QREX ends with hopes for bigger slice of bigger pie
Published on 28 July, 2009
QREX has ended with an Australian Resources Conference at Rockhampton's Leichhardt Hotel, where speakers addressed opportunities ahead as the industry shows indications of refreshed growth.
CQUniversity is a Foundation sponsor of the Queensland Resources Expo (QREX) and several senior academics were involved in the final day conference.
Premier Bligh outlines her Government's support for the resources industry
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh was a welcome addition to the program and spoke at length about her Government's strategy to ensure the right balance between carbon emmissions trading and the health of the industry.
Premier Bligh also defended and explained the need to sell Queensland Rail's coal haulage business, saying that only the private sector could provide the sustained injection of funds needed to grow the business to its full potential.
CQUniversity's Professor John Rolfe provided a detailed economic overview, including tips on how the Rockhampton region could continue to play a major role in industry growth in the light of competition from other regions.
"It's clear that new projects are essential, we need good planning and approval processes, we need transport and infrastructure, we need to make it easier for firms to find skilled labour, we need better access to services and supply chains and we need to make sure our community is very livable."
CQUniversity Research Fellow Evan Yabsley presented about 'Social Infrastructure as a Community Growth Lever - Socio-demographic modelling the needs of Queensland's resources communities'.
"Looking at the communities in which the mines operate, we identified very clear patterns in values motivation which enabled us to profile the community and to better understand their responses to mining activities in their area," he said.
"Recent CQUniversity research shows restoring diversity in skills, trades and businesses is key to smoothing the peaks and troughs for Queensland's resource communities; and social infrastructure is key to restoring and growing communities with diversity in skills, trades and business."
Meanwhile, CQUniversity's Professor Elizabeth Taylor and Professor Wal Taylor provided linking remarks throughout the event.
Other speakers included Rockhampton Region Mayor Brad Carter, Deputy Coordinator-General, Infrastructure and Economic Development Geoff Dickie, Commonwealth Bank Senior Economist for Global Markets Research John Peters, Queensland Mines and Energy Regional Geologist Phil Ferenczi and the Mining Technology Innovation Centre's Peter van Iersel.
Research Fellow Evan Yabsley (orange tie), ready for his presentation 
Professor John Rolfe includes plenty of data in his address