General News
17 February, 2026
Confidence boosts Mareeba businesses
NINETY-one new small businesses registered in the Mareeba Shire last year, according to the latest statistics presented to the Mareeba Shire Council.
In a review of the Tourism Economic Development quarterly report at the January MSC meeting, a council officer said the standout result was among a number of positive indicators which showed the shire was bucking the trend across business confidence, dwelling approvals and population demographics.
According to data from the State Government’s Office of the Statistician, those 91 small business made up 97% of all business in the shire.
Deputy Mayor Lenore Wyatt said the council had been very supportive of small business with a variety of programs, such as the Lunch and Learn partnership with the State Library, and the popular business resilience workshops held in Mareeba and Kuranda last year, and which are being followed through with one-on-one mentoring programs this year.
“When we talk business, we also talk tourism, and there’s a really big indicator to show that there are a lot of people in the tourism industry that are actually tapping into this [support], which is very good for our shire,” Cr Wyatt said.
The council officer also noted the first stage of the industrial estate had been completely sold, and many lots were being sold at the airport site, which again indicated business confidence for the region.
Over the past 20 years, the Mareeba shire had shown consistent population growth at 1% every year.
“Although that sits below the Queensland average … it’s very positive for a rural regional community like ours to have that real, consistent, growth over the last 20 years and is really positive to see a rural economy growing,” the officer said.
The data also projected the shire population would grow to 28,000 in the next two decades, which provided the council with the backing to advocate for funding needed to “deliver the infrastructure to our growing community”.
In particular, development was needed to meet the region’s increasing ageing population. The over-65 population had almost doubled in the past 20 years, according to the report.
Mareeba Mayor Angela Toppin said aged care concerns in the community were increasing, and assistance with care packages, navigating online requirements and availability for aged carers were front of mind.
“The numbers apply pressure to our aged care facility – which is committed to expanding, and I think we need to make sure that that is going to happen,” she said.
The report also indicated there were “real opportunities” for age-friendly housing and encouraging new services through small businesses, the council officer said.
The shire’s housing affordability “still rated favourably even though there was a tight market”, and dwelling approval growth was at 36.7 %, compared to the state average of 30.6 %.
