COMMUNICATION CENTRAL

Area Consultative Committees Transition to Regional Development Australia

The national network of Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) has been an important link between the Australian Government and rural and metropolitan Australia. The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP announced on 20 March 2008 that as foreshadowed in the Government's key regional election commitments, Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) would provide the basis for the creation of Regional Development Australia (RDA).Therefore, ACC's will transition to become local Regional Development Australia committees. As a first step, the ACC Chairs Reference Group will become the RDA Interim Board until 31 December 2008. Don Phillips is Chair of the interim Board. According to the Minister's statement, Regional Development Australia will have a broader, more strategic role than previously and will not be involved in generating project proposals.

Click here for the latest news on the transition to Regional Development Australia - Mid North Coast:

Federal Budget

On 13 May 2008 the Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP, announced the 2008-2009 Federal Budget, which contained a number of initiatives to be delivered by the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government portfolio. Please click here for a copy of the Budget Overview.

Funding Programs

New Better Regions Program

During the 2007 election, the Australian Government made a significant commitment to fund projects that had been identified by local communities across Regional Australia as priority investments for their region. These projects will be implemented under the $176m Better Regions Program and will provide important community infrastructure which will significantly enhance the liveability of regions.
The Better Regions Program has been developed to ensure that the implementation of these election commitment projects is consistent with all relevant requirements of the Financial Management and Accountability (FMA) Regulations 1997, the ANAO Best Practice guide and the recommendations from the ANAO Audit of the Regional Partnerships program.
Better Regions will commence in the 2008-09 financial year. Funding will be released to projects subject to negotiation of satisfactory grant agreements with the project proponents.
All Better Regions proponents will shortly receive a letter congratulating them on their project funding and providing advice on how to access funding.

Sustainable Regions Program

The Sustainable Regions Program has now closed for new projects.

Regional Partnerships Program

The Regional Partnerships Program has now closed for new projects.

Rural Medical Infrastructure Fund

The administration of the fund will now reside within the Australian Department of Health and Ageing portfolio.

Current Projects

Here are some of the projects we are currently working on. Please follow the links to get an overview of each.

Natural Resource Management & Green Teams

Kempsey Aboriginal Art Gallery

Publications

Here you will find a variety of research material on the Mid North Coast of NSW. Most are independently commissioned work, some are our own. All make informative reading.

Regional Economic Profile

State Plan - Executive Summary

Southern Cross University Infrastructure Review

Regional Development Australia - Mid North Coast Annual Report

Media Releases

July 2008 - Federal Government is all Ears for the Mid North Coast

RDA MNC Newsletters

Coming soon