The Department of Agriculture remains tight-lipped on the future of the Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges as the December 6 closure deadline nears for both the Longreach and Emerald campuses.
After the December 6 closure of both colleges, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will remain as custodians of the facilities while their future is determined.
Agriculture minister Mark Furner said he wants to provide certainty as soon as possible, but it was vital to take the time to get these important decisions right.
"I am hopeful that we will be in a position to make announcements very soon," Mr Furner said.
The transformation of the agricultural colleges is headed by former AgForce CEO Charles Burke, who has consulted with the Longreach and Emerald communities and stakeholders, and shortlisted proposals for a full business case examination.
Remote Area Planning and Development Board chairman, Rob Chandler, who is also mayor of the Barcaldine Regional Council, said RAPAD had engaged Price Waterhouse Coopers to do a feasibility study.
The study will seek to understand the viability of transforming the Longreach Pastoral College to "a college for an agricultural region" as opposed to an agricultural college.
"We are doing the feasibility study at the moment, and how that pans out and where to next is something we are working on very closely with Charles Burke and the Department of Agriculture," Cr Chandler said.
Cr Chandler outlined some of the possible training that could be included and said the fact that the seven councils that make up RAPAD would spend some $2 million on training for their 800 employees meant they believed the bulk of those monies should stay in region.
"However, there is an aspect to these projects that are commercial-in-confidence and we ask people to respect that," he said.
"Every possible opportunity is being looked at in all aspects of agriculture, tourism, research and development, local government and trade based training.
"I feel confident the LPC will transition into a new age space for learning especially if state, federal and local governments work together with industry and industry bodies who have a major role to play."
A spokesperson for the Emerald Agricultural College campus said negotiations are continuing about its future.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
