New farmland to bring opportunities for Cunderdin students

• WA College of Agriculture in Cunderdin to expand its farm

• $1.7 million funding from Royalties for Regions

• Purchase will see landholding grow by around 50 per cent 

Students will have better opportunities to study livestock and cropping with new farmland to be purchased for the WA College of Agriculture in Cunderdin.

Education Minister Peter Collier and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman today announced $1.7 million funding from the State Government's Royalties for Regions program to purchase more than 1,000 arable hectares of nearby land.

The Department of Education will contribute $500,000 for the deal.

"This will enable students to train in a real world environment, on more than 3,000 hectares - comparable to commercial-scale farm operations in the Wheatbelt," Mr Collier said.

"The expanded farm will also allow research and development trials to be conducted and professional development provided for commercial growers in the region."

Mr Redman said he was pleased to see Royalties for Regions play a vital role in helping train skilled and highly regarded young people for the agricultural sector.

"Assisting the college to keep pace with industry growth in employment, technology and practices will produce a skilled workforce, a valuable resource that allows Western Australia to take advantage of agricultural investment and export opportunities," he said.

"Agriculture is a major economic activity for the Wheatbelt and it is fitting Royalties for Regions provides this funding to create sustainable agriculture."

The college, a residential and day education and training college for 120 students in years 11 and 12, was named Secondary School of the Year at the WA Education Awards 2014.

Education Minister's office - 6552 6300

Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 6700