Edion 5 | September 2015

Local people developing local soluons to local issues across WA and the NT

The RDA Network News is a collaborave iniave between nine of the Regional Development Australia Commiee’s in Western Australia and Regional Development Australia Northern Territory. For further informaon on any of the arcles published in this newsleer, please note the contact details for the respecve Execuve Officer on Page 24 (back page).

Introducon 03 Economic Development 04 Partnerships and Planning 08 Business and Industry 12 Infrastructure 13 Tourism 14 Arts and Culture 16 Early Childhood Educaon and Care 19 Digital 20 Regional Snapshops 22 Developing Northern Australia Conference 23 Contact details 24

Front cover: RDA Kimberley Purnululu Naonal Park Back cover: Geoscience Australia Map

Disclaimer: This RDA Network News was prepared by each of the WA/NT Regional Development Australia Commiee’s and does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government, its officers, employees or agents. Any representaon, statement or opinion expressed or implied is made in good faith and on the basis that the commiee, Government, its employees and agents are not liable for any damage or loss whatsoever which may occur as a result of acon taken or not taken, as the case may be, in respect of any representaon, statement, opinion or advice referred to herein. Professional advice should be obtained before applying the informaon contained in this document to parcular circumstances.

02 As highlighted by our friends and colleagues from RDA Mid‐West Gascoyne in the Network News of April this year it is important that we share our experiences across the State.

With this in mind, and given that I have been given the mandate by WA to be the representave on Minister Truss’s RDA Reference group, it is appropriate to give a short summary of what occurred when the group met for the first me in the Ministers Office following the recent conference and get ‐together in Canberra aended by RDA representaves from across Australia.

Whilst I don’t suppose to tell you what you gleaned from the presentaons , one thing that came out of the day was the uncertainty about the future of RDAs and the role they have to play into the future ‐ parcularly in the assessment and priorisaon of funding applicaons.

In the aer conference meeng with the Minister, which was aended by not only the Minister but also several senior staffers, there was strong comment from the parcipants and I took out of it some points as listed below: .The Minister strongly supports RDAs in the format they are in‐ on the premise that they are the vehicle in which to convey the Governments posion on Economic Development. .He could not give any guarantees beyond next year’s funding, indicang “that as strong as his support was that any program was subject to both Cabinet and Treasury support.” .He did make the comment that “RDAs should make themselves as indispensable as possible to the Government to strengthen their posion.” .With regard to an approach he would not confirm that he would make it mandatory that all NSRF applicaons come through the relevant RDA office but, he did make the comment that leers of support could be couched in various ways which may indicate a level of priorisaon and understanding of projects. .He made comment on the RDA Northern Alliance and suggested that the group had significant input into the Northern Australia White Paper and that RDAs in regional areas should work together where possible. .When pressed as to the exact role of the Reference group he indicated that it was to be an advisory group having an input into the Governments Regional Economic policies and into the future of RDAs, their structures and the differences in the various models that exist in different states and territories. .The next meeng is to be in April but there is strong lobbying going on by members to meet sooner than that given the budget cycles.

Execuve Officer, Chris Mitchell is in Africa on a research project! Upon his return, I propose asking him to liaise with his fellow EOs to provide a snapshot of each RDA in WA, with a brief comment of staffing levels, budgets and other work and projects carried out. This will be useful in discussions with the Department and the Minister.

In the Kimberley we are working closely with the Kimberley Development Commission and the Local Governments and not surprisingly the strategic plans of the RDA, the Local Governments and the Blueprint from the Commission are very similar and closely aligned.

Graeme Campbell Chair RDA Kimberley

03 Bridges into China The move is an iniave of ScreenWest and is RDA SOUTH WEST also supported by ScreenSW which is a Creave Corner member with a goal of The South West’s promise of growing stronger facilitang film‐making in the region. Oh and trade and cultural links with our leading did we tell you that Avatar lead, Sam trading partner have never looked so good. Worthington made the surf movie, Dri, in RDASW serves as an execuve member of the Margaret River a couple of years ago … and Bunbury‐Jiaxing Business Office which is now Graham Silvey’s award‐winning book, undergoing a revitalisaon process with new Jasper Jones will be made into a film to be shot look, polished branding, website in two in the region. languages and improved industry links. In the meanme, RDASW has organised The Bunbury‐Jiaxing office has also been translators for the Australia‐China Film‐Makers buoyed by ChAFTA – the China‐Australia Free event, among them teachers who have been Trade Agreement and has touched based with baling to insl a modicum of Mandarin into a the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade few RDA heads. It is planned to aend the WA Director who spoke at the South West China trade mission in November and make Focus Conference, an event that promoted the contact with the equivalent Chinese regional SW Blueprint. Further links with DFAT and an developers. agreement to make the business office’s Execuve Officer available to Small Business Zài jiàn. Centre clients as well as CCI members will enable the office to reach its potenal. The China connecons with RDA

acvies are all around us. All we have On a related theme, RDASW has supported a to do is join all the dots. new Australia‐China Film‐Makers event at CinéfestOz 2015 which is offering the richest film prize in Australia. That event, in Busselton Charles Jenkinson and other South West locaons, will feature Execuve Officer, RDA South West familiarisaons, contacts and discussions with Chinese industry leaders to promote Australian China Business Council investment in the region and possibly the (ACBC) Pilbara Commiee introducon of Chinese films to a programme RDA PILBARA that is tradionally Australian and French only. RDA Pilbara has taken a lead role in

reinvigorang the ACBC Pilbara Commiee. ACBC WA and the Pilbara Commiee will work People collaboravely to recognise the importance of and

relaonship building between China and the Pilbara region to leverage commercial relaonships in order to further social and Business economic development and investment in the ng Pilbara.

Connec It is intended that this Commiee will inform and promote the North West Investment Jiaxing: ‐ Porolio. Western Australia’s relaonship with China has been thriving on a trade and

Bunbury investment relaonship built upon the export of minerals, energy, agricultural goods and educaon services and Chinese investment in the Western Australian resources sector. RDA Pilbara is taking a lead role in facilitang a RDA South West RDA

: visit from the Chinese Consulate General who le will be vising the Pilbara region in early

om September 2015. Bo

04 announcement that the WA Government would fund airside infrastructure which is essenally a 2540m runway capable of accommodang Airbus A320s. The next step is to lever this money to secure Commonwealth funding for the extras and landside infrastructure.

