Regional Development Australia Central and Western Queensland (RDA CWQ) is a core partner of the Central to Defence (CTD) initiative, a collaborative regional partnership with state and local governments. The objective is to position Central Queensland as a strategic hub for Australia’s Defence and defence industry growth.

The initiative highlights the region’s unique advantages—including its proximity to major training facilities, strong industrial base, and world-class transport infrastructure to bolster Defence investment, supply chain opportunities, and advanced manufacturing capability.

RDA CWQ plays an important part in this initiative, reaching across local and state government partners and working with RDA Brisbane to co-ordinate a statewide view on the unique strategic offering that Queensland presents for defence

Central Queensland already hosts key defence-enabling assets such as the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, one of Australia’s premier multinational training facilities. The region has deep-water ports with untapped growth potential, an international capable airport, strong road and rail connectivity, and an industrial base that underpins the state’s energy, minerals and resources sector. These assets position the region as an ideal location to support defence logistics, sustainment, training, and advanced technology development.

RDA CWQ assists in providing that over-arching strategic view on the unique geographic, infrastructure and enabling assets that combine to provide a comprehensive unique selling proposition for defence.

Taking an objective view of the unique assets of the region, how defence currently utilises the area and how the region could bolster the strategic footprint of the nation, CTD has outlined five priority defence investment projects:

1. Defence logistics hub – for maintenance, overhaul, and storage of defence machinery and assets
2. Short-term accommodation hub – for ADF personnel during exercises and pre-deployment staging
3. Medical and rescue centre of excellence – for training and emergency response operations
4. Uncrewed systems hub – focusing on drone and autonomous technology development
5. Expanded maritime capabilities – supporting current and future naval operations

These proposals are designed to support both ADF readiness and regional economic development by anchoring more defence activity in Central Queensland.

RDA CWQ through the Central to Defence partnership has bought together three local governments and State Government, creating a unified view of the overarching national strategic importance and potential for the region.