Regional communities

Insight into regional economies

Research Papers/Webinars

Nov
2021

Examining Innovative Policies to Sustain Environmental Offsets in Rural Communities

Examining Innovative Policies to Sustain Environmental Offsets in Rural Communities: An Analysis of Granite Belt Wine Growers

June 2021

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Jun
2021

Leveraging digital development in regional and rural Queensland: Policy Discussion Paper

Digital connectivity and capability are essential for regional economic development in the 21st century. Key sectors such as agriculture, resources, energy, tourism, and health are undergoing dramatic transformation globally, and there are enormous opportunities for Queensland and Australia to leverage telecommunications and the internet to increase productivity, diversify industries, and access global markets. Never has digital connectivity been so important in improving livability and maintaining people and workforces in regional and rural communities.

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Oct
2020

Describing, analysing and comparing edible oyster supply chains in Australia

The black-lip oyster (BLO) has been identified as a tropical edible oyster species that could be cultivated on a commercial basis in Northern Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia). This industry could generate employment, production diversification and economic growth for communities living in northern rural coastal regions of Australia. However, to
develop this industry a better understanding about the potential supply chain for this shellfish product is required. Since Australia produces several other oyster species on a commercial basis, information from the oyster supply chains of these industries can be useful in guiding the development of a supply network BLOs.

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Sep
2020

Can cooperative business models coordinate horizontal and vertical supply chains? A case study in the Australian pineapple industry

This study aims to explore the potential for cooperative models to solve current challenges in Australian agriculture. This study also examines the business sustainability of a hybrid cooperative business model and its determinants drawing on an analysis of a pineapple supply chain in Queensland. For this purpose, a cooperative business, Tropical Pines Pty Ltd (Tropical Pines), is used as a case study as it is a hybrid cooperative-business model that successfully coordinates production and marketing across Australia. This research uses a qualitative research approach, thematic content analysis, to identify key lessons about the operation of Tropical Pines. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, 12 individuals representing different stages of pineapple supply chain actors were interviewed and the material was then analysed.

Authors: Delwar Akbar, John Rolfe, Azad Rahman and Darshana Rajapaksa

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Aug
2020

Consumer demands - seizing the opportunities in the beef industry

The Australian beef industry has prospects to expand to meet growing demand from Asian export markets. The industry makes a significant contribution to state and national economies and underpin many regional and rural communities. As the same time there are pressures from consumers stemming from concerns about how beef is produced (i.e impacts on animal welfare and environment) or concerns about the impacts of the product (i.e. impacts on sustainability and health). These are termed ‘credence’ attributes because they cannot be objectively measured, but instead must be communicated alongside the product to ensure it is credible to consumers.

In the research reported here we assess whether demands and concerns about various credence aspects of meat production are growing and likely to have a significant impact on the beef industry. For the purposes of this research we have focused on the credence attributes of: health and nutrition, ethical concerns about animal welfare, and sustainability concerns, including the environmental consequence of production on landscapes, biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions.

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Jun
2020

2020 Webinar Striving for Digital Connectivity

Striving for Digital Connectivity: Digital Equality Making a World of Difference to Regional Queensland

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Jun
2020

2020 Webinar An Introduction to Nature Valuation

An Introduction to Nature Valuation


•Cost Benefit Analysis (in a nutshell)
Nature valuation: What is “value”?
• Nature valuation: What is “nature”
• Concept of Ecosystem Services
• Valuation techniques:
• Direct valuation methods
• Revealed preference methods
• Stated preference methods
• Benefit transfer
• Take-home messages

Dr Jeremy De Valck, CQUniversity

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Jun
2020

Social and Economic Impacts of Digital Connection in Remote Communities: Central Western Queensland

Central Western Queensland Digital Connectivity Project: Assessment of the Social and
Economic Impacts of Digital Connection in Remote Communities

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Apr
2020

2020 Webinar Leading economic recovery in regional communities

Leading economic recovery in regional communities - strategies and approaches for rural economic development practitioners

Presenters: Dr Geoff Woolcock/Mr Chad Renando/Ms Jo Sheppard (USQ)

Moderator: A/Prof Ben Lyons (RECo

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Apr
2020

Place-value and ‘partnership, collaboration and cooperation’-focused development in remote areas

Place-based rural and regional development is an important and key strategy for building and sustaining regional communities in Australia.
The key foundational principle of contemporary regional development in Australia is ‘partnerships, collaboration and cooperation’ between the government, the private sector and communities. The involvement of a range of stakeholders in regional development processes means there is greater potential for community ‘ownership’ of infrastructure, growth and innovation projects, and of the pooling of resources to reach mutually beneficial outcomes.
Place-value economic development is a form of place-based development that places a particular community and the self-identified potential of that community and place (area) at the centre. Place-value economic development results in cooperation-focused regional economic development strategies built around the unique value and potential of a place.
This Research Paper uses the concept of ‘place-value economic development’ to illustrate the potential of a community-led, and government-supported, remote area economic development strategy that is conceptualised around the historical and inherent agricultural value of the sheep and wool industry in Central West Queensland. This place-value-focused strategy – ‘Bring back the sheep’ – relies on the participation of a range of stakeholders. In return, an even broader range of stakeholders stand to benefit.

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Jul
2019

Sowing the seeds: creating a regional innovation ecosystem in Goondiwindi

Innovation ecosystems add value to economic and community development in a region. Innovation hubs can play a critical role in these ecosystems by providing centralised access to networks, capital, technology, community and social support.

The Goondiwindi region is exploring implementation of a local innovation hub that will leverage the local strengths of the agricultural sector. This report follows a structured approach to assessing the feasibility of an innovation hub and developing an actionable business case and plan.

Project Researchers: Mr Chad Renando (USQ); Assoc. Professor Ben Lyons (USQ)

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Jun
2019

Rural economic issues: a background paper

This paper explores the influences, challenges, opportunities and approaches to rural economic development in Queensland. It focuses on economic development and diversification centred on agricultural food and fibre value chain development and related regional industries. The paper describes the current situation of Queensland’s rural economy and the factors that are influencing it. It outlines the characteristics of a vibrant rural economy and summarises current and emerging rural economic development issues, initiatives and policies. The paper has been developed to provide information that forms the basis for the development of research, practice and policy priorities for the Rural Economies Centre Queensland

Authors: 
Professor Allan Dale, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns; Professor John Rolfe, CQUniversity, Rockhampton; Professor John Cole & Professor Jim Cavaye, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba - 2018

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