Investment Property opportunity in Roma
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Why Invest in Roma; located in the Surat Basin
Roma is located in the western part of Darling Downs region in South Western Queensland around $490km west of Brisbane on the Warrego Highway.
In the heart of the Surat Basin which currently has $180 Billion Dollars of current and planned for major Infrastructure Projects.
Agriculture industry is worth $620 million per annum includes beef, wool, wheat and grain being it’s primary industries prior to Coal and Coal Seam Gas.
Current population is around 7,000 with many residents having some sort of involvement in Coal and CSG projects.
Around 465km west of Brisbane, Roma is the Major Regional Activity Centre for the Maranoa Region and is also within easy reach of the fast growing town of Toomoomba being 340km’s away.
Acting as an administrative centre for a large proportion of QLD’s south-west region, Roma includes a major hospital, various Commonwealth and local government agencies and a Southern Queensland TAFE and has claim to the largest cattle saleyard in the southern hemisphere. Roma also has QLD’s oldest winery and produced famous sportamen such as Arthur Beetson and Darren Lockyer.
Sitting on the cusp of significant investment in the Basin Roma is an economic activity centre focused on the Coal Seam Gas industry whilst also providing administration services Roma also meets the growing need for housing and accommodation solutions.
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Population
Roma has an estimated populatoin of 7,700
The Maranoa Region is estimated to be just under 16,000 and the estimated full time population of the Surat Basin increased by 5,565 to year end June 2012
The growth in non-residents working in the Basin has increased significantly on the back of the CSG / LNG projects in the Surat Basin creating a surge in regional employment which has yet to peak
As at June 2012 in the Surat Basin LGA :
- Resident Population 203,140
- non-resident workers on shift 6,445
- full-time equivalent population 209,580
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Coal Seam Gas Industry
Estimated to have 21,488 Petajoules of Coal Seam Gas reserves within the Basin!
CSG industry in Queensland are planning for up to 40,000 wells over the next 20 years and is expected to continue expanding into the future !
Origin Energy is proposing the Spring Gully Power Station that will require an investment of $870 mil to provide electricity to South-East QLD and have the added benefit of being close to the source of CSG for efficiency
CSG being a relatively new industry and the new ‘electricity’ being sought by much of the world Roma is sitting in the middle of an economic power house. Santos and Origin utilise Roma as a hub for CSG operations attracting a large workforce during construction and once these wells are up and running … with additional projects still in planning or approval stages
Massive powerhouse groups such as AGL, APLNG, BG Gas, Origin, Sunshine Gas and Santos have set up operations across the Region, whose potential to provide CSG / LNG on 20 plus years supply contracts. This is a long term resources industry that has nothing to do with mining.
80km north of Roma is Origin Energies ‘Spring Gully Coals Seam Gas Development’ where an 87km pipeline to neighbouring Wallumbilla will joing the 434km Roma to Brisbane gas pipeline hub. Spring Gully Power Station is an $870 mil power station set up to provide electricity to South-East Queenaland and has the added benefit of being close to the source.
There are three CSG / LNG major projects in the region associated to the Western Downs Region and the Maranoa Region under construction for supply being shipped to Gladstone CSG Plant via the gas pipeline. Gas wells already drilled or being drilled amount to hundreds to be able to keep up with supply contracts.
Roma is right in the middle of this Major Regional Activity Centre.
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Other economic activities in Roma
The agriculture industry in Maranoa is worth around $620 mil per annum, and includes the following :
- 32.7% of the region’s workforce is employed in agriculture providing 11% of GRP output
- 58.7% turnover attributed to agriculture, fishing and forestry
- 64.3% of economic activity is generated from crops
- Tourism accounts for around $70mil
- Retail and Trade contributing $43mil
- Roma is expanding with a $50mil industrial park called Roma East Industrial Park
Traditionally Roma included a strong agricultural industry and thus has the largest cattle saleyards in the southern hemisphere. Roma also has Forestry and is supported by the Roma Mill processing significant quantities of native cypress pine; having the most active native cypress pine swamilling plant.
Public faiclities in Roma include : Swimming Pool, Golf Course, Bowling Green, Public Library, Showground and a number of sporting clubs and civic facilities
Roma also has two schools one state and one private and well catered for medical services
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Roma has 40% of wells located in the Surat Basin with an anticipation of up to 30,000 wells by 2030 in the region and still Roma will continue to have it’s major share of them; significantly driving economic growth in the Region.
An expectation for the need to drill thousands of gas wells over the coming years on the Maranoa Region is required, with an estimated 5,000 wells currently drilled througout Queensland.
Roma will acquire a $16 mil CSG hub with ownership by Origin Energy who have received approval to begin construction which will provide ongoing work for 80 employees at time of completion.
The same industrial estate will include companies such as Caltex, Enerflex and FK Gardner further creating full time employment for Roma residents.
Combablula and Reedby Creek (nearby to Roma) was awarded a $280 mil contract to WDS Limited for gas gathering workes associated with wells in this location.
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Housing in Roma
A combination of owner occupiers and a large percentage of renters, Roma residents prefer detached housing.
Demand in Roma has placed contraints on supply and continues to do so as more people are attracted to the region for job opportunity and high wages. Demand on new homes is more preferential over older homes placing upward pressure on rental yields, in the favour of the investor.
Affordability is a significant issue for Council with house values and rental yields on the rise due to demand outstripping supply which in turn is placing pressure on the towns infrastructure requiring significant investment by Council.
Roma continues to face supply problems and continued population growth.
CLEARVIEW RISE ESTATE
Clearview Rise Estate in partnership with QLD Urban Land Development Authority offer House and Land Packages in Roma
Part of a master planned estate with parklands and walkways Clearview Rise Estate offers quality build and affordable living
A 4 bed + 2 bath + double lock up garage from $394k
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Transport
Roma has a new airport to service the region and was recently opened in April 2012 being the Maranoa Regional Councils largest ever project. The resources sector and business sector is driving growth in the region attracting a lot more passengers through Roma Airport serviced by QuantasLink. Additional flights to Brisbane and from Brisbane ensure over 3,500 seats are available per week to cater to the significant increase in passenger demand.
From 2003 to 2011, Roma’s airport had a staggering 700% increase in traffic flow and now features within the top 50 busiest Australian airports together with Moranbah.
Other public transport services include weekly bus between other major hubs and Brisbane along the Warrego Highway
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Roma is a very dynamic and diverse economy with CSG putting considerable strains on the town’s infrastructure and ability to provide housing to meet growing demand.
Roma is well positioned to take advantage of the increased global demand for this new clean energy source and is also well supported by the strong economic input of it’s agricultural, beef, timber and tourism sectors as well as ancillary industries servicing the region.
Continued growth in these industries ensures continued economic prosperity for Roma and its community, the future in Roma is bright.
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Other opportunities in the Surat Basin … here
