Study tour to share ideas

SOUTHERN Downs Regional Council Economic Development Unit (EDU) will welcome a study tour from the Mackay Rural Production Society.
The council’s Manager Planning and Development Cecil Barnard said the Mackay Rural Production Society, made up of cane growers and beef producers, will visit Warwick on 23 and 24 March and Stanthorpe on 25 and 26 March.
“The group have organised to visit a number of places on the Southern Downs including Harslett Farm, Killarney Heritage Centre, Ralph Affleck’s Vintage Sawmill, Wickhams Farm, and Lamb Family Angus Cattle at Queen Mary Falls.
“The society members will also experience the famous pig and calf sales market in Warwick, GrainX at Allora and then on to Stanthorpe for Suttons Apple Farm and Cidery, Law Dogs Australia, Rugby Farms, Rizzato’s Apples, Bramble patch, Tim Carnell’s Tomatoes and Capsicums, Ballandean Estate, Sweets Strawberry Runners and the QLD College of Wine Tourism.
“The group believes that these study tours have helped members and other property managers improve on property management practices as well as providing opportunities to share information with each other and those they meet when visiting.
“In this way the Southern Downs also benefits, gaining knowledge of innovative agricultural ideas from other regions.
“We look forward to discussing the similarities and differences between our regions and learning about economic development strategies that have been successful in central Queensland,“ he said.
Anyone with questions about the visit should phone 1300 MY SDRC (1300 697 372).