Unlocking Scarce Regional Industrial Land to Attract Priority-Sector Investment at Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct
Tracks
Concurrent Room 1
| Thursday, August 6, 2026 |
| 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM |
| Concurrent Room 1 |
Overview
Sean O'Meara, Andrew Leith & Scott Muller, Eco-Industrial BDO
Details
1. A market‑led land allocation process grounded in robust proponent assessment and clearly defined commercial pathways.
2. Commercial frameworks that balance Council risk with investor certainty and cost transparency.
3. Fit‑for‑purpose infrastructure delivery aligned to proponent needs and supported by a staged, demand‑responsive program.
Speaker
Mr Andrew Leith
Director
BDO
Unlocking Scarce Regional Industrial Land to Attract Priority‑Sector Investment at Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct
Biography
Andrew Leith is a Director in BDO’s Project & Infrastructure Advisory practice, based in Cairns, where he works closely with public and private sector clients across Northern Australia. Andrew specialises in the development, assessment and delivery of regionally significant projects, with experience spanning tourism and recreation infrastructure, ports, industrial precincts and community assets. He has a strong focus on enabling infrastructure that supports economic growth, liveability and long term sustainability in northern and regional communities. Andrew is passionate about working alongside local stakeholders to translate strategic objectives into practical, deliverable outcomes that create lasting value for the North.
Mr Scott Muller
Program Manager – Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct
Townsville City Council
Unlocking Scarce Regional Industrial Land to Attract Priority‑Sector Investment at Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct
Biography
Scott Muller is Program Manager for the Lansdown Eco Industrial Precinct at Townsville City Council, where he is leading one of Northern Australia’s most significant clean industry and industrial development initiatives. A highly respected civil engineer and project manager, Scott brings more than 15 years’ experience delivering major infrastructure projects across Queensland’s public and private sectors. He works closely with state and federal governments, industry and investors to attract investment, enable clean manufacturing, and support economic growth in North Queensland. Scott is passionate about building strong partnerships that translate strategic vision into practical outcomes for regional communities and Northern Australia’s long term prosperity.
Mr Sean O'Meara
Partner
BDO
Unlocking Scarce Regional Industrial Land to Attract Priority‑Sector Investment at Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct
Presentation Overview
The Lansdown Eco‑Industrial Precinct (LEIP) is one of North Queensland’s most significant city‑shaping initiatives, anchoring Townsville’s transition towards a diverse, high‑value and low‑emissions industrial economy. Designed as a dedicated precinct for advanced manufacturing, critical minerals processing and renewable energy, LEIP provides a central platform for long‑term economic growth, strengthened sovereign supply chains and strong alignment with Queensland and Commonwealth priority sector objectives. When fully developed, the Precinct is expected to accommodate nationally significant industrial projects, catalyse new employment pathways and drive sustained regional investment and economic prosperity across Northern Queensland.
LEIP is being delivered by Townsville City Council, with enabling infrastructure funding provided by the Queensland Government, through a staged, multi‑year program of land activation and infrastructure delivery. The development is anticipated to support more than 5,000 construction jobs and, once operational, approximately 1,600 direct jobs and 9,100 indirect jobs. At its core, LEIP responds to long‑standing constraints in the availability of large‑scale industrial land in Northern Queensland, transforming scarce land into an investable, precinct‑ready opportunity.
The presentation will highlight practical, transferable approaches used at LEIP to create investment‑ready conditions, including land allocation, commercial frameworks, staged infrastructure sequencing and coordinated cross‑agency delivery. It will outline how these approaches have supported priority sector investment, maintained investor confidence and sustained delivery momentum in a complex, multi‑proponent industrial development.
Together, these insights demonstrate how regional jurisdictions can unlock scarce industrial land, attract priority‑sector investment and create pathways for sustained economic growth.
LEIP is being delivered by Townsville City Council, with enabling infrastructure funding provided by the Queensland Government, through a staged, multi‑year program of land activation and infrastructure delivery. The development is anticipated to support more than 5,000 construction jobs and, once operational, approximately 1,600 direct jobs and 9,100 indirect jobs. At its core, LEIP responds to long‑standing constraints in the availability of large‑scale industrial land in Northern Queensland, transforming scarce land into an investable, precinct‑ready opportunity.
The presentation will highlight practical, transferable approaches used at LEIP to create investment‑ready conditions, including land allocation, commercial frameworks, staged infrastructure sequencing and coordinated cross‑agency delivery. It will outline how these approaches have supported priority sector investment, maintained investor confidence and sustained delivery momentum in a complex, multi‑proponent industrial development.
Together, these insights demonstrate how regional jurisdictions can unlock scarce industrial land, attract priority‑sector investment and create pathways for sustained economic growth.
Biography
Sean O’Meara is a Partner in BDO’s Project & Infrastructure Advisory practice, based in Brisbane, with more than 20 years’ experience advising government and private sector clients on major infrastructure and development initiatives across Australia and New Zealand. Sean specialises in project strategy, infrastructure planning, commercial and economic advisory, and the delivery of complex projects at the interface of government and industry. He has a strong focus on Northern Australia, supporting regional economic development, enabling infrastructure, and investment decision‑making across transport, energy, resources, housing and aviation. Sean is known for his collaborative approach and practical, outcomes‑focused advice.
