Bellingen - Feburary 3rd and 4th 2011
Section 1: Industry Visits & Community Consultation
The RDA MNC Committee held its bi-monthly meeting in Bellingen early in the month, preceded by industry tours and community consultations.
Members were fortunate to visit the innovative exporter Planet Lighting and to inspect the Bellingen Showground with volunteer members of the Showground Trust.
Section 2: Summary Board Proceedings
One of the major topics discussed during the Board meeting was regional infrastructure priorities.
RDA MNC convened a workshop involving Federal and NSW government agencies last November so the region can quickly respond to the Australian Government’s multi-billion dollar commitment to upgrade regional infrastructure. The workshop agreed that the major Mid North Coast infrastructure priorities are high speed broadband (including wireless to smaller locations) transport, water, energy, low cost/affordable housing and business enterprise.
RDA MNC will work with regional agencies and industry groups to build a case for priority funding to meet our infrastructure needs.
The Board noted that the transport strategy must be integrated and have a 50 year timeframe and that the region should recognise that water is one of our competitive advantages.
Work has already started to ensure that broadband is extended to the balance of the MNC after the 3,000 premises are installed in Coffs Harbour later this year. RDA MNC is working closely with Go Broadband, the group assisting NBN Co. to establish in Coffs Harbour.
Eastern Regional Corridor
The Mid North Coast is part of one of the fastest growing regions in Australia – the Eastern Corridor between Sydney and South East Queensland which consists of the RDA regions of Central Coast, Hunter, Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers. The combined population in 2006 was 1,450,000 (51% of NSW population excluding Sydney) and is expected to increase to 1,890,000 (55% of the NSW population excluding Sydney) over the next 25 years.
Such an increase will stretch the ability of the natural and man built infrastructure of the region to cope and considerable planning and preparation will be needed to avoid unsuitable outcomes and community disruption. This common challenge was the reason the four RDAs have joined forces as the Eastern Regional Corridor.
This is in keeping with RDA MNC’s long term strategy of connecting people, coast and valleys to our nation and the world.
National Broadband Network
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications is conducting an inquiry into the National Broadband Network and has called for submissions. RDA MNC’s Policy and research officer Bryn Evans has coordinated a submission on behalf of the MNC community and the ERC (which can be found on our website or the Committee’s site www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ic/NBN/subs.htm ).
The Committee will be chaired by the Member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott.
Strategic Leadership Conference
Those who enjoyed the Strategic Regional Leadership Conference in Port Macquarie last year will be pleased to know that RDA MNC is working on convening another event of equal regional significance during October this year.
Innovation = productivity = business growth = jobs
Work is proceeding at pace to coordinate the North Coast Innovation Festival during May. Media, Events and Business Development Officer, Tiffany Slack-Smith, is coordinating the festival which involves activities from Taree to the Tweed – all aimed at assisting businesspeople to embrace innovation as a key management tool for improving their business.
Contact us:
Suite 1 Oxley House
133-137 Gordon Street, Port Macquarie 2444
02 6583 8641 – admin@rdamidnorthcoast.org.au
www.rdamidnorthcoast.org.au
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