops, bugs and other species. Limited aquaculture farming occurs in this region, with an estimated value of $0.3 million in 2010–11, contributing less than 1 per cent of the total value of Queensland aquaculture production ($86.3 million in 2010–11) (Wingfield 2012).

The proportion of residents in the Fitzroy Hinterland region that fish at least once each year was one of the highest in Queensland with 26 per cent(QDPIFF 2015). Residents of the region mainly fish in coastal waters and adjacent reefs within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park near Rockhampton and Gladstone, and the estuaries and freshwater reaches of the central coast catchment. In the central coast catchment there is fishing in estuaries and freshwater reaches of rivers for mud crab, bream, whiting and barramundi. Boat fishers in this region catch cod, sweetlips, red throat emperor and a variety of other reef species. Gladstone harbour is also an area for recreational and charter activities.

In 2012-13 the total gross value of Queensland’s fisheries production was $277.1 million, an increase of 3 per cent ($9 million) to 2012-13. Queensland contributed 12 per cent of the total value of Australian fisheries production in 2012-13. In value terms, the wild-catch sector accounted for 70 per cent ($195.3 million) of the state’s total production and the aquaculture sector accounted for the remaining 30 per cent ($81.8 million).

Queensland’s wild-catch fisheries sector provides a range of fisheries products. The highest contribution being from prawns, which account for 35 per cent of the total value of wild-catch fisheries with a value of $68.4 million, followed by crabs (15 per cent; $29.7 million) and coral trout (13 per cent; $24.6 million). Over the last decade the value of Queensland’s wild-caught fisheries products has reduced by 35 per cent. Prawns and coral trout, showed the largest decline in the real value of production over the past decade, reducing by 43 per cent and 39 per cent respectively. A large proportion of prawns and coral trout is exported and the appreciation of the exchange rate since 2002–03 has had a significant effect on the value of exports of these products. Competition from imported prawns in the domestic market has also placed significant downward pressure on prices in recent years.

The value of Queensland’s aquaculture production has remained constant in 2012–13 at $81.8 million. Prawn and barramundi farming account for the largest share of production by value, with prawns accounting for 69 per cent, and $56.6 million of production, followed by barramundi (24 per cent; $19.7 million).

Commonwealth fisheries active in the waters off the east coast of Queensland include the Commonwealth Eastern Tuna and Billfish fishery (mainly supplying export markets with tuna) and the Coral Sea Fishery. The final proposed Commonwealth Coral Sea Marine Reserves network released on 14 June 2012 is estimated to displace $4.0 million of gross value of production from these fisheries when the zoning comes into effect.

In 2012–13, Queensland’s fisheries product exports were valued at $130.7 million. The main export products include live and fresh, chilled or frozen fish, prawns and rocklobster. Hong Kong, Japan and the United States are the major destinations for Queensland fisheries exports,

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accounting for 54 per cent, 19 per cent and 7 per cent of the total value of exports in 2012–13, respectively. Other major export destinations include China (3per cent), Singapore (3 per cent) and Thailand (3 per cent).

Recreational fishing is popular in Queensland. The preliminary results of the 2013/14 state wide recreational fishing survey report that recreational fishing continues to be a popular activity; however the participation rate has dropped from 17 per cent in 2010 to 15 percent in 2013. In the 12 months prior to November 2013 approximately 700,000 Queenslanders went recreational fishing with the Fitzroy Hinterland region reporting one of the highest participation rates in Queensland (26 percent) (QDAF F 2015). Total expenditure in the sector is estimated to be between $350 million and $420 million in 2008–09 (DEEDI 2009). The tropical waters of Queensland are also a key area for tourism, attracting anglers from around the world and Australia. Popular target species include crabs, prawns and a range of finfish species including cods and groupers, coral trout, redthroat emperor, rosy snapper, and mackerel. For freshwater activity some key species caught include barramundi, eels, silver perch, and yabby and blueclaw crayfish.

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Leasehold forest (1 651 400 ha—34.6%)

Multiple-use public forest (700 600 ha—14.7%)

Nature conservation reserve (639 000 ha—13.4%)

Other Crown land (68 100 ha—1.4%)

Private land (including Indigenous) (1 590 700 ha—33.3%)

Unresolved tenure (125 300 ha—2.6%)


4 Forestry sectorIn 2010–11, the total plantation area in the Fitzroy region was approximately 22 300 hectares, comprised of approximately 8800 hectares of hardwood plantation, 11 800 hectares of softwood plantations and 1700 hectares of other plantations. The main hardwood species planted in the Fitzroy region is Dunn’s white gum (Eucalyptus dunnii) and the main softwood species planted is slash pine (Pinus elliottii).

In 2011, there were approximately 4.8 million hectares of native forests in the Fitzroy region, comprised mainly of Eucalypt medium woodland (2.1 million hectares), Eucalypt medium open (1.4 million hectares), Acacia (372 400 hectares) and Rainforest (146 500 hectares) forest types. Approximately 1.7 million hectares of the native forests are leased forests, 1.6 million hectares are privately owned, 639 000 hectares are in nature conservation reserves and 700 600 hectares are multiple-use public forest available for timber production (Figure 9). Major timber processing industries are located at Dingo, Theodore and Bondoola.

Figure 9 Area of native forest, by tenure

Source: ABARES Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013

Queensland’s forest and wood product industry generated approximately $4 billion of sales and service income in 2010–11. Most of the income was generated from the sale of wood products (such as structural wood and woodchips) estimated at $3 billion. The remaining $1 billion was generated from the sale of paper and paper products. In 2012–13, the sale of wood products generated about $2.1 billion, while data for income from paper and paper products were not available for this period. Despite being Australia’s largest wood product export state, Queensland is a relatively small exporter of woodchips. In 2010–11, Queensland exported 63 000 tonnes of woodchips, valued at $11 million. In 2011–12, woodchip exports from the state declined to 52 000 tonnes, valued at approximately $8 million. In 2011, Queensland’s forestry sector employed 12 845 workers (0.6 per cent of the total employed workforce in Queensland) compared with 16 411 (0.9 per cent) in 2006 (number of people employed includes forestry support services and timber wholesaling).

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ReferencesABS 2011, Census of Population and Housing, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014a, Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2012–2013, cat. no. 7121.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014b, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, Nov 2014, cat. no. 6291.0.55.003, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014c, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2012–13, cat. no. 7503.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics-Bureau of Rural Sciences 2010, Land use of Australia 2005-06, Version 4, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra.

ABARES 2014, Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014. Department of Agriculture. http://data.daff.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pb_luausg9abll20140506_11a.xml

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences 2014, Australian forest and wood products statistics: March and June quarters 2014, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

DEEDI 2009, Prospects for Queensland’s primary industries 2009–10, Fisheries Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Brisbane, Queensland.

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