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Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia, Gary Gray, and New South Wales Minister for Regional Development, Phillip Costa, today announced their commitment to create a new joint Commonwealth-State regional development network to help guide economic growth across regional NSW. Mr Gray said the new organisations will have the critical task of driving jobs growth in regional areas. "Creating and expanding economic activity is central to ensuring regional NSW can weather the economic downturn affecting Australia and the world," Mr Gray said.
"We have a unique opportunity to implement a more strategic and responsive approach to regional development." Mr Costa said new cooperative arrangements for NSW will form part of the Australian and NSW Governments' commitment to genuine engagement with regional communities. "These new organisations will consist of local community champions whose most important task will be to advise both levels of government on the best way to build jobs and investment in their communities," Mr Costa said. Mr Gray said a new RDA network across Australia will build on and replace the Commonwealth Government's Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) by aligning, with State and Territory regional planning and consultative bodies. "The existing NSW Government's 13 Regional Development Boards with the Commonwealth Government's 14 ACCs will be brought together to establish a network of Regional Development Australia (RDA)," Mr Gray said. "Existing funding for the current boards (Commonwealth and NSW) will transfer to the new Regional Development Australia, with combined funding expected to about $450,000 a year from both levels of government for each committee. "They will have the resources to get the job done. They will significantly improve co-operation across all levels of government by better aligning our efforts and resources. This will ensure we are doing all we can to drive economic growth and investment in regional NSW." Mr Gray said RDA will assist both Governments by taking on a broad role to: - provide advice to government about regional issues;
- provide strategic input into national and State programs;
- provide information to regional communities and local government on national and State government initiatives;
- help to coordinate regional planning and regional development initiatives; and
- work closely with local governments and other regional organisations.
"The Australian Government values the contribution that local government makes to regional development and is committed to improving engagement through ensuring there is an appropriate level of local government representation under the new RDA arrangements. Mr Costa said the new NSW Regional Development Australia organisations will come into effect from 1 January 2009. "This agreement is about the three levels of government working in partnership to benefit local communities and find local solutions. "We recognise that local communities want their elected leaders to work together to deliver results," Mr Costa said.Both Mr Gray and Mr Costa stressed that there would be full consultation with ACCs and RDBs concerning implementation of the new arrangements. "This is an historic occasion which will benefit the people of NSW with future regional development initiatives," Mr Costa added. Given that there are current initiatives underway in both organisations, there will naturally be a proper transition process. The new organisations will be fully operational by 1 July 2009.
Media Contacts
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Alicia Miriklis (
Mr Gray's Office ) |
0428 911 240
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Peter McCabe (
Mr Costa's Office ) |
0439 707 101
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