Townsville is located on the coastline approx 1300km north of Queensland’s capital Brisbane. Its region covers almost 400 square kilometres, and is located in close proximity the Great Barrier Reef and a number of small islands visible from the mainland including Magnetic Island easily accessible by ferry and a major attraction to locals and tourists.
The current estimated population is almost 170,000 making it the largest city in Northern Australia and widely regarded as the capital of North Queensland. Townsville is a very diverse region with a local economy in very good shape experiencing exceptional growth in recent years.
Because of its diversity, steadily growing economy, major infrastructure underway and forward planning Townsville is seen as a very desirable and liveable city fast becoming a popular place and an easy choice for the serious investor.
MAJOR INDUSTRIES
There are many key industries that drive the local economy within Townsville from Defence, Tourism, Education, Manufacturing, Mineral processing, Shipping|Transport and Health.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Townsville is a multi-defence base for two military forces - the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air force.
Situated on the southern side of town is Lavarack Army Barracks. A major presence within the defence force sector based on its size, the federal government recently made the decision to relocate the 3RAR battalion from Sydney to Townsville. Within the next 3-4 years, defence personnel is expected to increase by approx 800 with an additional 700 support crew along with families. The possible influx in population could increase by 5000 relocated people to the region, straining the residential building market and placing more supply and demand pressures on the region. The Royal Australian Air Force Townsville Air Force Base is located in the suburb of Garbutt next to the newly upgraded Townsville Domestic Airport.
Townsville’s close proximity to The Great Barrier Reef is a driving factor in the tourism economy, and a popular place to visit for local, interstate and international tourists alike. Magnetic Island’s peaceful and tranquil surrounds is fast becoming a popular place for holiday makers and a major drawcard with easy access via a 20 minute ferry ride. A current project on the drawing board is the $1 Billion Townsville Ocean Terminal Project housing a cruise ship terminal, wharf and residential development which will attract larger cruise ships to the region increasing international visitors to the area on an ongoing basis.
Townsville is highly regarded as a centre of education. Over 100 schools are located within the region made up of state primary and high schools along with a large contingent of private schools.
Townsville is home to the James Cook University with main sites in the tropical Queensland cities of Townsville and Cairns. It is Australia's leading tropical research university with modern campuses in Brisbane and Singapore and smaller sites in Mackay, Mt Isa and Thursday Island. It student numbers exceed 14,000 with a host of undergraduate and post graduate courses to cater for all, with many from interstate locations wanting access to its broad curriculum. A planned expansion to the university is underway to facilitate extra accommodation needs and added study facilities, to cope with increased student numbers.
Major manufacturing aspects in the region are centred around the booming mining and resources industry. Within the Townsville region there are 3 base metals refined. It is the only city globally to do so which includes Nickel at the QNI refinery at Yabula, Copper at the Xstrata refinery in Stuart and Zinc at the Sun Metals Refinery south of Townsville. These manufacturing installations are supported by the shipping port located within Townsville.
The port of Townsville is the 3rd largest sea port in Queensland, after the port of Brisbane and the central Queensland port of Gladstone. The Townsville port handles a number of import and exports mainly Mineral Ores, Fertilisers, Concentrates, Sugar and Motor Vehicles and facilitates the visiting international and Australian navy vessels. The port access road is expected to be upgraded, funded by the Australian government set to worth approx $95 Million.
Townsville is home to one of the largest regional hospitals outside of a capital city. The primary hospital is a newly built initiative and a teaching hospital for the James Cook University situated close by and which services communities as far north as Papua New Guinea. There are 3 other health campuses in North Ward, Kirwan and Magnetic Island and the Mater Private Hospital located close to the inner city CBD.
Sport is very large throughout the Townsville area and is home to national sporting teams such as the North Queensland Cowboys Rugby League team, The Townsville Crocodiles in the Mens National Basketball League, and The Townsville Fire in the Womens National Basketball League. Discussions are underway to have an A League soccer team based in Townsville starting in the 2009 season called Northern Thunder, and in motor racing, feasibility studies are underway for the staging of and event on the international V8 super cars circuit. Amongst the many national sporting teams there are many local based competitions with teams competing on a regular basis in Soccer, AFL, Basketball, Tennis, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Netball, and Touch Football.
DEVELOPMENT
Much developments is taking place within the Townsville Region with more projects before in Council and in the pipeline for the future. Townsville is growing at a rapid rate towards the Northern and Western areas with planned development expected within the next few years to the south.
Inner city limits of Townsville are also experiencing rapid expansions and upgrades with a number of high rise buildings under construction or being planned. Amongst these are major unit developments and refurbishment of the Flinders Mall. Close by at the Townsville port the new cruise ship terminal has been approved which will also comprise of the breakwater residential estate.
Located in the northern parts of Townsville are some significant new housing developments. Currently under construction are the:
Oakdale Heights Estate situated in Deeragun comprises approx 250 Lots of land to be released over the next 2 years. Stages 1-4 where released mid 2007 with further stages to be released in the coming months.
Sunland and Forest Shores Estates located at Bushland Beach comprisesa further 1500 Lots of residential land approx over the next 5 years. It is currently some of the best value land for sale in the region.
Summerville Gardens Estate situated in Deeragun a short distance from Oakdale Heights comprises 300 residential Lots of land with stages 5 onwards currently being released.
North Shore Estate situated in the Bohle/Burdell area just north of the Bohle River and currently under construction will comprise of $1 Billion 5,000 lot housing estate to include major shopping facilities and a master planned $5.4 Million Aquatic Centre. This will be the largest planned housing estate in North Queensland to date.
In the southern regions another planned major development is Rocky Springs expected to be home to approx 50,000 people, is in its initial planning stage and expected to commence within the next 5 years.
CLIMATE
Climate within the Townsville region is regarded to be quite dry in relation to the tropical areas to the north having very distinctive dry and wet seasons and quite often regarded as where the outback meets the sea. Wet season runs between November and March. Generally Townsville has an average daily temperature between 19.7 degrees and 28.8 degrees C.
