Central Highlands Regional Council
Central Highlands Regional Council ranks 4th of 13 Queensland councils of 25,000–79,999 residents on Sustainability and 12th of 14 on Core Operations.
"Emerald and the gemfields — sapphires and Carnarvon Gorge"
See where Central Highlands Regional Council ranks: Best Councils in Queensland 2026
Queensland · medium council · Pop. 29,481
Data last updated: 2024-25 · Data confidence: moderate
Overall Score
No overall score — Queensland publishes data for two of the four dimensions. How these scores are calculated.
Sustainability: 4th of 13 medium councils scored on this dimension in QLD.
Core Operations: 12th of 14 medium councils scored on this dimension in QLD.
Peer group: 14 councils.
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Sustainability | 65/100 |
| Core Operations | 23/100 |
| Community Services | Not published by Queensland |
| Lifestyle & Amenity | Not published by Queensland |
What This Means For You
Among Queensland councils of 25,000–79,999 residents, Central Highlands ranks 4th of 13 on Sustainability and 12th of 14 on Core Operations. Queensland publishes no Community Services data and only one amenity measure, so those two dimensions are not scored here and no overall score is calculated.
What Makes This Place Unique
Emerald and the gemfields — sapphires and Carnarvon Gorge
Emerald and the Sapphire Gemfields in central Queensland.
Known For
- Sapphire Gemfields
- Carnarvon Gorge
- Emerald — 'gem of the highlands'
- Bowen Basin mining services
Living Here
Mining-supported services and unique gem culture.
Hidden Gem
Carnarvon Gorge — spectacular sandstone gorge with Aboriginal rock art.