Shire of Peak Downs

Infobox Australian Place | type = lga
name = Shire of Peak Downs
state = qld


imagesize= 180
caption = Location within Queensland
pop = 3,285 (2001 census)
area =
est =
seat = Capella
region = Central Queensland

logosize = 120
url = http://www.peakdowns.qld.gov.au/index.shtml
near-nw = Belyando
near-n = Broadsound
near-ne = Broadsound
near-w = Belyando
near-e = Broadsound
near-sw = Jericho
near-s = Emerald
near-se = Emerald

Shire of Peak Downs 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.

The 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 Gordonstone (later purchased by Rio Tinto and renamed Kestrel Mine).

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.

External links

* [http://www.lgp.qld.gov.au/applications/lgDirectory/CouncilInfo/Default.aspx?OrgCode=PEAK Queensland Department of Local Government & Planning] - Local Government Directory