QUEENSLAND CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE HELPING WINE INDUSTRY

The new Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence is helping Queensland’s wine industry to deal with climate change, Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said today.

Mr Wallace said one of the first projects of the new centre was to give advice to wine producers about the latest climate change science at recent meetings in Mt Tambourine, Stanthorpe, Kingaroy and Cairns.

Wine producers were told how they could manage climate change affecting their industry.

“The new Climate Change Centre of Excellence is the first centre of its kind in Australia,” Mr Wallace said.

“It will establish Queensland as a leader in climate change issues,” he said.

“Although the centre is not officially opened yet, staff members have begun helping the community with climate change, beginning with the wine industry.”

The Climate Change Centre for Excellence will provide policy advice and scientific information on climate change and its impact on the community, the economy and the environment.

At the recent meeting with tropical wine producers in Cairns, producers raised the issue of chilling requirements of different fruits.

A drop in temperature is required for many varieties to fruit.

“If temperatures increase due to climate change this may reduce fruiting,” Mr Wallace said.

“Options discussed at the meeting included planting different varieties that require less of a temperature drop to fruit,” he said.

Similar issues were discussed with wine producers in the other three meetings throughout the state.

Mr Wallace said the Climate Change Centre of Excellence was now providing guidance to the wine industry on climate change risk management.

The number of Queensland wine producers has grown by 86% in the past four years – there are now more than 170 producers in 10 wine regions across the State.

Annual average temperatures in Queensland are projected to increase by up to 2 degrees Celsius by 2030, while rainfall may be reduced by 15% over the same period.

The Climate Change Centre for Excellence, which will be temporarily based at Indooroopilly, is expected to be officially opened in the near future.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.