Ministerial Statement: Rural strategy to keep communities ...

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Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
08/09/2008

Rural strategy to keep communities growing

The State Government has outlined its support for South East Queensland's rural communities with the release today of a new strategy highlighting dozens of actions.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas today released the draft Rural Futures Strategy for South East Queensland, and invited public submissions over the next eight weeks.

"Rural communities in SEQ are home to 300,000 people and the region's 4000 farms provide our cities with high-quality agricultural produce," Mr Lucas said.

"Agricultural production accounts for 1.2 per cent of the gross regional economy however the farm-dependent economy is worth around $8 billion, or 11.4 percent of the region's Gross Domestic Product.

"A love of the great outdoors and country life also stimulates a tourism market in rural areas worth more than $50 million.

"Our planning encourages sustainable economic and community development in rural communities from Rathdowney to Kin Kin and west to Toowoomba."

The draft strategy highlights five requirements needed to sustain rural SEQ: economic development, healthy and productive rural landscapes, water resources, community development and future coordination.

It also promotes 50 actions including ongoing research and planning, protection of waterways and ecosystems, workforce initiatives, infrastructure provision, social support and promotion to enhance products and activities.

These include the removal of impediments to agriculture in planning policies; encouraging rural businesses to take part in carbon trading and climate change management plans and a one-stop shop for government support programs.

More than $11 billion from the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program and other sources will be spent on rural areas and the western corridor by 2026 for road, rail, water and energy upgrades plus other facilities.

This includes $14 million for recreation trials such as the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and Boonah to Ipswich trail and a $20 million contribution towards the Centre for Advanced Animal Sciences at Gatton to examine food production gains.

Pilot planning studies to establish rural precincts are also being undertaken with the Scenic Rim, Redland City and Sunshine Coast Regional councils.

Rural areas account for 84 per cent or 1.9 million hectares of South East Queensland's land area, most of which is managed by farmers.

"We need rural industries to expand and diversify so regional communities can grow and prosper and continue to support urban centres," Mr Lucas said.

"That's why this government will make sure good quality agricultural land is protected from urban sprawl."

The south east's agricultural economy makes up about 12 percent of Queensland's total and three percent of Australia's total.

However Mr Lucas said rural industries and communities are facing financial and social challenges including increasing global competition, access to water, demands for skilled labour and uncertainty around climate change and future oil supply.

"The draft strategy is designed to help communities meet these challenges, capitalise on strengths and cultivate agricultural, tourism and other opportunities."

"It is not the solution to every challenge in rural SEQ but acts as a catalyst for action in communities and will help sustain the rural way of life.

"I encourage people to make submissions on how the economic prosperity, environmental wellbeing and outlook for rural SEQ could be improved."

The draft strategy is available at www.dip.qld.gov.au, by calling 1800 021 818 or emailing ruralfutures@dip.qld.gov.au.

Submissions can be lodged until November 3 to Reply Paid 15009, City East, Queensland 4002; ruralfutures@dip.qld.gov.au or by fax to 3235 4563.

A final Rural Futures Strategy will be released before the review of the SEQ Regional Plan in mid-2009.

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