From the outside it all seems simple enough: develop a business case from a good idea, secure the investment and build it. The reality is that the story behind major capital investment is many years in the making. There is a mountain of work to be done from noise studies, land studies, geological, water and power, to fully networked planning,

community, specialist consultancies, forecasts Top

and then other studies to validate claims. The le

resources and commitment required for major and

projects are considerable. centre:

So what did RDASW do? While being engaged RDA South West at various levels throughout, there were two crical touch points. The first and most important was arguing a case so that the

Busselton

Regional

Airport

is

set

for

a

boost

to

A330

The South West takes off airport expansion was designated just one of capacity RDA SOUTH WEST two “flagship” projects in the Western

Australian Planning Commission’s SW and RDA offices integrate themselves at many

Infrastructure Framework. The second was daily levels and so it is that RDA South West has pushing for and funding a re‐cosng of the been involved in a variety of projects from a fl airside infrastructure which came in under ights $70m piece of regional flagship infrastructure budget and enabled some later staged work to

from to looking at non‐potable urban water needs. be done much earlier to deliver overall savings.

the

Whatever the level, it must also be The next landmark infrastructure will be Melbourne acknowledged that even game‐changing another huge jobs generator in the form of projects are hard to get off the ground. The waterfront developments in Bunbury. In the

“big stuff” takes a lot of me. meanme a more modest investment has and

been contribung partner funding to establish Sydney. Engagement in the Busselton Regional Airport a South West Science Council and if there’s no project recently culminated in an science then there’s no maer.

05 North West Investment Porolio RDA PILBARA

RDA Pilbara is leading the development of the North West Investment Porolio. This project has come about through the intenon to review the 2012 Pilbara Plan and Investment Prospectus. The opportunity to incorporate the Kimberley and the Mid‐West Gascoyne has extended the scope of the document. RDA Kimberley, Pilbara Development Commission, RDA Mid‐West Gascoyne, Mid‐West Development Commission, Pilbara Regional Council and Australia China Business Council Western Australia will all partner in this North West project.

The project has two objecves:

1. To undertake a review and update of the Infrastructure studies and draw upon regional development plans in order to idenfy major future infrastructural and ulity projects that are essenal to the development of the three regions.

2. To undertake an in‐depth idenficaon, scoping and profiling of key private sector‐led project opportunies across major producve The aim of the study is to: sectors that have the potenal to aract new .Gain an understanding of how insurance investment and economic diversificaon into organisaons and banks offer and price the three regions. their products. .Assess the likely impact of any differenal The overall aim is to produce a unique pricing on businesses and communies in document that can be used to inform and the Pilbara. aract investment from key stakeholders in .Compare banking and insurance services in the public and private sectors from across the Pilbara with other selected regional Australia and potenally overseas. These towns in Australia and with Perth.

would include instuonal investors such as Superannuaon Funds, venture capital and The final document will be available on the private equity investors. Such investments RDA Pilbara website soon. For more Brennan) would aim to be both strategic in importance informaon please contact the RDA Pilbara and enhance economic diversificaon. office on 9144 0651.

Elizabeth

Comparave Analysis on Insurance (Photo:

and Banking Condions in the Pilbara RDA PILBARA River

RDA Pilbara has completed an independent study that was undertaken to analyse trends in Ashburton banking and insurance services in the Pilbara with comparisons to be made with other regional centres in Australia, including the RDA Pilbara RDA impact of negave developments on both households and businesses. right:

Top

06 Terary level training for community‐ and relaonships with the natural based indigenous knowledge environment in the management of natural RDA KIMBERLEY resources. It incorporates and integrates cultural studies, heritage studies, The official launch of Cultural and Natural environmental science, planning, geography Resource Management Report was held on and ecology. It is closely aligned with the 24th August 2015, Broome. academic disciplines of geography, human ecology, sustainable development and The Nulungu Research Instute (Nulungu) was environmental science. It has grown as a field established in August 2008 and operates which incorporates Indigenous Knowledge of across three campuses of the University of country specifically where Indigenous peoples, Notre Dame Australia in Broome, Fremantle knowledge and values are integrated with and and Sydney. Nulungu encourages the pursuit enhance Western scienfic knowledge. Bo

of excellence in research, primarily through the valuing of community‐based Indigenous The project commenced in 2014 with om: knowledge focusing on three core research extensive stakeholder engagement through Kimberley themes; Country (land, saltwater, freshwater, Indigenous groups, Kimberley Training and desert), Health and Wellbeing and Instute, James Cook University in Queensland O

Educaon. and Charles Darwin University in Northern ffi Territory. The final Cultural and Natural cial

Working alongside Nulungu Research Instute, Resource Management (CNRM) report was launch RDA Kimberley played an integral part in the completed late June 2015.

of

development of the Cultural and Natural the

Resource Management (CNRM) report, The CNRM qualificaon will offer opportunies CNRM providing $25k in funding and ongoing advice for Indigenous and non‐indigenous people to and direcon to the project managers. access terary level industry relevant training Report in the north of Australia. There is potenal to

The CNRM is a cross‐sectoral discipline which roll out the qualificaon Australia wide. by integrates human cultural knowledge, values Melissa

