Economic Development

Industry and Employment

Economically, King Island is driven by beef, dairy and fishing industries, with significant growth in tourism over recent years largely thanks to the development of two world class golf courses. Food manufacturing, adding value to the produce of the beef, dairy and fishing activities, provides another strong base for our Island’s economy.

While the Island has only 1.7% unemployment in its workforce of just over 800, over a third of these workers are in part-time employment. Investment into the Island and growth in the industries which underpin our economy created an additional 42 FTE in the FY2016-17, with every indication that a similar growth was enjoyed in FY2017-18. Further development planned on the Island is estimated to create an additional 129 FTE in the coming 2 years.

The low unemployment enjoyed on King Island, combined with the need for a further 129 FTE means the Island is expecting a significant increase in its population in its immediate future. Construction and trades are essential to make this development possible, and there are opportunities for businesses and individuals offering these services on the Island today. Please contact Council’s Growth & Strategy Manager for more information on how you or your business can contribute to the growth of King Island.

Business and Investment Support

King Island Council is keen to facilitate growth of existing businesses, development of new businesses, and to attract investment to the Island. If you are interested in learning more about opportunities for you or your business, please contact Council’s Growth & Strategy Manager.

Council’s Development Services Officer will also be happy to answer questions about potential development on the Island, including provide advice on the requirements and restrictions applied to each planning zone.

Communications and Utilities

Telecommunications

King Island’s telecommunications network is provided by Telstra via a microwave link to Cape Grim in Tasmania’s North West. While Currie enjoys 4G coverage, and Grassy has a reasonably reliable service, mobile coverage across the island can be sporadic when moving through the more remote areas. ADSL internet connections are available in Currie and Grassy but are limited in number, capacity, and reach. Residents and businesses across the Island are able to connect to the NBN satellite service.

There is no service on the Vodafone or Optus networks. Visitors who are unsure about which network they are on are advised to check with their service provider before arriving on the Island.

Electricity

Electricity on King Island is retailed through Momentum Energy and generated by Hydro Tasmania’s Hybrid Power Plant and the world-leading King Island Renewable Energy Integration Program (KIREIP). This project was an initiative of Hydro Tasmania, assisted by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), to develop a world-leading, hybrid off-grid power system to supply 65% of King Island’s energy needs using renewable energy. The system is capable of 100% renewable operation, the first megawatt class off-grid system with this capability in the world.

Momentum Energy have a dedicated Bass Strait Islands page on their website that provides specific information for King Island customers.

King Island operates outside the National Electricity Market, and therefore many of the standards and procedures appropriate to a large integrated power system are not appropriate to the Island. As such, the Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator (OTTER) sets the regulations and procedures for generation, operations and retail of power on the Island. One of the differences Tasmanian and mainland Australian businesses will see when examining power prices on the Island is that all power is sold at one rate, with no business rates or off-peak rates available. More information can be found on the OTTER website.

Water

Mains water connections are available in Currie and Grassy, with the remainder of the Island relying on rain water tanks. Tas Water has recently expanded their network on King Island, including a new water treatment plant in Grassy and a 26km pipeline to Currie. This has connected more than 600 island residents to a fully treated and more reliable water supply.

The Currie Sewage Treatment Wetland, an innovative, mainly passive solution for treating the sewage waste from the town of Currie was designed to integrate with the landscape to provide additional benefits such as habitat and landscape values and was the first project of its kind in Australia.

Transport and Logistics

Shipping

For sea freight, King Island is serviced by the John Duigan, currently operated by Bass Island Line. This service runs from Geelong Port in Victoria direct to Grassy on King Island’s east coast, and then on to the North of Tasmania, finally returning direct to Geelong Port.

Details of the vessel’s schedule can be found on the Bass Island Line website.

Jim McKenzie Agencies are Bass Island Line’s shipping agent and are based in Currie, King Island. Further information about this company, including contact details, are available on their website.

Air Travel

Passenger transport on and off the Island is by air. King Island Airport, owned and operated by King Island Council, has scheduled flights to and from Burnie, Hobart and Launceston in Tasmania, operated by Sharp Airlines and Regional Express, and scheduled flights to and from Tullamarine, Essendon and Moorabbin airports in Melbourne, offered by Regional Express, Sharp Airlines and King Island Air respectively. A number of charter operators also offer connections to King Island from Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.

Freight services between King Island and Tasmania are offered by Tasfast and Sharp Airlines, with services from Victoria offered by Sharp Airlines, Tasfast and King Island Air.

More information on King Island Airport, including contact details for airlines, is available here.

Public Transport

Accommodation and Lifestyle

King Island is experiencing a period of growth with a number of large scale investments either underway or expected to commence in the coming months. Each of these developments will result in more employment opportunities for existing residents and newcomers to the Island, with housing demand set to increase as a result.

For more information on how you can benefit from new developments on King Island, please see the quick reference guide below:

Investment prospectus – Local focus

Economic and Demographic Profiles

King Island Council, in partnership with Cradle Coast Authority, has engaged .id to provide economic and demographic data for the King Island local government area. This includes information on our population size, age, occupation and education, and provides details of the industries and activities that drive our Island’s economy.

https://profile.id.com.au/cradle-coast

Develop header