Sustainable Regional Development Programme

Call for Papers - Special Edition of Journal of Economic and Social Policy on 'Regional Australia'
For more information see attached flyer

Introduction

The Sustainable Regional Development (SRD) Programme was introduced into the Centre for Environmental Management in February 2009, and is based at CQUniversity Rockhampton. The programme is unique in merging the economic, social and environmental disciplines. Our work spans a number of Fields of Research (FoRs) including Regional Analysis and Development; Urban and Regional Planning; Environmental issues at Regional Scales and Environmental Science and Management. Within these, the key foci for the Sustainable Regional Development programme are:The key research areas for the Sustainable Regional Development programme are:

identifying and managing development pressures in resource communities;

environmental, social and economic impact assessment;

sustainability, natural resource management (NRM) and climate change adaptation in regional contexts;

regional economic development and viability;

regional innovation systems, including the research-business and research-industry interface; and

regional policy and planning.

Our research is relevant to a wide range of external stakeholders including mining and heavy industry through to small-to-medium enterprises; regional economic development bodies; natural resource management and community groups; and local, state and federal government.

Aims

The SRD programme aims to support the strategic priorities of the Centre for Environmental Management and CQUniversity through:

providing quality research and innovation on SRD issues:
- developing multidisciplinary teams to conduct research projects
- attracting significant funds to perform research
- informing local, regional, state ,national and global audiences through research reports, peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations
- working to promote the uptake of research by regional business and industry and/or government
engagement with internal and external stakeholders:
- working with other CEM and CQUniversity staff to develop strategic partnerships and collaborations throughout the region (and more widely)
- influencing the SRD dialogue through membership of relevant groups, committees and/or panels, as well as leading the CQ Community of Practice in Innovation and SRD
- leadership and professional development duties, including participation in Centre and University committees and working groups
contributing to teaching and learning outcomes:
- supervision of research higher degree students studying SRD topics
- assisting in the delivery of faculty-based undergraduate and postgraduate courses
- driving the establishment of new courses and programmes in the regional development discipline area

Project Portfolio (2010 to current)

Social Impact Assessment of Blair Athol Coal Mine closure at Clermont ( Project proponent: RioTinto Australia)
Social and economic impact assessment of Willunga Coal mine project ( Project proponent : Macarthur Coal Australia)
Economic and Demographic Analysis to support the CQ NRL (National Rugby League) bid
Assessing the economic impacts of flood interruption to transport corridors in Central Queensland
Social networks analysis: bridging degrees of separation to enhance climate change adaptation
Central Queensland Roadmap and Regional Decision-Making Tool
Central Queensland Innovation Prospectus
Skills development for a low-carbon economy – clean coal and natural gas sectors
Calculating carbon emissions for the trucking industry - comparing an individual vehicle emission model with the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory approach
Regional Sustainability: Developing Service Optimization Model for the Mining Towns in Queensland
Minerals Down Under Flagship - the Future Sustainability of Australia's Mineral Industry
Mineral Futures and Regions in Transition: Surat Basin (in partnership with CSIRO, ANU & Curtin University)
Addressing Cumulative Social Impacts in Social Impact Assessments and Social Impact Management Plans: A guideline for proponents in Qld (UQ & DEEDI)
Shareholder preferences for the future direction of Mackay Sugar Limited (MSL)
Gladstone Industry Community Perception Study (GILG)
Factors affecting adoption of land management practices that have water quality benefits in the GBR Catchments: Evaluation scenarios for Cane Farming (caring for Our Country Grant)
Gladstone population and housing study social impact analysis (Lyons Capital)
Social and Economic Impact Assessment of Codrilla Coal Mine Projects (MEMS)
Social and Economic Impact Assessment of Coppabella Underground Project (MEMS)
Economic Impact Assessment of the Grosvenor Mine Project (Hansen Bailey)
Economic Impact Assessment of The Foxleigh Plains Project(Hansen Bailey)

More detailed research reports can be found in the 2010 Sustainable Regional Development Annual Report

Past Projects

Reports, resources and announcements

PhD or Masters Opportunity: Assessing community preferences for an integrated regional waste management strategy using mining voids as a key disposal option

The transportation and treatment of municipal and industrial waste streams is emerging as a key issue in many regional communities. While much of the focus on waste management issues has been from technical and engineering disciplines, understanding the economics of waste management and the community acceptance of different management options is essential to developing options that the community will accept. The focus of this research will be to identify community preferences for different treatment, management and disposal options for waste, including options to incorporate waste into mine voids and mine rehabilitation management. Central Queensland will be used as the case study site.

Interested in applying? For more information on this project contact Susan Kinnear (s.kinnear@cqu.edu.au).

Details about available research higher degree scholarships

Project materials (including final reports) and other items of interest will be added to this site as they become available.

Sustainable Regional Development in the Bowen Basin Project

Programme Members

Dr Susan Kinnear (Programme Leader)

External Links

Bowen Basin Mining Research

Contact

Programme Leader: Dr Susan Kinnear on (07) 4930 9336 or s.kinnear@cqu.edu.au