A two-year study of the Defence Force impact on the CQ region by the Central Queensland University's Centre for Social Science Research begins this week.

"No project of this kind has ever been undertaken in this area", said principal investigator, CQU Associate Professor Daniela Stehlik.

There is a lot of anecdotal speculation about the economic impact of the high level of activity in Central Queensland but there is no science underpinning the speculation, according to the Department of Defence, which contracted the study and which is being conducted with the full collaboration of Defence Corporate Support in Rockhampton. The Singapore Defence Forces visit the CQ region annually between August and December. There are also bi-lateral Defence arrangements between the Australian Government and the United States Government, with defence force activities occurring every two years. Shoalwater Bay is used by the Australian Defence forces on a regular basis throughout the year. In order to understand the overall socio-economic impact of the presence and activities of all of these defence force personnel, CQU researchers will try to establish an economic model that could be used for on-going analysis. They intend to study the social impact of the Defence Force presence in the CQ region and the social issues which emerge from such a presence. They will also explore community attitudes and perceptions to the Defence Force presence in CQ and how that impacts on the socio-economic fabric of the region. The final reports due in March 2004 should provide information on how regional business and industry respond to meet the needs of the Defence Force personnel.

The study will incorporate Livingstone Shire, Mount Morgan Shire, Rockhampton Shire, Emerald Shire, Fitzroy Shire, Duaringa Shire, Gladstone and Calliope Shires, plus the Shoalwater Bay area.

"This project will add value to small businesses, tourism operators and local government authorities," said Daniela Stehlik, who will conduct research alongside team members: Mr Ian Cox, Manager, Service Delivery Corporate Services & Infrastructure Office, Defence Corporate Support. Dr. Gayle Jennings, of CQU and Professor Larry Dwyer, Head of Tourism and Hospitality Programs at the School of Management at the University of Western Sydney. CQU was recently awarded with four 5-star ratings in the Good Universities Guide for its Education Experience, Graduate Starting Salary, Cultural Diversity, and Non-government earnings. Caption: Daniela Stehlik with research team members Ian Cox, Larry Dwyer and Cameron Hurtz