Former Longreach campus land EOI

Published Wednesday, 27 July, 2022 at 03:10 PM

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities
The Honourable Mark Furner

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) is preparing the former Queensland Agriculture Training Colleges property at Longreach for sale by an open expression of interest process.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the 17, 511ha site would go to market later this year. 

“The land and onsite campus will be offered in up to six different configurations, with details currently being finalised, to give buyers options to purchase various parcels,” Mr Furner said.

“We will be doing this through a tender process that will consider both the price offered and the proposed community benefit component as a result of their acquisition and repurposing of the site.”

The decision to dispose of the Longreach property follows a decision by the Longreach Regional Council in late 2021 not to purchase the land and its buildings, after an earlier process seeking interest in the site from other proponents.

The Queensland Government is investing $9.75 million in training infrastructure for the agriculture sector across Queensland over the current and next financial years, including $3.4 million for an Agricultural Centre of Excellence in Bowen, $2 million for an Aquaculture Training Centre in Cannonvale, $3.35 million for a new Agriculture and Horticulture Centre in Bundaberg and $1 million for stage 2 of the Rural Centre of Excellence in Toowoomba.

Additionally, under the 2022-23 State Budget, more than $140 million in research and extension work will be overseen by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, jointly funded by the State Government and a range of industry and research partners.

The former QATC was closed in 2019 after a review found it was no longer meeting the diverse training needs of Queensland agricultural industries.

ENDS

Media contact:          Ron Goodman            0427 781 920