Up to 100 government, business, academic and community representatives from around the state met in Rockhampton today, Thursday, December 2, to work on building a stronger, more independent Central Queensland.

Delegates to the first Sustainable Regional Development symposium, hosted by Central Queensland University, and in conjunction with researchers from Griffith University and the University of Queensland, looked at ways that all levels of government, industry and community can better cooperate on planning and development issues in the region.

Executive Director of CQU's Institute for Sustainable Regional Development (ISRD) Bob Miles said he hoped the symposium would be a step toward increased government engagement with industry and community stakeholders.

"We will be looking at ways for these partners to work together for the needs of regional business and its stakeholders," Professor Miles said.

"We will look at new ways to do business while appealing to the needs of the stakeholders.".

Mr Hellmuth, who is Regional Executive Director for Central Queensland in the Department of Main Roads, said: "The main aim is to make sure that everyone involved in planning the future of this region is pulling in the same direction, and that we can measure how well we're doing it.".

"There are a large number of people who are involved in making Central Queensland a stronger community to live and work in," Mr Hellmuth said. "What we're trying to do at the symposium is build a better understanding of the need to work together. No one group has all the answers. If we want CQ to grow in a sustainable way, we need to talk and work together.".

Delegates to the symposium will hear from state and local government speakers outlining successful examples of community cooperation and how to break down the barriers to working together.

Guest speakers at the symposium will include Department of Natural Resources and Mines resource policy general manager, Dr Allan Dale, Professor Bob Miles, Director of the Institute of Sustainable Regional Development, Central Queensland University; Dr Andrew Beer, of Flinders University, and local government and Queensland Treasury representatives.

Dr Dale said the symposium is part of a broader statewide project designed to bring closer collaboration between government and communities.

"This is the first symposium to be held as part of the Engaged Government project," Dr Dale said. "The project is really taking the messages of this symposium and applying them at a broader level. It's about academics, governments and communities working out how they can achieve better results by working together instead of independently.".

For more information, contact Karen Chapman at the ISRD on 07 4930 9053.