Public Works, Housing and Racing Minister Hon Robert Schwarten has thanked CQU's Multimedia Development Centre and Institute for Sustainable Regional Development for their role in facilitating a new Bowen Basin Website launched today.

The website launch took place during the Central Queensland Community Engagement Showcasing Event.

The new website can be found at:.

www.bowenbasin.cqu.edu.au .

The website will facilitate and support social and economic research into issues impacting on the coal mining communities of the Bowen Basin and is an excellent example of successful partnerships and collaboration among the government, industry and University researchers.

The website supports the work of the Bowen Basin Researchers’ Network, which is a group of individuals and institutions with a shared interest in the welfare and future development of Bowen Basin communities.

Within Bowen Basin there are 15 communities with a combined population of approximately 42 000, who are dependent on or impacted by coal mining to varying degrees.

Over the last five years these communities have experienced major social and economic changes as a result of restructuring and technological adjustments to the mining industry. Current research is important in helping to understand the impact of these changes on life in the mining communities. The website will provide up-to-date and relevant information and also foster research collaboration. It contains information that will assist the work of all departments and agencies operating in the Bowen Basin.

The website has been developed with funding from the State Government through the Mackay/Whitsunday and Central Queensland regional offices of the Department of Communities and will continue to be managed and resourced by the Researchers’ Network.

It has been developed by the Multimedia Design Centre at CQU and hosted by the University.

Minister Schwarten acknowledged and thanked Professor Bob Miles from the Institute for Sustainable Regional Development for the University’s significant contribution to the development of the Website and for his ongoing support for the project.

\"Congratulations to all those who have been involved in this project and it is with great pleasure that I officially launch the Bowen Basin Website and hand it over to the Institute to maintain on behalf of the Bowen Basin Researchers’ Network,\" the Minister said.