Rocky ticks all the boxes to host the RIRDC
Posted on July 22nd, 2015
CQUniversity and Capricorn Enterprise have joined forces to push for Rockhampton as the new home of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
These regional-focused institutions have a common goal in following up on Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce’s announcement that RIRDC would be moved from Canberra into regional Australia.
Despite originally listing Albury-Wodonga as the new potential site for the institute, the Minister said the government would consider other possible locations provided “they meet the criteria of being close to the industries being served and a regional university that has a strong agricultural focus”.
CQUniversity and Capricorn Enterprise agree that Rockhampton ticks all the boxes for these criteria.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman is proud that CQUniversity is one of the most highly ranked agricultural research universities in Australia.
“The Uni would be looking forward to possibly hosting the RIRDC offices or at least engaging closely with its professional staff to reinforce our leadership and status in agricultural research and education,” Professor Bowman says.
“Our local CQ region is one of the most dynamic food production areas in Australia and of course Rockhampton is the Beef Capital of Australia.”
Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll adds: “Central Queensland is one of the most diverse agricultural regions across our nation. We have the emergence of the Growing Central Queensland Project which is focused on both marketing the region globally for new investment in agricultural expansion, as well as enticing business to consider value-adding rather than exporting raw produce to the world”.
Ms Carroll said “this is an exciting time for CQ and if we are to take advantage of the rapid expansion of agribusiness across the region we need to collaborate and attract not only essential infrastructure but the research capabilities that the RIRDC will provide to support this expansion. We are working closely with CQUniversity on this initiative and encourage everyone involved in agriculture throughout the broader region to lend their support”.
A final decision on the relocation is expected later this year.
Mary Carroll
Chief Executive Officer
Capricorn Enterprise
T: (07) 4927 2055 I F: (07) 4922 2605 I M: 0417 669 286
www.capricornenterprise.com.au www.capricornholidays.com.au
Marc Barnbaum
Media Officer
Office of the Vice-Chancellor and President
CQUniversity Rockhampton, Building 1, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton QLD 4702
P +61 7 4923 2724 (x52724) | M +61 0409 196 039 | E m.barnbaum@cqu.edu.au