Price

on

behalf

of

the

Deputy

Prime

Minister,

Warren

Truss

07 Rural diversificaon planning for the 2 million, an addional 630ha dedicated to horcultural producon within close proximity to peri‐urban region of Perth the CBD with the necessary buffer zones, transport RDA PERTH links and hydrology would need to be secured for future food security. The bulk of Perth’s local food Perth has experienced unprecedented populaon comes now primarily from the South West, growth since 2001 which has created challenges for Gascoyne and Kimberley regions which are between state and local governments in the areas of housing, 100 and 2,000kms away. planning, service delivery and infrastructure. Large areas which have been Perth’s tradional food Stage 1 of the Rural Diversificaon Planning Project locaons have disappeared under housing for the Perth region focused on intensive developments in places such as Wanneroo, consultaon across the outer metropolitan regions Spearwood, parts of the Swan Valley and Armadale. that sll parcipated in agricultural protecon. Key Areas are sll under constant threat of to the discussions were: redevelopment for industry and housing. This had .Idenficaon of exisng industry food clusters. led to rampant speculaon of exisng property .Desirable strategic outcomes at both the local owners being able to cash in on their acreage with and state levels. subdivision applicaons. .Common issues and threats across peri‐urban agriculture. Even with a number of peri‐urban agricultural .Supply chains within the food sector covering businesses reducing their parcipaon in the large internal metropolitan relaonships and external commodity markets, there is a desire at the local state level relaonships. government level to retain areas of agricultural .Present a rare, regional, collecve perspecve. interest for direct markeng and tourism acvies .Raise awareness.

.Provide insight to common issues affecng areas Perth is part of a Strategic Environmental under threat. Assessment that is currently evaluang the impact of .Provide recommendaons on ways forward; future development proposed under a number of . state land use planning documents in regards to Convince people about the importance of the maers of naonal environmental significance listed subject. under the Commonwealth Environment Protecon .Link with other emerging, related iniaves. and Biodiversity Conservaon Act 1999. Early indicators are showing that tracts of rural land once Key recommendaons from the report are: banked for future urban development through 1. The Western Australian Planning Commission subdivision may not be the best use for those sites. needs to establish agri‐precincts in the land‐use This has now been highlighted as part of the planning system and policies to provide certainty Department of Planning’s recent Perth and Peel and support for them. These should be located @3.5 Million. throughout peri‐urban Perth. 2. There must be innovaon in provision of Food security is a major issue for Western Australia infrastructure to address the economic due, amongst other things, to the following: development issues and opportunies facing peri .The State’s exports are primarily cereals, pulses/ ‐urban Perth. oilseeds, and meat and animal products. 3. Agriculture needs to beer embrace changes to Western Australia currently imports in land use that enhance and grow opportunies approximately 70% of its fresh fruit and for high value low volume commodity producon. vegetables and processed fruit and vegetables. A larger proporon of imported fresh fruit and Stage 2 vegetables is in the hands of two major suppliers RDA Perth entered into a third party agreement with and the supply chain is an extended one. Curn University’s Instute of Agri‐food Security to develop scenario planning for the Perth .It is calculated that up to 10% of the State’s Metropolitan peri‐urban regions ulising innovave populaon currently experiences food insecurity, modelling soware. To facilitate this process, the parcularly to the north of the State and City of Swan was selected as the case study. Stage 2 increasingly in the Perth metropolitan region. is nearly competed with the City of Swan being .Producon is largely based on the low input and modelled with a 500 metre x 500 metre GPS metrics land intensive model, and it will be increasingly arculang at a very detailed level the resource base difficult to sustain the levels of producon using in terms of water, land use, industry, populaon, this model. biodiversity and other data sets through access to

Landgate’s WA Land Informaon System (WALIS). In order to create Perth as a sustainable city it is This is developing a sophiscated mapping tool for essenal that a substanal amount of agricultural the peri‐urban areas to support local government in producon is retained within the region to ensure development planning and decision‐making on future food security. The Department of Agriculture development, including food producon and and Food has esmated that with Perth approaching research.

08 Re‐centring for indigenous The Partners again combined in November development 2014 and were successful in a Grant under the RDA GREAT SOUTHERN Indigenous Advancement Strategy Children and Schooling Program in receiving funding to Over the past two years RDA Great Southern deliver a school engagement program in has worked closely in partnerships with the Katanning. The Program is called All Ways 5 Katanning Aboriginal Corporaon’s Directors Days. It has been co‐designed and developed and the Shire of Katanning, alongside the along with two Katanning Primary schools, and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and it will focus on the K‐5 year groups. Regional Development Australia Great Southern to re‐establish the Katanning RDA and its partners are now parcipang in an

Aboriginal Corporaon. IAS round table in Katanning, as an incubator Top: study under Prime Minister and Cabinet which

RDA Great Southern RDA Great Some of those works are now coming to is pilong working in partnership across all fruion. The Corporaon was successful in funded organisaons in the town. This is the gaining $14,000 in funding to renovate the only study of its kind in Western Australia; the front office area of the Katanning Noongar pracce and success of the study is being Centre from the Great Southern Development monitored closely by Prime Minister and

Commission Community Chest fund through Cabinet and reported ‘up the line’ to Canberra. Corpora Royales for Regions. RDA Great Southern is pleased to be a part of this group, as well as delighted by the posive responsive to its partnership approach to on

It has taken us years of work and a community development sector support. Chair, lot of effort to get back in a posion to

Kathleen deliver services and support our This work occurring over the past twelve community. We’ve negoated along the months evolved through findings under the

way and look forward to fixing the main Great Southern Children’s Services Plan, where Farmer, hall in the Centre. We’ve proven how it was discovered that the capacity of our

capable we are, and we have some strong region’s Aboriginal Corporaons was a major at

partners who share our vision. We want to service gap in the region. Meengs of the the

invite our community to come and join in partners and meengs hosted by Prime Katanning the work and embrace and celebrate this Minister and Cabinet are now being held in the really posive change. We want the Centre renovated offices at The Noongar Centre.

to belong to all our families and youth, and Everyone in aendance scrambled toward the Noongar for them to feel a part of something. temporary heaters, nong the need for

improved heang and cooling! There is sll Centre Kathleen Farmer work to be done, but the journey so far has

Chair, Katanning Noongar Centre been rewarding.

