NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the
Advice on Publications Available.Teresa Wareing, Communications Officer and Stuart Reid, General Manager
Central Highlands Development Corporation
PO Box 1425 Emerald 4720
Telephone: 07 4982 4386
Facsimile: 07 4982 4068
[In the past, this newsletter has published several articles associated with regional development, with a view to encouraging planners to include new agricultural industries to be considered as an important component of regional development in Australia]
One of Queensland's most productive and efficient agricultural areas is the Central Highlands region of Central Queensland, located 400km, as the crow flies north west from Brisbane.
We, the authors of course are biased since we live here, work here and enjoy the Central Highlands' lifestyle. We are the founding members of the Central Highlands Development Corporation, the economic development agency for the Central Highlands region of Queensland. Our organisation is an initiative of local government and our Board comprises the Mayors from the Bauhinia, Emerald, Jericho and Peak Downs Shires.
Our organisation grew from its predecessor, the Central Highlands Promotions and Development Organisation whose one-time Manager, Jean McRuvie has published previously on the subject of regional development in this newsletter (Issue #7: 3-5 and #8: 6-7).
In 1997, Stuart was single-handedly attracting funding, collating data, investigating economic development options and building a wide network of local contacts in all areas. An economist by trade, he built the organisation from one employee in 1997 to a current total of 5 employees, including a Regional Business Advisor, a Project Coordinator - Employment, a Project Coordinator - CHConnect and an Administrative Assistant. I commenced as Communications Officer in 1998.
We are hopeful of securing a part-time Food & Fibre Coordinator in the near future whose work would be of interest to new crops developers.
A knowledge gap
CHDC has filled an obvious gap in formal regional development structures in the Central Highlands. The Mayors of Bauhinia, Emerald, Jericho and Peak Downs should be commended for funding CHDC without waiting for State or Federal Government funding to support a strategic regional economic development structure in Australia.
Initially, Stuart and I were able to handle most of the customer service, information collection, strategic planning and organisational / regional development tasks, except for the food and fibre industry development and the myriad of opportunities and issues attached to such an initiative.
We have admitted that there is a knowledge gap between our expertise in regional economic development and the needs of our agricultural and pastoral sectors for industry development and diversification.
After consulting with the Mayor of Emerald Shire, Chairman Paul Bell, we held a meeting of food and fibre luminaries in the region who very patiently listened to our protestations of ignorance with respect to food and fibre, uttered with dignity.
Heads nodded, chins were scratched and before long, a Central Highlands delegation comprising Arnie Pedersen of United Plantation's Gordon Downs organic wheat property, Emerald Shire Councillor Kerry Hayes and I were off to Narrabri in north-western New South Wales for a combined Food & Fibre Group meeting co-ordinated by Namoi Food & Fibre's Jerry Killen.
Welcome to Food & Fibre World
The Narrabri visit was memorable for two reasons:
We were convinced that food and fibre industry development needs to happen in our region, time lost is opportunity lost and we have more assets and more optimism than many other regions that are succeeding with food and fibre development.
The vision
Our food and fibre group reconvened for a presentation from the delegates to the Narrabri meeting. Unanimously, we agreed to progress two concurrent activities:
Working within the limitations of resources and expertise, CHDC committed to seeking and securing funding for the appointment of a Food & Fibre Coordinator. With respect to forming a Food & Fibre Network, we looked to external sources and found…
Alliances
CHDC met with Lynda Pollock from CHRRUPP (Central Highlands Regional Resource Use Planning Project) and Jim Cavaye from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries Rural Development Team.
CHRRUPP is focussed on building a better system of planning for a viable and sustainable future for Queensland’s Central Highlands and it does this by:
CHRRUPP is driven by the Central Highlands Regional Coordination Committee (RCC), which comprises representatives from 15 key sectors in the region. A CHRRUPP Project Team and a consortium of agencies including local government, Queensland Government and CSIRO Tropical Agriculture support activities of the RCC.
Lynda Pollock, as the CHRRUPP Facilitator, advised CHDC of the gap in CHRRUPP's Regional Coordination Committee of a Food & Fibre Representative.
Jim Cavaye's Rural Development Team had also identified an opportunity for a community-based network of food and fibre producers to share ideas, support regional development and contribute to regional self-determination.
CHRRUPP and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries Rural Development Team supported the formation and maintenance of a Food & Fibre Network and CHRRUPP committed to a small financial contribution toward appointment of a Food & Fibre Coordinator to work with this network.
Progress
CHDC has tentatively secured funding for the appointment of a Coordinator; and CHRRUPP and DPI's liaison with producers and producer groups has been positive. Optimistically, we expect to appoint a Coordinator around August 1999 and to have a basic communications and interaction network formed by September 1999. We will start small, but think big.
The real powerhouse
Development in our region has been and most likely always will be based on the efforts of a legion of progressive and successful producers. Even those who are in industries that are experiencing market or climate-related downturns are progressive and open to ideas.
For example, United Plantation's Gordon Downs, one of the region's first farms, now produces organic grain for a largely export market. 2PH's impressive and expansive orchards are increasing production steadily and our 2PH citrus can be found in both Coles and Woolworths supermarkets.
Central Highlands producers are trialling red-claw, table grape production and rockmelons.
Recent feasibility studies show great potential for dairying and feedlot expansion, already recognised in AA Company's Goonoo feedlot development at Comet.
The diversity of production reflects a regional attitude that embraces the old but welcomes the new. Producer organisations are well supported and provide powerful economic and social support for the region.
Of course, there are issues of contention which need to be addressed. Every region has to navigate through issues of water access and equity; in our region cross-industry communication and negotiation over such important regional issues is well developed and generally successful.
What the Central Highlands Food & Fibre Network will provide is an avenue for cross-industry communication and cooperation with respect to industry and regional development; with an emphasis on public education, awareness and promotion of the value of the food and fibre industries in the Central Highlands region.
Central Highlands snapshot
The Central Highlands region covers 64,350 square kilometres and lies approximately 270km inland from Rockhampton, Queensland. It includes the townships of Emerald, Springsure, Capella, Clermont, Alpha, Jericho, Rubyvale, Sapphire, Anakie and Willows.
The region supports extensive and intensive primary production, mining (coal and sapphires) and an emerging tourism industry. Industrial, commercial and service sectors and an excellent transport and logistics infrastructure support these industries.
Facts and figures
Value of total agricultural production (1998) $249,358,298
Total population (1996) 18,343
Average temperature Summer 25-32
Average temperature Winter 5-25
Average rainfall 600ml (Bauhinia, Emerald and Peak Downs Shires), 540ml (Jericho Shire)
Main produce: cotton (Emerald Shire Irrigation Scheme and dryland), cattle, wheat, sorghum, citrus, table grapes and sunflower.
Attractions:
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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GK; latest update 17 October 2001 by: RF