REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA RDA

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA (RDA) COMMUNITY
FORUMS July 2008
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Our Past

• ACCs commenced in 1994 under previous Labor
  Government
• Part of the Australian Governments Regional
  Development Network. One of 54 ACCs across the
  Nation
• Minister Albanese in a statement to Parliament on
  20 March 2008 announced that the Area
  Consultative Committees (ACCs) would form the
  basis for the creation of Regional Development
  Australia (RDA)
• RDAs to commence on 1 January 2009

Our Future
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Background

• ACCs have been requested by the new Australian
• Government to gather the views of regional
  stakeholders
• and provide advice on
• Principles and priorities for the new Regional
  and Local Community Infrastructure program,
  announced in the 2008 Budget and
• Priorities for the types of local community
  infrastructure that could encourage economic
  development in local communities
• improving the engagement of regional communities
  with the Australian Government
• NB RLCIP - 2 concurrent processes of
  consultation
• House of Reps Inquiry
• RDA consultation

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Drivers of Change new Aust. Govt initiatives

• Regional Development Australia (RDA)
• Network to provide broad strategic input to
  national programs and improve coordination and
  ensure effective engagement
• Better Regions Program
• Deliver on election commitments
• Infrastructure Australia
• Audit nationally significant infrastructure and
  advise on priorities
• Office of Northern Australia
• Major Cities Unit
• Council of Australian Local Governments

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3 Key Issues for today

• First, what are the principles for the RCLIP
• Second, what are the priorities for the RLCIP
  that could encourage economic development in
  local communities
• Third, best structure for regional engagement
  between our community and the Australian Govt?

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Issue 1 - Designing the RLCIP cont.

• How should regional be defined?
• Should the program target specific communities?
• i.e. high growth, disadvantaged
• Who should be eligible?
• n-f-p, commercial, local government, state
  government
• Ways of distributing funds
• national or state based
• notional allocations per region i.e.
  socio-economic status, FAG/R2R (e.g. as for LGs)
• competitive rounds or continuous applications
• Decision making process?

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Issue 1 - Designing the RLCIP cont.

• Should partnership funding be mandatory?
• Links to future direction of region?
• Alignment with regional plans/investment
  strategies
• How will community determine level of priority
  for project?
• What is our communities capacity to be involved
  in different stages of process?
• Strong leadership and project identification
• Ability to complete or fund project
  feasibility/business plans
• Grant writing skills
• Role of local RDA Committee?
• Overall expectations of new program

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Issue 2 RLCIP PrioritiesSome Suggestions

• Projects to enhance regional attractiveness
• Focus on both hard and soft infrastructure?
• Improve job opportunities?
• Enhance liveability of regional centres
• Think about access rather than just having
  (location/services/information/processes)
• Match facilities with people (age/family) groups
  (professions) you want to attract or retain?
• Build on existing features/strengths rather than
  dream of impossible ones

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Aust. Govt. Priority Areas

• Infrastructure road, rail air
• Health services
• Access to welfare and support services
• Communication services
• Utilities
• Water storage capacity
• Sporting and recreational facilities
• Business services

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Selecting Priorities wants vs needs
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Issue 3 Deciding on best RDA structure

• How should RDA best be structured to attract
  Community Infrastructure/other funding and
  provide advice that reflects
• Strategic and coordination role
• Whole of region priorities
• Views of other Government levels
• Key regional interests (business, community)
• Institutional interests

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Structure and Role for Regional Development
? What best suits this region at this point in
time given present structures and previous
experiences?
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RDA Structure/Membership Options?

• What should the membership look like?
• Representative of Govts?
• Reflect geographical groupings?
• Expert (knowledge/competence) on issues?
• Key interests (business/unions/community)?
• Be fixed or flexible?
• BUT must be
• Manageable in terms of size
• Responsive to timeframes
• Different and not duplicate existing structures
• Authority to act and implement

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RDA Structure/Membership Options?

• Boundaries?
• Existing?
• Bigger/Smaller?
• Governance?
• Selection of Chairs?
• Selection of Members?
• Statutory Authority or existing incorporated
  association?

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RDA Role Options?

• What should the role of the RDA Committee be?
• Identifying Regional Priorities?
• Developing projects?
• Up-skilling/Build Community Capacity i.e.
  workshops?
• Advising/recommending projects for funding?
• Have decision powers at regional level or advise
  and recommend for decisions at National level?
• Across all Australian Government Portfolios?
• Community Infrastructure only?
• Provide a one-stop-shop for access to Australian
  Government programs?

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Group Discussion/ResponsesQuestionnaire-
hand back today- post back to 190 Cheapside St.
Maryborough 4650- download/complete/email back
to info_at_wbbacc.com.au
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activities and opportunitiesSubscribe to our
fortnightly e-newsletter Regional
UpdateSend email to info_at_wbbacc.com.au or
phone [phone]
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Questions??Thank-youfor your participation