29 May 2017: QRAA board visits North West Queensland
29 May 2017
QRAA’s Board of Directors will gather in Cloncurry on Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 May to strengthen the organisation’s commitment to the North West, meeting with locals and formally opening its newest office.
QRAA’s Board of Directors will gather in Cloncurry on Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 May to strengthen the organisation’s commitment to the North West, meeting with locals and formally opening its newest office.
Local Janessa Bidgood was appointed to the newly established role of Regional Area Manager for the North West and Gulf in early March, running the Cloncurry office and travelling across the region to help primary producers understand and apply for QRAA’s range of grants and low-interest loans.
QRAA Chief Executive Officer, Cameron MacMillan, says he is thrilled that producers in the region now have dedicated, local support to help them take advantage of the organisation’s services and funding.
“Since 1 July 2015, we’ve approved over $18 million in financial assistance to primary producers in the North West and Gulf region including drought and productivity loans,” he said.
“With Janessa on the ground and available to meet with locals, and some exciting changes to QRAA coming, we’ll be able to do even more – give more young graziers the support they need to start their own businesses, help more producers to withstand and recover from drought, get more farming families on the road to a smooth succession plan.”
Accompanied by Janessa and Mr MacMillan, the Board will visit locals in and around Cloncurry including QRAA clients, regional finance professionals and industry representatives.
“We’re excited to be strengthening our connection to the hardworking, vibrant North West community – Cloncurry was a natural fit for our ninth office, and for our board visit,” Mr MacMillan said.
“We’re all looking forward to sharing the ways QRAA can help individual producers and the local agriculture industry, and in turn hearing from the community on what’s important to them and their businesses.”
The Board regularly travel to regional and rural communities to consult with locals and get a firsthand look at the impact QRAA’s assistance on Queensland’s agriculture industry.
Financial programs QRAA currently offers to producers include:
- Farm Management Grants, which provide primary producers and their relatives with rebates of up to $2,500 per financial year on professional advice related to succession planning;
- Drought Assistance Concessional Loans of up to $1 million to restructure existing debt, cover carry-on costs and recover from drought;
- First Start Loans of up to $2 million to help the next generation enter primary production through property purchase, share farming or buying into the family business;
- Sustainability Loans of up to $1.3 million to undertake expansion and improvement activities for long term productivity and profitability.
Visit www.qraa.qld.gov.au for more information.
-ENDS-
For more information contact:
Brendan Egan, QRAA Head of Communication and Corporate Relations
0428 909 246