09 Launch of Arts and Culture Framework accordingly. One of the key recommendaons RDA GOLDFIELDS ESPERANCE of the Report was the development of a strategic framework to inform and guide a Following the successful naonal Regional Arts coordinated approach to the delivery of NGO Australia Summit held in Kalgoorlie in October services and facilies across the Pilbara as a 2014, RDA Goldfields Esperance partnered with crical requirement for planning for the Country Arts WA to develop a framework for increased demand in services and to support a arts and culture for the Goldfields Esperance sustainable future for the sector in the region. region. RDA Pilbara has been successful in gaining RDA Goldfields Esperance and Country Arts WA funding through LoeryWest and with the facilitated a collecve visioning process with funding from the Pilbara Development communies and stakeholders across the Commission the project will be completed by region to produce a long‐term vision for the arts the end of March 2016. and culture sector. Informaon for the framework was gathered through: an online Regional Telecommunicaons Review survey, one on one interviews with key RDA GOLDFIELDS ESPERANCE stakeholders, small group meengs, and two one‐day forums held in Kalgoorlie and A Regional Telecommunicaons Independent Esperance. Aer this extensive community Review Commiee (RTIRC) is established every consultaon process had taken place across the 3 years by the Australian Government to region the Goldfields‐Esperance Arts & Culture conduct reviews into telecommunicaons Framework 2015‐2020 was produced. The services in regional and remote parts of framework is a planning document for arts and Australia. culture organisaons and local government and is a valuable resource for regional organisaons In 2015, the Independent Review Commiee seeking arts project funding. will consider the adequacy of telecommunicaons services in regional, rural RDA Goldfields Esperance was very pleased to and remote parts of Australia and whether launch the framework in Kalgoorlie‐Boulder on people in these areas have equitable access to Wednesday 5 August and in Esperance on telecommunicaons services that are currently Thursday 6 August. Having a regional Arts and available in one or more parts of urban Culture Framework marks the first step in the Australia. The Commiee will also consider the process of developing the producvity and impact of infrastructure and service sustainability of the arts and culture sector in improvements, including what will be delivered the Goldfields Esperance region. by the rollout of the Naonal Broadband A copy of the Framework can be found at: Network (NBN) and the Mobile Black Spot hp://www.rdage.com.au/publicaons‐‐‐ Program. RDA Goldfields Esperance’s newsleer/publicaons/ submission to the Regional Telecommunicaons Review found that: 10 Year Community Plan for NGO .People in the region feel disadvantaged Sector because of a lack of access to a quality RDA PILBARA connecon to the internet. .People specifically noted issues to do with RDA Pilbara and the Pilbara Development service, reliability, connecon, price and Commission are working in partnership to data limits. support the Non‐Government Organisaons .The more remote the community, the more (NGO) sector deliver high level, equitable social pronounced the level of disadvantage was and human services to meet the demand of a felt. rapidly growing populaon in the Pilbara. In .Levels of disadvantage were expressed by 2012 RDA Pilbara and the Pilbara Development businesses, farmers, miners, individuals, as Commission engaged a consultant to develop well as whole communies. the Non‐Government Organisaons (NGO) Map and Gap Analysis Report to provide an accurate To view the RDA Goldfields Esperance and evidenced based assessment of the submission to the 2015 Regional posion of the NGO sector across the Pilbara Telecommunicaons Review, go to: and idenfy how it could be supported hp://www.rrc.gov.au/submissions/

10 West Top

South West Focus right:

RDA SOUTH WEST We need to learn and accept that Development

modest ROI is good, sustainable RDA South West A partnership between the South West business. Development Commission, RDA South West

Commission’s and South West Chambers of Commerce and Michael Pascoe Industry produced the South West Focus

Finance and Economics Commentator Blueprint Conference.

Overall, the take away messages were Stuart

The event was aended by about 250 architects consistent: we will experience unprecedented delegates who saw WA Regional Development Hicks change and nothing will ever be the same Minister Terry Redman officially launch the SW

with

whether you are a baby boomer or a baby. Blueprint. The document, a joint effort and They key to staying ahead is to be flexible and

his between SWDC and RDA‐SW, was at the Q&A

responsive. CEO,

centre of the whole two‐day conference which panellists

featured more than 50 speakers and panellists. Don The Minister shared the stage with keynote

Punch speaker and economist Michael Pascoe who (from

said that financial good mes had le a and

le

generaon of business managers with no real

Execu ) concept of genuine economic pain and with RDA

unrealisc expectaons of double digit returns South ve on investment. He said that we need to O ffi

West’s readjust our thinking to truly global markets cer and accept that there is nothing wrong with Charles modest returns. Duncan

Jenkinson.

Delegates also heard from Telstra’s chief Anderson, The second day of the conference saw RDA‐SW technology officer, Hugh Bradlow, a leading host a special regional development and grants future tech speaker Gihan Perera, workshop with Economic Development

Infrastructure Australia’s Nicole Lockwood and the Australia chairman, Jay Hardison, grants

TripAdvisor markeng execuve Jessica South experts and government assessors while other Quinlan. sessions focused on tourism and agribusiness.

11 popular House Rules renovaon show, give a Under new management WIBB shines like a diamond frank and amusing account of her journey RDA MID WEST GASCOYNE through the experience. organiser)

The Women Inspiring Beer Business (WIBB) Karina shared how, movated by financial debt WIBB

Breakfast was held on 27th August and and a huge mortgage, she was prepared to get and out of her comfort zone and suffer the WIBB is alive and well and the next breakfast heartache of leaving her children for six will be held on Thursday, August 27 at the months to take part in the reality TV show. Coordinator Broadwater Hotel and Resorts, (formerly L’Atude 28) on Chapman Road. “I was prepared to do it if it meant geng my home renovated ‐ and the mortgage paid off to

Midwest This is the second Women Inspiring Beer

Business (WIBB) Breakfast under the new boot!” she said. (RDA umbrella of Regional Development Australia Mid West and Gascoyne (RDAMWG), and local She told the audience, who already guessed as business women can hear Gaby Brax talk about much, that the way the contestants were Thompson innovaon. portrayed was not necessarily as they were in real life ‐ and we all know how Geraldton was presented to the naon ‐ as the wild west! Barbara Ms Brax is a lawyer and former business

and

partner in the local success story of ‘Hit Nits for 6’, natural head lice treatment products. Melissa Price paid tribute to the event RDAMWG has taken up the baton to keep the organiser, Ms Thompson and congratulated Durack) her as a champion.

