Future Proofing Communities: The Impact of the BMA and RCOE Partnership
Building capability today. Creating opportunities for tomorrow.
The partnership between BMA and the Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) is about more than supporting individual projects. It is about building long-term capability within the Mackay and Isaac regions and creating the connections, infrastructure and opportunities needed for regional communities to prosper into the future.
BMA has supported RCOE as a foundation partner, helping establish a platform where industry, education, research, government and community can come together to collaborate, test ideas, develop skills and progress opportunities that benefit the broader region.
What began with a shared vision to strengthen regional capability has grown into a partnership supporting future skills, innovation, critical minerals, circular economy opportunities, research, industry development and economic diversification.
From an idea to regional infrastructure
BMA’s support has helped RCOE grow from an emerging regional initiative into an established platform for collaboration and innovation.
The partnership has supported the development and progression of RCOE’s expanding regional model, including the Future Industries Hub and Flexi Lab in Mackay and the Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct (IREP) in Moranbah.
The Future Industries Hub has created new capability for pilot-scale mineral processing, research, equipment trials, education and industry collaboration. The Flexi Lab provides a common-user environment where researchers and industry can explore opportunities in critical minerals, advanced processing, tailings reprocessing and circular economy solutions.
In Moranbah, IREP is progressing from planning into construction, creating another important regional platform for research, workforce development, innovation and new economic opportunities.
Together, these initiatives are connecting Mackay and Isaac and creating infrastructure designed to serve the region well beyond the life of an individual funding program.
Partnership impact at a glance
Across the partnership, RCOE has grown its reach and established connections across industry, education, research, government and community.
These outcomes demonstrate an important multiplier effect: BMA’s investment has helped RCOE attract further government, industry, university and research investment and establish partnerships that continue to create value for the region.
Investing in people as well as infrastructure
While major facilities are a visible outcome of the partnership, its impact extends well beyond infrastructure.
RCOE has used the platform created through the partnership to connect students with industry, researchers with commercial opportunities, businesses with new networks and technology, and government with regional priorities.
Activities have included school and STEM engagement, workforce development initiatives, industry events and technical forums, research collaborations, stakeholder tours and opportunities for local businesses to participate in emerging projects.
These connections are helping strengthen the pipeline between education and employment while increasing awareness of the diverse careers and industries that will contribute to the region’s future.
A catalyst for collaboration
One of the most important outcomes of BMA’s support has been RCOE’s ability to operate as an independent facilitator.
Complex regional opportunities rarely sit with one organisation. They require industry, researchers, education providers, government and communities to work together.
Through the partnership, RCOE has been able to bring these groups together around opportunities including critical minerals, advanced mineral and coal processing, mine waste and tailings, circular economy initiatives, mine rehabilitation, emerging technologies and future workforce capability.
The current partnership continues to build these connections, with collaboration involving universities, research organisations, councils, government agencies, technology companies and industry partners. 260705 - Social Investment - Pr…
Building a better future together
The next chapter of the BMA and RCOE partnership is focused on turning the foundations already established into even greater regional impact.
Through Investing in Communities – Building a Better Future Together, RCOE and BMA are continuing to focus on cross-sector collaboration, skills development, innovation, critical minerals and advanced processing, IREP activation, inclusion and stronger community awareness of the opportunities being created across the region. KPI Table - Investing in Commun…
The ambition is long term: stronger regional capability, a workforce prepared for changing industries, greater opportunities for local businesses and communities, and infrastructure that helps attract ideas, investment and innovation to the Mackay and Isaac regions.
BMA’s investment has helped establish the foundations. The opportunity now is to continue building on them — creating a legacy that supports the region and its communities for generations to come.
BMA + Resources Centre of Excellence
Future Proofing Communities. Building a Better Future Together.
