NORTH AUSTRALIA RESEARCH GROUP

Background

The North Australia Research Group concept was especially developed in 2003 to provide a platform for bringing together high level multi-disciplinary teams to undertake research projects across northern Australia . Two major projects have been undertaken with details of the projects and the teams given below.

Project 1

Outback Highway – Social Cultural & Economic Impact Study – carried out for the Outback Highway Development Council as part of the Commonwealth Government’s Sustainable Regions Program. The aim of the Outback Highway is to provide a third east-west transcontinental route across the middle of Australia to complement the existing southern (Nullabor) route and the northern (Flinders/Barkly, Katherine/Ord) route. It would involve upgrading currently unsealed sections of road, from Laverton in Western Australia to Kata Juta (the Olgas) in the Northern Territory and the Plenty Highway from near Alice Springs to Boulia in Queensland.

Study Team :

• W S (Bill) Cummings - Leader and Economic Research.
• Dr Christine Fletcher – Cultural & Social Aspects.
• Don Sutherland – Government & Industry Research & Coordination.
• Jeremy Blockey, The 20/20 Group – Detailed Community Research.
• John McIntyre – Tourism & Heritage Aspects.

To access information about the progress of this project and further information about the Outback Highway , see website www.outback-hwy.org.au

Project 2

“Mt Beckford Irrigation Project Hughenden – Social & Economic Benefit Study” –
“Flinders River Catchment Irrigation Development – Social & Economic Impact Study”. These twin studies examine the social and economic impacts of the proposed Mt Beckford Irrigation Scheme on the Flinders River at Hughenden in detail and then go on to look at the social and economic impacts of irrigation development in the wider Flinders River catchment area, including also the O’Connell Ck Project at Richmond. Reports include an initial analysis of potential crops for the area and income that might be derived from sale of water rights. The study has been carried out for the Flinders Shire and the Central West Sub Committee of the Federal Government’s North Queensland Area Consultative Committee. Presentation of finalised reports is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2005.

Study Team :

• W S (Bill) Cummings – Team Leader & Economic Impacts.
• John O’Halloran – Social Impacts.
• Jeff Benjamin – Irrigation Aspects