Mr Cotter will take the stand with Mayor of Ipswich Regional Council, Paul Pisasale, to share their views on growing rural and urban communities.

“The agricultural sector has been given a voice at this summit alongside a list of elite speakers representing the infrastructure, resource, tourism, economic and community development sectors –this recognises the significant contribution primary producers make to Queensland,” Mr Cotter said.

“The Gladstone region may be a popular tourist destination and an industrial base, but it is firmly founded on agriculture with more than $25 million worth of beef, horticulture and crops produced locally each year.”

Mr Cotter will share his thoughts on how rural and urban communities can interface to build economic sustainability.

“It is important to grow regional centres such as Gladstone in conjunction with their rural communities, as the contribution agriculture makes flows through to all business sectors and service providers,” he said.

“Just as urban businesses expect a certain level of infrastructure, the agribusiness sector also requires a foundation of telecommunications, transport and services to run a viable enterprise which makes a social, economic and environmental contribution to our state.”

Mr Cotter said some of the challenges facing agribusinesses in the Gladstone region are:

• Inadequate regional roads – for example, many rural roads near Gladstone are not B-Double rated which limits efficient transportation of livestock.
• Ineffective telecommunications – although the Boyne Valley is just 80km from the coast, there is limited mobile phone service which makes it difficult for primary producers to run their businesses.
• Government regulations – such as restrictions to land tenures and vegetation management which impact the production potential of the agricultural sector.
• Inadequate social services – including access to school buses for children on properties.
• Impact from resource sector – for example, the Surat to Gladstone gas pipeline project.

“The Region of Choice Summit shows how the Gladstone community is committed to the economic development of urban and rural enterprises by overcoming these challenges and embracing the opportunities available to all sectors,” Mr Cotter said.