<p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><br></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">Economic Highlights: Rockhampton, one of Queensland's major regional cities, had a population of 84,157 (about the seating capacity of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum) in 2023, with projections indicating growth </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">to 112,701 by 2036. Its economy is thriving, with a Gross Regional Product (GRP) of $6.291 billion (about $19 per person in the US), marking its strongest performance yet. </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">Recognised as the economic heart of Central Queensland, the city is renowned for its dynamic industries, strategic investments, and high-value exports. </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">Workforce: the city’s largest industries include health care, mining, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing, all contributing to its economic diversity. </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">With 6,000 registered businesses, Rockhampton continues to attract investment and foster innovation. </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">Strategic Positioning: Rockhampton's location along major north-south transport routes and its three strategic airports (Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald) bolster its role as a key hub for freight, exports, and business connections.</span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">The region services 500,000 people (about half the population of Montana) within a 3.5 hour catchment. </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><br></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><br></p><p style=" padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:rgb(68, 114, 196);padding-left:0px;"><b>Queensland Growth</b></span><span style="color:rgb(68, 114, 196);padding-left:0px;"> </span></p><p style=" padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:rgb(36, 36, 36);padding-left:0px;">Queensland’s $500 billion economy has been supported by continued, strong population growth and a resource boom over the past two decades, exceeding the national average and placing the state in a strong position to exceed growth expectations. In the 12 months leading up to April 2024, QLD has seen a 2.2% growth rate in its retail trade during, resulting in an increase of $137 million in trade turnover. QLD achieved the third-highest population growth rate of 2.6% during the 12 months leading up to June 2023. Regarding employment, for the year ending in April 2024, the QLD growth rate rose again by a further 3.96%, employing over 111,000 individuals. </span></p>

<p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;"><b>Leanne's On Berserker</b></span><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;"> </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">Leanne’s Fish &amp; Chips is a beloved Rockhampton institution, famed for its hearty, </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">homemade meals, including towering burgers and perfectly cooked fish and chips. </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">With over 20 years of operation, the shop blends old-school charm with great value, </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">drawing a loyal following. </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;"> </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;"><b>Capricornia Remedial Massage</b></span><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;"> </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">Capricornia Remedial Massage is a professional massage therapy offering a variety </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">of specialised services, including Thai massage, remedial massage, pain relief and </span></p><p style="background-color:transparent;padding-left:0px;"><span style="color:windowtext;padding-left:0px;">healing treatments, provided by experienced and qualified therapists. </span></p>