The report showed that the total economic outlay and spend within the Mackay region was $A36.2 million, comprising expenditure by organisers, exhibitors and attendees.

The outlay on QME resulted in an estimated increase to Mackay’s gross regional product of $17.1 million and $31.3 million for Queensland.

QME 2012 generated over $220 million in direct sales for exhibitors and $584.7 million in total sales for Queensland.

“The results from the EIS of QME 2012 are exciting, highly encouraging and vindicate the rationale of holding a regional mining exhibition of this size in the heart of Queensland’s mining sector,” REEDMININGEVENTS director Paul Baker said.

“QME has been a biennial fixture on the Mackay calendar for over 21 years, since its inception in 1993. However, up until the completion of this report there has been no concrete, external or expert evidence about the economic benefits of the exhibition to the region or the state.”

Mackay Regional Council mayor Deirdre Comerford said the report was encouraging and clearly displayed the boost the event injected into the Mackay region.

“We appreciate the huge positive economic impact QME delivers for our community, enabling us to showcase our region as a business and tourist destination,” she said.

QME 2014 will be held later this month.