Opportunities to promote local agribusiness, cultural and eco-tourism, supporting small businesses and connecting industry with the training sector—they are all topics for discussion at the second Palaszczuk Government Regional Community Forum for the Wide Bay, Burnett, Fraser Coast region at Cherbourg on Monday.
Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the forum is one of seven being held across regional Queensland.
"It brings local community members together with government representatives to discuss opportunities to drive future jobs and growth in the region," Ms Enoch said.
"I'll be joined by Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders, who will chair the Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast Forum.
"The Government continues to support regional Queenslanders to boost the economy and create jobs, and these forums ensure the community has a strong voice to talk about local strengths, challenges and priorities.
"Queensland is a vast, unique State and no two regions are the same, but it was apparent from the first round of forums last October that there were consistent themes being raised locally, which we've now made strategic priorities for discussion."
Discussions will centre on skills and training, drought and water security, support for small business, emerging industries, tourism including Indigenous tourism and access to government services.
Mr Bruce Saunders said discussion at the first Wide Bay, Burnett, Fraser Coast regional forum in October 2019 helped shape a Local Action Plan for the region to support young people to be job ready; address challenges and barriers to small business attracting and retaining staff; and develop the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Economic Plan.
"Wide Bay, Burnett, Fraser Coast Forum members will work with the Queensland Government's Office for Rural and Regional Queensland to consider what outcomes are most important to the local community and to develop local action plans," he said.
Mr Saunders said the forum will include a tour of the Cherbourg Ration Shed Museum to enable Forum members to understand the history and culture of the people of Cherbourg.
"Forum members will also hear about the Year of Indigenous Tourism, the extension to the Year of Outback Tourism, and how the Palaszczuk Government is seeking to improve the delivery of services to Queenslanders," he said.
This is the second in a series of forums, with forums also taking place in Cloncurry, Winton, Moranbah, Gladstone, Roma and Mareeba on Monday. A third round of forums will be held across rural and regional locations including the Wide Bay, Burnett, Fraser Coast region in May.
