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Being a port city, its local commerce is primarily industrial-based and include large-scale industrial plants include alumina refineries, aluminium smelting, heavy chemicals and shale oil.
It has several primary schools, three high schools (Gladstone State High, Toolooa State High, and Chanel College (private) ), and one university, Central Queensland University. It was once branded "Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef" as it has access to Heron Island and other islands from the marina.
There are environmental concerns over dwindling numbers of dugong, mangroves, and fish stocks and increasing urban expansion threatens native wildlife and flora. Their is some air pollutions from local industries, however, the water is generally clean.
Much of the city is passionate about sports, especially rugby league, horse racing, touch football and hockey. Notable tennis player Rod Laver is a local. There is a local saying: "Want to go for a lap?" (the lap is a night time drive along the mainstreet from the old Library to the Visions Nightclub at the Waterfront).