Vol. 19 No. 37
FREE PUBLICATION
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Australian Editorial Award 2016
Grains ‘perfect match’ W
BY DEAN LAWSON
immera development leaders have targeted Australia’s leading grains research organisation in a submission to a national investigation into the potential regional relocation of government bodies.
ON A HIGH: Several Wimmera primary schools have hosted athletic sports days in the past week. Rory Hudson clears a hurdle at Ss Michael and John’s Primary School’s event. For more pictures, from Ss Michael and John’s, Horsham West and Horsham Holy Trinity Lutheran schools, see page 48 of today’s paper, or visit website www.theweeklyadvertiser. com.au for online galleries. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
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Mr Kenyon said the Wimmera and southern Mallee more than qualified as somewhere for a major regional base and even the corporation’s headquarters. “Why not? The Wimmera’s catch-cry of ‘everything you need’ is not just a catch-cry, it’s reality, and in this circumstance it’s even more than that,” he said. “We would welcome the whole GRDC or even elements of it. Critically, it’s not just about something that is advantageous to our region – it also makes logical sense this type of organisation is based, literally, in the field. “Of course the economic spin-offs would be quite significant for the region.” The association’s submission outlines how ‘significant and growing investment in grains research’ is critical to economic industrial success in the region’. “The region has attracted substantial international investment and national strategic focus through grains research,” Mr Kenyon said. “This is evidenced by the establishment of the Australian Grains Genebank in Horsham, the construction of a high throughput phenomic glasshouse by Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries, a $14-million Bayer CropSciences wheat-breeding station and the investment of $3-million in glasshouse upgrades by Nuseed.” Continued page 3
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Wimmera Development Association, in responding to a Federal Government Senate Inquiry, has pinpointed the Grains Research Development Corporation as a perfect match for the region. The association, in its submission to the inquiry, has detailed how the Wimmera-southern Mallee is perfectly placed as a major base for the corporation or ‘other elements of Commonwealth entities with agricultural policy or regulatory responsibilities’. Association executive director Ralph Kenyon said the relationship between agricultural industry and research and development, including the GRDC, was already well advanced in the region. “The region offers a range of supporting infrastructure, accommodation and social interaction that would make relocation not only viable, but also provide a much-needed boost to the local economic framework,” he said. Grains Research Development Corporation is a statutory corporation under the Federal Government’s Department of Agriculture. It is responsible for planning, investing in and overseeing research and development to help improve production, sustainability and profitability across the Australian grains industry. Grower levies and government contribu-
tions fund the organisation, which primarily operates out of Canberra and has offices in Adelaide, Dubbo, Perth and Toowoomba.
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1987 HORSHAM
PLAZA CELEBRATING 30 YEARS
Celebrate our 30th birthday with a photo of you and your friends to take home 11am to 3pm Mon to Fri, April 3-7 Enjoy our props to animate your photos - or bring your own 1980’s props
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Painted Mask Craft Workshops, only $3 11am to 3pm Mon to Fri, April 3-7