Last year NSW Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli announced the state government would create the group to investigate how the MCA could be reinvigorated following on from the Review into Agricultural Education and Training in NSW by Professor Jim Pratley.

Full-time residential courses at the college ceased at the end of 2003 and while it won't be re-established exactly how it was in the past, the MCA will re-open in a different capacity.

Reference group chairman Peter Herrmann said the organisation was continuing to go in the right direction.

"It's not just about the return of residential courses ... we want to get the energy flowing back through the place," Mr Herrmann said.

"We had our first meeting (as the reference group) in February. We're aiming to have things happening by next year.

"What we want is a system and facilities that work for everyone."

The college has also had part of its residential facilities re-opened for commercial purposes.

The make up of the reference group includes business leaders and stakeholders.

Various organisations interested in being part of the re-opened facility have already been given tours of the MCA.

Mr Herrmann said the aim was to have the facility used by secondary students through to scientists and those in between.

"All of the capacity and interest exists now ... the political will is there as well," he said.

"It won't be how it was in the past, but there is a real future and real potential."

While Leeton Shire Council wasn't part of the reference group, Mr Herrmann said mayor Paul Maytom and staff had been accommodating and helpful.