for popular networking group going aer the

Small Business Centre Mid West closed this year. RDAMWG Regional Development There is a lot of innovaon in Member Coordinator and avid networker, Barbara Geraldton; I talk about it all the me in Thompson, has taken on the management of Parliament. (Federal the event unl its future is self‐determined. MP

WIBB was the brainchild of Liz Kelly in 2010 when she worked at the Small Business Centre Melissa Price Price Mid West, and the breakfast has grown from a Federal Member for Durack small group to a must‐aend event, oen Melissa selling out. A new iniave for WIBB is sponsorship, and Ms Price announced the group’s first ever sponsor, top er, Diamond $5000 from Lara speaker The first WIBB breakfast got off to a fantasc start on 30th July, when more than 70 Sadowski of Geraldton Property Group. guest Geraldton business women, and special guest Ms Thompson said WIBB was grateful to Ms Federal Member for Durack, Melissa Price, Sadowski for her generous sponsorship. gathered at the Spalding Park Golf Club to hear “This is a testament to Lara’s commitment and belief in us as an organisaon,” she said. “She contestant), guest speaker and TV star, Karina Day from the is an amazing woman who has had an amazing Rules journey of her own.”

(House Ms Sadowski said she was pleased to be the Day

first Diamond sponsor.

Karina “I’m passionate about WIBB, and I like to be the first and I like to be the best!” she said. WIBB certainly thinks she’s the best! Visit the WIBB Facebook page to keep up to date with news: www.facebook.com/ WomenInspiringBeerBusiness

RDA Mid West Gascoyne West Gascoyne Mid RDA

: le

om Bo

12 Centre

le

Land Council building the future sustainable building materials. It is the first :

RDA KIMBERLEY building outside of Perth to achieve best pracce RDA Kimberley environmental standards aer being awarded the On August 4th the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) 4 Star Green Star rang by the Green Building celebrated the official opening of its new office Council of Australia. complex in Broome, cemenng the strong and The The new infrastructure aims to assist Indigenous permanent future of Kimberley Aboriginal people. o

peoples by way of; ffi

cial .Develop training and skill enhancement

RDA Kimberley proudly provided $4.9 million in opening funds for the new building through the Regional programs. Australia Development Fund. Addional funding .Improve educaon opportunies. was sourced from the Department of Regional .Improve literacy and numeracy. of

Development (WA) – Royales for Regions, .Improve health and housing. the

Indigenous Land Corporaon, Loerywest, .Improve regional planning and development of Kimberley Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet ‐ infrastructure. $0.58m and Kimberley Land Council member .Development of economic and employment funds. opportunies. Land .Beer and more coordinated service posion.

Council The $15 million state of the art building brings all .Development of Indigenous leadership. Top:

.

Development of Indigenous opportunity. RDA Kimberley

of the organisaon’s Broome operaons under (KLC) the one roof and includes office and storage

The Kimberley Land Council was formed in 1978 space for up to 120 staff. Other features include building adaptable conference facilies, meeng rooms by Kimberley Aboriginal people as a polical land and a specially designed archive and storage rights organisaon. Today, they have grown to

Tradi become the peak Indigenous body in the by space to protect the KLC’s historical documents Melissa

Kimberley region working with Aboriginal people Bo and library resources. onal

to secure nave tle recognion, conduct

om

dancers conservaon and land management acvies and Price

It also boasts strong environmental design le

develop cultural business enterprises.

MP elements including solar power arrays, small :

RDA Kimberley RDA Kimberley

at lighng zones to limit energy consumpon and represen

The Kimberley Land Council was set‐up for the the

benefit of all Kimberley Aboriginal people and o ffi cial works with about 25 nave tle groups to get ng

opening

nave tle recognion, conduct conservaon and The the

land management acvies, create cultural

new business enterprises and improve socioeconomic Deputy

of

Kimberley

circumstances. the

Prime

new The KLC are one of the biggest employers in the

Minister

KLC Kimberley, employing about 130 staff across the Land

Building,

divisions of nave tle, legal, land and sea Council

management, corporate services and finance. The Warren KLC have offices in Broome, Kununurra and Derby

building Broome

as well as smaller satellite staons in remote Truss communies that act as a base for the Kimberley

Ranger Network teams.

13 New signs of and for spectacular were pleased Senator Smith was available to do pathways to the outback the honours of presenng it.”

RDA MID WEST GASCOYNE The Cue Tourism Sundowner aracted tour

operators and local Shire representaves to hear At a business breakfast in the historic town of from Ms Jones ‐ who owns Wooleen Staon and Cue earlier in the year, RDA Mid West and is a Staon Stays operator ‐ about what was Gascoyne Regional Development Officer, Barbara happening in their region. Ms Jones, working in Thompson, advised Shire of Cue business collaboraon with Golden Outback’s CEO, Jac operators to consider leveraging off other events Eerbeck and the Mid West Development to raise their profile and boost business. They Commission’s Brendin Flanigan, idenfied the took her advice and a very successful Cue need to upgrade – and in some cases replace – Tourism Sundowner was held on the eve of Cue signage promong the Gascoyne Murchison Parliament in May. It was also a good opportunity Outback Pathways. for businesses from Mt Magnet and Yalgoo to

network with local government representaves The popular Miners Pathway, Wool Wagon in town for Cue Parliament. Pathway and Kingsford Smith Mail Run that make

up the Gascoyne Murchison Outback Pathways, The highlight of the tourism sundowner – hosted offer unique self‐drive trails in some of WA’s by RDAMWG in conjuncon with Cue Community most spectacular landscape, steeped in history Resource Centre and local businesses – was the about its rugged past. However, much of the presentaon of a large cheque to the Chair of signage has deteriorated over me because of Gascoyne Murchison Tourism Inc., Frances Jones. bushfires or severe weather condions.

WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith proudly Ms Thompson said good signage is essenal. presented $20,000 on behalf of RDAMWG for “When tourists are travelling in regional areas signage upgrades and renewal on the Gascoyne away from services or contact, it is crical to Murchison Outback Pathways, a popular tourist have good, clear signage in place,” she said. trail. Preliminary findings in the RDAMWG

Recreaonal Vehicle Survey, to be released later “The new upgraded signage will ensure these this year, idenfied the need for the signage unique pathways are travelled and enjoyed and upgrade. not bypassed any longer.

