Opportunity to contribute to the Longreach region’s development

Published Thursday, 08 December, 2022 at 03:15 PM

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

The former Queensland Agriculture Training Colleges property at Longreach will be available for purchase from December 12 through an open tender process, with regional community benefits one of the aims of the sale.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the 17, 511ha site with its onsite campus was being offered in a range of configurations to give buyers options to purchase various parcels.

“The tender process will consider both the price offered and the proposed Longreach and regional community benefit component resulting from the acquisition and repurposing of the site,” Mr Furner said.

“Experienced Longreach agents, Rural Property and Livestock have been appointed to market the property on behalf of the Department. The tender closes on Thursday 9 February 2023.”

Details will be available at www.ruralpropertylivestock.com

The decision to repurpose the Longreach property follows a decision by the Longreach Regional Council in late 2021 not to purchase the land and its buildings.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries engaged a probity advisor to provide support throughout the tender process.

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, in the 2021-22 State Budget, almost $76 million is allocated to RD&E activities through Agri-Science Queensland, supplemented by more than $69 million in investment from industry and other sources.

ENDS

Media contact:           Ron Goodman            0427 781 920