The many value-adding opportunities available to western Queensland producers, and ways of tackling infrastructure and investment barriers, are all part of a tour taking place in Longreach on Friday.
Showcasing the upgrade to the Longreach kangaroo processing facility, the new abattoir servicing western Queensland from the former Pastoral College grounds, and the proposed $5 million development at the Longreach Saleyards, it's an initiative of GroWQ, a new agribusiness development organisation based in Longreach.
GroWQ chairman James Walker said the group was an offshoot of the Longreach Regional Council's agricultural advisory group and he was keen to see it fund networking opportunities to drive knowledge and collaboration between industry members.
"We had such great participation at our events last year, the committee members approached council to dissolve the group in order to become independent, source greater funding streams and create economic development opportunities specifically for agriculture in the western Queensland region," he said.
"This is a really exciting organisation and first event, giving everyone who comes the chance to learn new things about their regional infrastructure, meet new people and perhaps garner new ideas for their business".
GroWQ eventually hopes to employ a full-time manager based in Longreach but at present is content to hold a series of networking events to attract members who Mr Walker said would benefit from networking and sharing new experiences together and talking about growth.
The self-drive tour is a COVID-safe event that will be held on November 6, with $25 tickets available from an Eventbrite link.
As well as Mr Walker, GroWQ's interim directors are Longreach Regional Council mayor Tony Rayner, its CEO Mitchell Murphy, and regional land managers Belinda Rowbotham and Anna Cochrane.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
