The Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) has appealed to the Liberal National Party opposition to commit to the expansion of their Mackay facilities.

Among others, Mackay based RCOE provides facilities for resource development with an underground mine simulated training and testing facility, emerging technology capabilities, as well as training and conference facilities.

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RCOE helped deliver more effective delivery of health and safety standards and procedures said CEO Steven Boxall.

“We’ve got models at the moment where people are coming together across resource safety and health Queensland and industry and are doing some good work,” said Mr Boxall.

“What has to happen is that work needs to be more frequent. It needs to be more detailed. The challenge around that is, is everyone adequately resourced to be able to do that. 

“As an example, we’ve got facilities at the RCOE where we can re-enact incidents, we can set up demonstrations, we can dive a lot deeper than just having a classroom discussion about things that are happening in the industry.”

Funding for the RCOE was a reflection of the importance to the state of the coal sector Mr Boxall said.

The ALP government had made a $5 million election commitment to complete the RCOE facility.

The LNP received the briefing from RCOE on the funding requirements ten days ago said Member for Burdekin and Mines and Natural Resources spokesperson Dale Last.

It was under consideration Mr Last said. 

Polling suggests the LNP will win the next election. They need 12 seats for a majority.