Partnership to search for answers
A new partnership agreement between the Condamine Alliance and the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) will improve the understanding of natural resource issues in the Condamine catchment. Through the partnership agreement, being signed in the USQ Vice Chancellor’s Conference Room (B205) at 10am tomorrow (Tuesday 26 September), the Alliance will provide USQ’s Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments (ACSC) with $240,000 over three years.ACSC Co-Director, Dr Jerry Maroulis, said the money would provide ACSC with a Research Fellow for the three year term. 'The Agreement enables high quality scientific research to be undertaken at ACSC and through this partnership will address some key natural resource issues for the Alliance,' Dr Maroulis said. 'The Research Fellow will be involved in researching projects that address issues of relevance for the Alliance and ACSC, and will act as a supervisor for a range of PhD students working in these areas.' The range of potential PhD projects includes determining a sustainable yield of groundwater to meet demand in the Condamine River catchment, managing the environmental impacts of the booming industry in coal-seam gas extraction, sustainable management of river environments and best practices for resource management. 'The partnership is an important milestone for the ACSC and USQ in linking with the Alliance and forging strong local and regional alliances in the area of natural resource management,' he said. The agreement is also a first for a regional body such as the Alliance and enables the organisation to leverage resources internally and from USQ in a bid to find answers to issues affecting the surrounding region. Alliance CEO, Phil McCullough, said it was important to enlist the scientific expertise of the ACSC to validate project findings. 'While the community has a high involvement in what we do, it is important that the data we work with are scientifically validated, and that the data addresses our knowledge gaps in key areas,' he said. 'Closer ties between the University and the regional natural resource management body will also give rise to other opportunities for cooperation. 'These arrangements can deliver great value for both parties, and we would urge other organisations to consider similar partnerships. 'As well as the benefits of getting the local University involved in environmental issues, which have global ramifications, there is the added benefit of opening up career opportunities for students in natural resource management,' Mr McCullough said. WHAT: Signing of funding agreement with the Condamine Alliance Media Contact: Fiona Taylor, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559 or +61 423 808 462 
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