Build Qld: Why the future of agriculture jobs in Mackay is not ‘hot, dirty’ work

Build Qld: Why the pandemic has refocused attention on the critical need for places such as Mackay to produce and manufacture onshore.

The end of the crushing season at a Mackay sugar cane farm. Picture: Heidi Petith

Future job seekers in the agricultural sector will need to know their way around a computer rather than a tractor if they want a long career in the industry.

That’s the message from Greater Whitsunday Alliance chief executive Kylie Porter, who said the pandemic had refocused attention on the critical need for places such as Mackay to produce and manufacture onshore.

Ms Porter was speaking at the announcement of three new major projects in the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday set to boost jobs and the economy.

The federal government will deliver a $10m funding injection in these new projects under the Regional Recovery Partnerships program to drive the region’s recovery from COVID-19.

The projects include an upgrade of the Biocommodities Pilot Plant in Mackay, a new Aquaculture and Agriculture Tech Skills Hub for the Whitsunday region and delivery of stage 2 of the Clermont Saleyards and Showgrounds Revitalisation.

Ms Porter said it was a misconception that agriculture was only “hard, hot, dirty” work.

“In fact, in the future, it’s actually going to be really highly technical and you’re going to need great skills to have a career in the agriculture sector,” she said.

Build Queensland is a Courier Mail and Daily Mercury campaign.

Ms Porter said COVID-19 had greatly impacted Bowen’s horticulture sector, leading to a worker shortage on the ground.

“We need to make sure that in the future, we create a pool of skilled people in region who are available to take those jobs,” she said.

Dawson MP George Christensen agreed both agriculture and tourism had been the hardest hit industries in Mackay Isaac Whitsunday during the pandemic.

“We need people with skills, we need people that can operate technical equipment and increasingly, it’s computers that are actually driving growth in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Across Queensland, there are billions of dollars worth of investment and many thousands of jobs across the construction, tourism, resources and transport sector that are being delayed because of red tape and a lack of urgency.

This is the first Mackay story as part of the Courier Mail and Daily Mercury’s Build Campaign – which will shine a light on these projects and what needs to be done to get them moving.

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Originally published as Build Qld: Why the future of agriculture jobs in Mackay is not ‘hot, dirty’ work