Celebrating the success of their company ERIC’s win at the ACT Governments Awards for Best Emerging Product in Environmental Industries, awarded under the ACT Governments Research and Development Awards last Saturday were two local identities, company board member Rob Gourlay, and specialist employee Peter Hazel.
The company had won a $96,000 grant for new technology in climate mapping, and applied it to the growing viticulture needs of the area in site selection for grapes and grape varieties.
Their results in climate mapping have been applied overseas in Turkey, South Africa and China, and a recent visit by the group to France and Lebanon have seen these countries eager to invest in the Canberra wine areas.
ERIC as a company began in 1992 with a staff of seven conducting research and development and applying satellite and remote sensing techniques to the areas of forestry, agriculture, viticulture and government landcare work.
Through the company’s links to soil mapping, ERIC was a finalist in the 1999 Australian Technology Awards.
Rob Gourlay grew up and went to school in Braidwood, and returned to live here in 1999. His parents Edith and Alf are well known identities in the area. Peter Hazel came to town as the Landcare co-ordinator in 1997, married and commutes to Canberra.
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