“RDAMWG recognised the signage upgrade as a “RDA is proud and pleased to be able to support major priority in the region and provided the this project,” said Mr Bradley. $20,000 funding towards the project,” said

RDAMWG Execuve Officer, Alan Bradley. “We

14 Sheedy paints Geraldton red & black RDAMWG Regional Development Coordinator, RDA MID WEST GASCOYNE Barbara Thompson, said Network Anonymous Group is a unique promoonal and markeng Network Anonymous Group (NAG), an model, supported by sponsors to bring a iniave of Regional Development Australia celebrity or high profile person to Geraldton Mid West Gascoyne (RDAMWG), kicked some with the expectaon they will in return, spruik big goals with its first event, bringing famous the City’s aracons. Essendon stalwart Kevin Sheedy, and his wife Geraldine, to Geraldton for a week to “The expectaon is that they will have a great showcase what the region has to offer. me, return home and tell everyone how great Geraldton is,” she said. They visited last month and Sheedy was impressed. He liked the things that have Tickets for the movaonal breakfast sold out caused controversy in the fair city, like the and more than 170 people aended to hear ‘Rubiks Cube’ toilets: “they are a smart idea”. how Sheedy had challenged the norm in And the Eighth St Sporng Complex: “it’s very football, thinking outside the goal square to good, I’ve not seen something like this raise money and advance young footballers. anywhere else.” Centre:

RDA Mid Gascoyne West Bishop

Jus n

Bianchini

and

AFL

legend,

Kevin

Sheedy, Sheedy met Mid West Ports CEO, Peter Klein, At the breakfast he gave his ideas on how and was fascinated by and raved about his tour Geraldton could promote itself beer, one of pictured of the port. He toured the Geraldton the suggesons was to invest in more tourism Fishermen’s Cooperave and flew over the development around shipwrecks. Sheedy said

in

Abrolhos Islands; tried to give the inside of St Geraldton’s strength is in its people. “The St

Francis Xavier Cathedral a new paint job in people are so friendly,” he said. Francis Essendon colours (much to the horror of

Bishop Jusn Bianchini); and played handball He said he would look at seng up packages Xavier with the Bishop at the top of the cathedral. for Essendon fans to visit Geraldton:

“Geraldton has a great opportunity to aract Cathedral, He also visited HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Eastern States visitors.” visited a pearl gallery and took a trip to

Kalbarri and appeared at six funcons, NAG is looking for its next high profile Geraldton including a breakfast, to movate and inspire personality to give Geraldton another free kick.

the locals. Sheedy also aended a local footy training session.

15 Making music to address industry pleased to discover the Region has a family challenges friendly atude towards music events and RDA PEEL that the prominent local booking agent, Bleeding Ear Music, is a strong promoter of Research for the Peel Regional Arts and local amateur musicians, helping many young Culture Strategy begun in 2014 with a desktop arsts break into the local scene. Dave analysis of exisng strategies which saw the Feenstra, owner of Bleeding Ear Music, realisaon that the music industry was commented that more could be done to consistently absent. In response to this RDA aract young people into the music industry Peel gathered a number of local musicians and support them through their schooling over a couple of beers to discuss the state of years in an effort to maintain young talent in the music industry in the Peel Region. the region.

Discussion focused on posive aspects, areas Interesngly, discussions around the needs requiring improvement, challenges and their and required improvements focused on the possible soluons, and most importantly the issues around local venues. Musicians spoke of needs of the local industry. RDA Peel were a lack of respect for their original pieces as well as a lack of respect in terms of the value of music at venues and events. They explained how local venues, parcularly pubs and restaurants, were only interested in musicians covering popular songs as background music and very lile interest was shown in allowing musicians to showcase their original work or hosng events focused on music. Comments were also made regarding the lack of local content at major regional events, reinforcing the lack of respect venues and curators hold for local musicians.

As the strategy was being wrien, work began simultaneously to improve the condion of venue space within the Peel Region. RDA Peel have organised and seen through the installaon of a small stage within Make Place in Mandurah’s CBD to provide an alternave performance space for musicians and other performance‐based arsts. The RDA Peel – Make Place Stage is designed to be highly accessible for arsts and provide an inmate

and flexible space that encourages the development of local talent. Since its installaon in June 2015 the stage has already Industry inspired many musicians, public speakers and

Music theatre‐enthusiasts and we look forward to

supporng these diverse aspiraons. Peel’s

The

RDA Peel has also partnered with local ng

musicians and businesses to develop: .Song Wring Workshops to assist local

Suppor musicians produce original composions .The “Musical Fruit” Expo whichwill showcase local musicians and their original RDA PeelRDA

: works during December 2015 le .The “Fruit of the Peel” compilaon CD om

showcasing original music from across the

Bo region and presented using local artwork.

16 constraints and give regional dance arsts the opportunity to work in their profession.

Silent Volumes will be choreographed by local dancer, choreographer and producer ‐ Pare Randall. Pare has extensive experience in community dance projects and has performed in the 2012 Strut‐a‐thon Dance Marathon in Perth, was arst in resident at Fiji’s Vou Dance Company, and is also a research arst for the online dance iniave Virtual Dust.

Pare will work with local people in a series of developmental workshops to weave together sound, dance and art into a final performance. Future Landings comes to Kalgoorlie Pare says the only qualificaon for being part RDA GOLDFIELDS ESPERANCE of the producon is enthusiasm and a

preparedness to be taken outside your Ausdance WA has commissioned a community comfort zone. She believes that dance is an dance producon called Silent Volumes, as excing basis for community‐building which part of their Future Landings program. can tell relevant stories to audiences from Kalgoorlie‐Boulder has embraced the challenge urban to rural sengs. of winning over unlikely dance parcipants to form the cast of this large‐scale dance Kalgoorlie‐Boulder will stage Silent Volumes in producon. late Spring this year. The producon, will

involve about 20 local people, who will either Ausdance WA producer Jo Smith believes that perform or be involved in the producon of the ability of regionally‐based arsts to the final full length dance show. produce and deliver creave and skilled contemporary performances in their

RDA Goldfields Esperance has been delighted Top communies is oen overlooked and

to offer in‐kind support to the Future Landings le

hampered by lack of me, money and skills

Project through the provision of an office for : support. Jo said that the Future Landings RDA Gold Owen Hinton, the Project Coordinator and project and the Kalgoorlie‐Boulder producon Producon Manager. of Silent Volumes will aim to remove these Bo fi elds Esperance Esperance elds om:

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17

development.

