Maranoa Innovation Network

For more information on the Hatch program visit Farmers2Founders.

🌱 GROW YOUR AGRITOURISM VENTURE WITH NEWLY RELEASED QUEENSLAND FARMER'S FEDERATION GRANTS 🌱

"New grants are now available to assist farmers establish or expand their operations into agritourism and share where Queensland’s high-quality food, fibre and foliage comes from and how it is produced.

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has partnered with the Queensland Government to deliver the Queensland Agritourism Grants program, offering a 50 per cent co-contribution up to a maximum of $25,000 to match farmers’ funds.

QFF CEO Dr Georgina Davis said Queenslanders were increasingly looking to explore their own backyard through unique, authentic experiences that immerse them in rural and regional communities.

“Limited only by imagination, agritourism includes overnight accommodations and farmstays, direct sales of fresh or value-added products, recreational and educational experiences, demonstrations and displays, farm tours and hands-on experiences including participating in agri-processing activities such as cheese making,” Dr Davis said.

“Providing opportunities for farmers to grow their businesses, agritourism creates new and alternative markets for produce, and an opportunity to gather valuable feedback from consumers.”

“However, there are relevant considerations including safety, animal welfare and biosecurity, land-use planning and other regulatory requirements, business structures, succession plans and tax implications.”

“These grants will assist farmers to establish or expand into agritourism by employing professional or specialist services or constructing or modifying on-farm infrastructure in line with these important factors, allowing them to play a positive role in growing sustainable tourism.”

Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said agritourism was an important growth industry for Queensland’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It will be especially important in regional and rural areas over the next decade with an estimated value of $4.5 billion by 2030,” Mr Furner said.

“There is so much untapped potential, with many farming enterprises already looking to diversify their operations and supplement their income through farm gate sales, pick-your-own fruit and veggies visits, interacting with farm animals, farm-to-table dining, farmers markets, on-farm cooking classes and farm tours.”

“The grants will stimulate famers’ efforts to secure professional services to develop their business plan, marketing tools, or to build infrastructure for their agritourism offering.”

“Together with the Taste Farm Life campaign I launched in May this year, this initiative is making a real difference for primary producers to prosper.”

Grants are open to eligible Queensland farmers to develop, implement and expand agritourism activities. Applications for grant funding close 10 January, 2022.

Further information on how to apply for a Queensland Agritourism Grant is available at: www.qff.org.au/projects/agritourism. "

https://www.qff.org.au/media-releases/funding-grow-queensland-agritourism/

VISIT COUNCIL’S BUILDING AND PLANNING TEAM IN YOUR TOWN THIS YEAR AND NEXT

Council’s Building and Planning Officers will be available to meet with residents at Council’s Customer Service Centres in Injune, Surat & Yuleba and at the Mitchell Library on various days during the coming months.

If you have questions about a new building project or development proposal, or are looking to obtain information or advice, you are welcome to drop in and visit the team on the following dates:

Injune:
Thursday, 18 November 2021
Thursday, 16 December 2021
Thursday, 13 January 2022
Thursday, 10 February 2022
Thursday, 10 March 2022
Thursday, 7 April 2022

Surat:
Thursday, 2 December 2021
Thursday, 27 January 2022
Thursday, 24 February 2022
Thursday, 24 March 2022

Mitchell:
Thursday, 9 December 2021
Thursday, 3 February 2022
Thursday, 3 March 2022
Thursday, 31 March 2022

Yuleba:
Thursday, 20 January 2022
Thursday, 17 February 2022
Thursday, 17 March 2022
Thursday, 14 April 2022

To arrange an appointment with Council Officers ahead of time, please contact the Building and Planning Team on 1300 007 662 or email [email protected].