General News
21 December, 2025
New GM ready to do business
A NEW general manager has been appointed by Tablelands Regional Council as the head of its new Placemaking department.
Greg Bowden is now the general manager of Placemaking, a key leadership role aimed at delivering a stronger, clearer, and more proactive “open for business” approach.
The new Placemaking department brings together planning, economic development, tourism, and investment attraction. Its purpose is to streamline development pathways, improve turnaround times, strengthen partnerships, and create development-ready opportunities that attract private investment and drive regional prosperity.
Greg brings more than 20 years of senior experience across local government, economic strategy, infrastructure planning, investment attraction, and major events.
His career spans both public and private sectors and includes time shaping economic and city growth agendas in Queensland’s largest regional and metropolitan councils.
He spent 15 years with the Lord Mayor of Brisbane as Director of Strategy, Communication and Economic Development. At Rockhampton Regional Council, Greg led Advance Rockhampton and delivered a bold economic agenda that “Put Rocky on the Radar.”
Greg most recently worked with .id (informed decisions), providing spatial, demographic, and economic intelligence used by councils across Australia to plan for growth and investment.
Mayor Rod Marti said the creation of the Placemaking department was a key milestone.
“This restructure removes barriers, speeds up processes, and gives investors a single, clear entry point into council. Placemaking is about unlocking opportunity and accelerating development that benefits the whole region,” he said.
Greg said he is excited by the region’s potential.
“Far North Queensland, and especially the Tablelands, has the lifestyle, opportunity, and capacity to grow as a destination of choice for residents, visitors, and investors. With a coordinated approach across planning, development, and tourism, we can build a more liveable and economically sustainable region,” he said.