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ve crea

underwrite

SW ‐ RDA

sees Geng creave Creave (Margaret River), The Compeon that RDA SOUTH WEST (Dunsborough) and others on the drawing deal board. the RDASW has backed the region’s creave on industries sector with seed funding for a This comes in the wake of Bunbury‐based Vue Creave Hub which has hit the ground running. Group’s collaborave success at Cannes. shake Chinese film‐maker Jia Zhangke’s drama, Acng as a focal point for film, music, digital Mountains May Depart was given a standing

Anderson media and soware development, WA’s ovaon of more than 15 minutes and made

‘Creave Corner’ builds on exisng strengths the cut as one of the top three films. It was a and is integrated into key acvies such as the proud moment as Vue Group were involved Duncan Margaret River Busselton Tourism Associaon and about 20 minutes was shot in Bunbury. Chair merger, CinéfestOz, China trade and RDA‐SW chairman Duncan Anderson said: “The professional markeng services. region’s Creave industries are worth about West $350m per year and involve brilliant people. Pilbara

South In the latest move, the Creave Corner has ‐ the launched an innovaon space and worked with “We want to see the South west become the for RDA

the SW instute of Technology which is go‐to region for this work. We need to connect and

RCSP starng creave short courses at the Margaret everyone and fill in the gaps. The people here the River Educaon Campus in a move that will are exceponal and the potenal is huge.” Shilkin of

support the development of the sector.

Noah The Creave Corner will use the campus space

Launch as its HQ and is inving community and Chair, businesses to collaborate and work within the space. The space will be set up as an Corner RDA Pilbara RDA

incubator/innovaon space, a shared office ve

space, maker studio, as well as sound/music

Crea recording and producon studios. opposite):

Developing a collaborave network in the (story South West is one of the the Creave Corner's right goals, which includes working with other RDA South West RDA

om spaces such as Maker & Co (Bunbury), Mixtape Bo Top:

18 Connecng the dots for Childcare in It’s also been the season for amazing the Wheatbelt conferences with Great Southern hosng a RDA WHEATBELT very successful “Building Capacity – Growing our children together” over two days in July It’s official! All of the Regional Children’s 20th in Albany supported by RDA Great Services Plans across the state have now been Southern. In August, Early Years professionals completed for each of the Regional also travelled from across the state to aend Development Commission areas and are Child Australia’s WA One Voyage. available on regional websites. Presentaons and papers for both are available electronically. Regional Development Officers are now working on the implementaon phase and will Final Implementaon reports for the RCSP are travel to Perth in September to workshop their due for submission on October 31st 2015. learnings and help inform the State plan. The Wheatbelt plan was launched at RDA’s Pilbara Regional Children’s Services Early Childhood Educaon and Care Forum Plan Launch held in York on May 8th. Local MP the Hon Mia RDA PILBARA Davies MLA officiated on behalf of the Honourable Minister Tony Simpson, Local Fiona White‐Harg, Chair and Diane Pentz, Government; Community Services; Seniors and CEO of RDA Pilbara successfully launched the Volunteering; Youth. The Forum combined the Pilbara Regional Children’s Services Plan (RCSP) launch with a workshop on service models. and Implementaon Plan during the month of Guest speaker Ros Cornish, CEO of Lady July, 2015. Gowrie Tasmania and Naonal President of Early Childhood Australia presented and The first launch took place in Karratha, 17th proved helpful in considering models that can July 2015 and was well aended by support small Wheatbelt services in the future. approximately 35 local organisaons. Some of these organisaons included local Early Years In June, RDA Wheatbelt collaborated with the educators and providers such as Act Belong long‐term naonal fundraising radio campaign Commit, City of Karratha, IF Foundaon, LINK, “Give me 5 for Kids” because the Wheatbelt Ngala, Pilbara Instute and Rio Tinto doesn’t just grow great food crops but also representaves. great kids. How does this happen? This year RDA Wheatbelt collaborated with local staons The second launch took place in Port Hedland by sharing some key messages throughout the on Tuesday, 21st July 2015. The launch was month. The important message is that local highlighted by the aendance of Minister Tony communies understand that Early Childhood Simpson, Minister for Local Government; Educaon and Care (ECEC‐ Childcare) is much Community Services; Seniors and more than babysing these days. The sector Volunteering, and Youth who spoke of his supports economic development and is a great endorsement of support for implementaon of career opon that once qualified, allows this important Plan across the Pilbara. The professionals to work across Australia. event was aended by local Early Years educators and providers from South and Port Guests were interviewed from across the Hedland, such as Town of Port Hedland, Port region and state and included discussions on Hedland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, latest research findings from the Telethon Ashburton Aboriginal Corporaon, Indigenous Instute and Curn University. Praccal Affairs Group from the Department of Prime messages were shared about school readiness Minister and Cabinet, Child Australia, EPIC, and who, how and what makes a local service World Vision, and YMCA WA. into an award winning one. The CEOs of Playgroup WA and Nature Play WA explained Implementaon of the various strategies of the why playing is important children’s work! You Pilbara Regional Children’s Services Plan has can hear the inspiring 4 minute interviews, now commenced, and will be concluded by the read about the ECEC Forum and download the end of April 2016. Wheatbelt Regional Children’s Services Plan from the RDA Website.

19 The Forum called for: .Further extensions to mobile coverage in remote areas through black‐spot remediaon programs. .Invesgaon of alternate last‐mile delivery opons, including community Wi‐Fi. .Invesgaon of excising essenal services such as educaon, healthcare and government services from data limits. .More targeted programs are needed to build confidence and awareness of relevant digital content. .Acceleraon of the uptake of Tele‐Health and Tele‐Care as mainstream pracce.

