Peak Downs Shire, Queensland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

Peak Downs Shire Council
Queensland

Population:

3,285 (2001 census)

Mayor:

John Brown

Council Seat:

Capella

Region:

Central Queensland

Federal Division:

Capricornia

Website: http://www.peakdowns.qld.gov.au/index.shtml

LGAs around Peak Downs Shire Council
Belyando	Broadsound	Broadsound
Belyando	Peak Downs Shire Council	Broadsound
Jericho	Emerald	Emerald

Peak Downs Shire is a Local government area located in the Central Highlands of Queensland, Australia, 320km west of both Rockhampton and Mackay. It has about 4,000 inhabitants, the primary economic activities in the shire are coal mining, farming and grazing.

Peak Downs Shire is part of the Bowen Basin, a major coal deposit. Mining began in the shire in the late 1970s with the opening of Gregory Mine in 1979, which was followed by Mount Isa Mines' Oaky Creek Coal Mine in 1983. Oaky Creek was also the reason behind the construction of the township of Tieri, whose sole purpose was to house the workforce that was required to operate Oaky Creek. Three more mines were opened in the 1990s – Ensham/Yongala, Crinum and Kestrel Coal (formerly Gordonstone).

Peak Downs is also an area of intensive argricultural production, which is made possible by its black soil plains and is typified by the abundance and variety of grains in the Shire. Grains planted include sorghum, wheat, barley, sunflower and more recently chickpeas.