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'Roma' () is a town in the western Darling Downs area of Queensland, Australia, 515 km (318 miles) by rail W.N.W. of Brisbane. It is situated at the junction of the Warrego and Carnarvon highways. It is the centre of a rich pastoral and wheat-growing district, in which oranges and vines are grown and much wine is produced. The town was incorporated in 1867 and is named after Lady Diamantina Roma Bowen, the wife of Sir George Ferguson Bowen, the Governor of Queensland at the time. Beef, grain and wool are its chief industries. It has a population of 6763 ^[1] and is in the Maranoa electoral district. It also serves as a centre for the larger Bungil Shire Council area.
The greater Maranoa region consists of just under 25,000 people and a land area of 107,727 km². (of which the Roma Town and Bungil shire councils account for 8,450 people and 13,416 square km) ^[2]

Contents

Industry and Economy

Agriculture

Oil and Gas

Employment

Famous Roma Residents

Tourist attractions

References

External links

Industry and Economy

Agriculture

★ The Maranoa's agriculture industry is worth approximately $620 million annually, 64.3% being generated from crops. 58.7% of businesses in the Maranoa are in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, which employs 32.7% of the region's workforce ^[3].

★ 'Beef'. 2005 was a record year for Roma saleyards processing 380,000 head of cattle. Roma is home to Australia's largest cattle saleyards. ^[4]

★ 'Forestry' (Hardwood and Cypress Pine).

★
★ Roma and the Maranoa region is home to Australia's most active native Cypress Pine sawmilling ^[5].

★ 'Wool'

Oil and Gas

In 1906 natural gas was used for lighting in Roma. The industry has expanded as more reserves were discovered.

★ Origin Energy's Spring Gully Coal Seam Gas Development is located about 80km north of Roma and its projects include an 87km gas pipeline to Roma's neighbour town of Wallumbilla, Queensland to connect with the 434km Roma-to-Brisbane gas pipeline hub there [1], [2] (see portfolio map of Queensland projects).

★ The Proposed Spring Gully Power Station is an $870 Million, 1000MW power station that will provide electricity to South-East Queensland. ^[6] Being based at the Spring Gully CSG site, the power station will have the benefit of being close to the source of gas and will also be able to use the waste-water left over from the other CSG operations. ^[7]

Employment

Roma has a relatively low unemployment rate of 2.9% in 2004. ^[8]

Famous Roma Residents

★ Darren Lockyer, Australian rugby league captain

★ Arthur Beetson, Australian rugby league captain

★ Willie Carne, Australian rugby league international

★ Brent Tate, Australian rugby league international

Tourist attractions

★ The Big Rig and Oil and Gas museum

★ Carnarvon Gorge and Mount Moffatt National Park

★ Roma Villa Winery

★

References

1. 2004 ABS figure
2. http://www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=21073]
3. http://www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=21072
4. Record year for Roma saleyards
5. http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/forestrybook/16610.html
6. Proposed Spring Gully Power Station
7. http://www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=19233
8. ABS employment figure

External links

★ Maranoa Online

★ Bungil Shire Council

★ Welcome to Roma

★ Queensland Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines (map)

★ Queensland Gas Transmission and Distribution (government department of energy)