A GRIFFITH Centre of Excellence in Irrigated Agriculture would help the community adapt to changing water availability.
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A business case for the proposed centre was commissioned by and presented to council early in May by Booth and Associates with the involvement of Deakin University.
The proposed centre has been identified as a way for irrigation communities to conduct research to increase their productivity and maximise profitability.
This information would be shared worldwide.
“The whole idea is exciting,” Councillor Paul Rosetto said.
“In claiming the label of an centre of excellence and having the backing of Deakin University and their research department, it puts us in a good position to further advance our progress in an atmosphere of huge adjustments because of the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP).
“The business case quantifies what many in the Riverina today already believe – that there is a need for investment in research and extension to benefit irrigated agriculture production, more important now that the ramifications of the MDBP are being felt at producer and community levels.
“Whilst the location of the centre of excellence will be in Griffith, the work of the centre will have regional and national significance and international recognition.”
Michael Ryan from Booth and Associates, who presented the business case, addressed council at their meeting in early May.
“This is a good idea, the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) has reduced regional productivity,” Mr Ryan said.
“Griffith is the place for this, Deakin are here and we have the old CSIRO facility with the bricks and mortar and labs in place and a diversity of agriculture second to none.
“As a result of the way levies are collected, research tends to be commodity focused, we need something with a broader cross section with water.”
Paul Pierotti from the Griffith Business Chamber said he believed the centre would be good for the Griffith community from a business perspective
“We really believe this idea has excellent merit for the community,” Mr Pierotti said.
“If Griffith is to be recognised as an irrigation centre of excellence internationally we would be looking at trying to ramp up field days, conferences and study tours.
“The real opportunity here is the flow on benefits, if we host conferences through the centre people who attend will spend a lot and that will flow through the whole community. The real way to grow Griffith is to have more smaller events more often.”
The business case is to be presented to the Commonwealth government, council will ask for $20 million over ten years to fund the project.