A more detailed Communique from the Forum will be available on the Broadband for the Bush website soon www.broadbandforthebush.com.au

Broadband for the Bush RDA NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Fourth Broadband for the Bush Forum was held over two days in Darwin on the 15th and 16th of July at the Charles Darwin waterfront iSeed funding plants seeds of digital campus. This year’s Forum, Unlocking the learning and innovaon (Digital) Potenal of the Bush, emphasised RDA WHEATBELT collaboraon and innovaon and the potenal of communicaons to enable economic and The need for digital learning and development social development. in the Wheatbelt was further reinforced with the outstanding response to the recent iSeed More than 150 delegates, including influenal Funding. RDA Wheatbelt in conjuncon with decision makers and community end‐users, Heartlands WA offered 10 x $500 grants to technical experts and representaves from financially support workshops, events or senior Industry, Australian Government, NBN projects that helps plant seeds of digital Co and academic instuons, explored learning and innovaon in Wheatbelt praccal soluons that promote digital communies. inclusion using both fixed and mobile technologies, as well as beer and innovave Almost double the amount of applicaons as infrastructure in the bush. grants available were received and the Wheatbelt Digital Acon Plan Implementaon Commiee had a difficult task to select the ten most worthy applicants.

Four of the ten digital workshops, events or projects have already been hosted in communies across the Wheatbelt with the balance being planned for the remainder of the year.

20 #HackTheOutback RDA NETWORK

GovHack is a Government‐sponsored marathon 46‐hour event where many public bodies across Australia open up their data sets for teams to ‘hack’ and make beer or more useful data‐sets. The point of GovHack is to Digital Trends for Small Business help turn the wealth of informaon held by RDA GOLDFIELDS ESPERANCE government departments into applicaons of genuine use to the public, researchers or According to a report by a naonal markeng industry. This year’s GovHack Perth event was services company, only 27 percent of small‐ launched by Minister Bill Marmion MLA and medium business enterprises in WA are taking welcomed a record number of 130 advantage of social media. Regional WA has a parcipants. GovHack Perth offered 32 local slightly higher uptake with 31 percent of prizes from 17 sponsors for a total prize pool businesses using one of the social media of $35,000. plaorms.

Five of the nine WA RDA Networks In order to improve local business knowledge collaborated to sponsor two ‘connecng and to provide direcon on how to use the regionally prizes’ in conjuncon with various plaorms available, RDA Goldfields sponsoring regionally‐themed canapés at the Esperance conducted the Digital Trends for Friday night launch. Whilst the WA RDA Small Business workshop in Kalgoorlie on collaborave were unable to form a sponsored Thursday 18th June. The workshop provided team, many of the WA entries featured advice and informaon to small and medium regional data and have regional applicability. businesses about the ever‐changing digital marketplace and gave small business owners As a significant sponsor and financial an opportunity to gain ideas on how to contributor to the event, the WA RDA maximise profits and run their business more collaborave were invited to form part of the effecvely using new technologies. judging panel at the awards ceremony on the Sunday evening. RDA Wheatbelt Project Three local experts provided the crowded Officer, Elizabeth Brennan, and RDA Goldfields room of parcipants with informaon about Esperance Commiee Member, Ben Fox, new business management technology, aended the whole event with Ben product and service branding, and how to have Top represenng the WA RDA collaborave on the an effecve online presence. Each of the right: judging panel together with four other judges. workshop parcipants took home informaon

Ben brought a wealth of knowledge and about: RDA Gold experse to the judging panel, assisted in the the pro’s and con’s of cloud compung, self development of a judging matrix and stepped managed websites and basic eCommerce fi elds Esperance Esperance elds in at the last minute to act as Master of how to ensure a strong brand and branding Ceremonies. consistency, and how to develop an effecve online presence The RDA Connecng Regionally prize winner and how to analyse the effecveness of social was the ValYou team, which developed an network markeng strategies. Digital applicaon analysing how land values change

Trends when what people value changes. The runner‐ Following this well‐aended workshop, seven up was the #oncountry team, which developed

businesses made enquiries about pung their a digital storytelling plaorm that enables both for records, files and data on the cloud, and three Small Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal audiences to other businesses sought further informaon link data sets and stories about art, history, about eCommerce soware to improve their Business music and heritage based on their locaon. financial processing and record keeping. Links to the RDA Connecng Regionally winning and runner‐up hacks can be found at: workshop hackerspace.govhack.org/content/valyou

hackerspace.govhack.org/content/oncountry

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22 For more informaon: www.northernaust.org.au

23 RDA NORTHERN TERRITORY Kate Peake www.rdant.com.au RDA KIMBERLEY Ph: (08) 8941 7551 Chris Mitchell Email: [email protected] www.rdakimberley.com.au Ph: (08) 9192 2450 Email: [email protected]

RDA PILBARA Diane Pentz www.rdapilbara.org.au Ph: (08) 9144 0651 Email: [email protected]

RDA MID WEST GASCOYNE including Indian Ocean Territories Alan Bradley www.rdamwg.com.au Ph: (08) 9964 5757 Email: [email protected]

RDA PERTH Colleen Yates www.rdaperth.com.au Ph: (08) 9371 5525 Email: [email protected]

RDA PEEL John Lambrecht www.rdapeel.org.au RDA GOLDFIELDS ESPERANCE Ph: (08) 9586 3400 Carol Mann Email: [email protected] www.rdage.com.au Ph: (08) 9091 6051 Email: [email protected] RDA SOUTH WEST Charles Jenkinson www.rdasouthwest.com.au RDA WHEATBELT Ph: (08) 9721 1111 Juliet Grist Email: [email protected] www.rdawheatbelt.com.au Ph: (08) 9575 1888 Email: [email protected]

RDA GREAT SOUTHERN Simon Lyas www.rdagreatsouthern.com.au Ph: (08) 9842 5800 Email: [email protected]

Local people developing local soluons to local issues across WA and the NT