Published Monday, 19 March, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
DPI&F INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR FARMERS
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has appointed an industry development officer to provide long-term support for farmers recovering from Cyclone Larry.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin, announced the appointment on Saturday evening at the Feast of the Senses gala dinner in Innisfail.
“The Cyclone Recovery Task Force winds down tomorrow (Tuesday)- the anniversary of Cyclone Larry,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The Task Force have done an excellent job throughout the cyclone-affected region and the leadership from General Cosgrove in helping this region get back on its feet is phenomenal.
“The State Government will continue to provide long-term support and the Department is especially anxious to provide it via an industrial development officer for primary industries.
“We have appointed Yan Diczbalis to this position.
“Yan is well known to most people involved in primary industries through his work as a senior DPI&F research scientist at South Johnstone.
“Yan was one of our staff who experienced difficulties of his own during the cyclone, but put those problems aside in order to provide immediate support for primary producers in the region.”
Mr Mulherin said it was well-known that the region’s primary industries had taken a huge battering in Cyclone Larry which resulted in major problems for the local economy.
“Banana growers and their workers took the immediate blow in the wake of Cyclone Larry with banana plantations flattened right around the region,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The impacts were not just limited to the banana industry though. Papaws have been doing it tough too and they are worth about $40 million.
“The region’s sugarcane and emerging rare tropical fruits also were serious casualties.”
Mr Mulherin said Feast of the Senses had played an important part in promoting a range of rare and unusual tropical fruits in the past three years.
“Rambutans are worth $4.5 million to this region; mangosteens $0.75 million and durians $0.5 million,” he said.
“Other tropical fruit- pumello, jackfruit, dragon fruit, carambola, star apple, abiu, rollinia and soursop- are worth another $7.25 million.
“The appointment of an industry development officer is another important investment the State Government is making to local primary industries, and the Queensland economy, on the road to recovery,” Mr Mulherin said.
Media contact: 323 96530
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin, announced the appointment on Saturday evening at the Feast of the Senses gala dinner in Innisfail.
“The Cyclone Recovery Task Force winds down tomorrow (Tuesday)- the anniversary of Cyclone Larry,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The Task Force have done an excellent job throughout the cyclone-affected region and the leadership from General Cosgrove in helping this region get back on its feet is phenomenal.
“The State Government will continue to provide long-term support and the Department is especially anxious to provide it via an industrial development officer for primary industries.
“We have appointed Yan Diczbalis to this position.
“Yan is well known to most people involved in primary industries through his work as a senior DPI&F research scientist at South Johnstone.
“Yan was one of our staff who experienced difficulties of his own during the cyclone, but put those problems aside in order to provide immediate support for primary producers in the region.”
Mr Mulherin said it was well-known that the region’s primary industries had taken a huge battering in Cyclone Larry which resulted in major problems for the local economy.
“Banana growers and their workers took the immediate blow in the wake of Cyclone Larry with banana plantations flattened right around the region,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The impacts were not just limited to the banana industry though. Papaws have been doing it tough too and they are worth about $40 million.
“The region’s sugarcane and emerging rare tropical fruits also were serious casualties.”
Mr Mulherin said Feast of the Senses had played an important part in promoting a range of rare and unusual tropical fruits in the past three years.
“Rambutans are worth $4.5 million to this region; mangosteens $0.75 million and durians $0.5 million,” he said.
“Other tropical fruit- pumello, jackfruit, dragon fruit, carambola, star apple, abiu, rollinia and soursop- are worth another $7.25 million.
“The appointment of an industry development officer is another important investment the State Government is making to local primary industries, and the Queensland economy, on the road to recovery,” Mr Mulherin said.
Media contact: 323 96530