Welcome to our email newsletter featuring Australian
Government programs and funding opportunities for
communities and businesses in our region.
 Regional consultations for new Regional Development
Australia network
The Australian Government has announced that the
National Network of 54 Area Consultative Committees –
which cover all urban, regional, rural and remote areas
of Australia – will form the basis for the establishment
of Regional Development Australia.
As part of the transition of ACCs to RDA committees,
ACCs (including the Torres/NPA ACC) have consulted
widely with regional communities about the establishment
of Regional Development Australia and the implementation
of a new regional funding program – the Regional and
Local Community Infrastructure Program.
Throughout July and August, the Torres/NPA ACC sought
input from local governments, State and federal
Government agencies, community organisations, business
organisations, recipients of Australian Government
grants, including the Regional Partnerships Program, and
individuals on the engagement of the Torres Strait
Region with the Australian Government, and the
principles and priorities for the new funding program.
Small (specific) focus groups and community forums were
held on Thursday Island and a survey was distributed at
the forums and via email.
At the conclusion of the meetings, focus group sessions
and one-on-one meetings, the views of some 83
organisations and individuals had been canvassed
directly throughout the consultation.
The responses from these consultations have been
incorporated into a report submitted to the Minister for
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and
Local Government, the Hon Anthony Albanese. (see next
item).
The Minister has advised that the Regional Development
Australia network will come into effect on January 1,
2009.
Torres/NPA ACC submits report to Government
On 30 May, 2008, the Hon Gary Gray AO MP, Parliamentary
Secretary for Regional Development and Northern
Australia, asked all Area Consultative Committees around
Australia to undertake wide consultations within their
communities to:
Provide advice on improving the engagement of regional
communities, regional development organisations and
local governments with the Australian Government. The
advice should be developed through local consultation,
such as stakeholder forums involving local governments,
state and federal regional development organisations and
other not-for-profit development or community
organisations. The Government expects to receive this
practical advice with the aim of developing the role of
RDA from 1 January, 2009, and improve the coordination
and delivery of regional services and infrastructure.
The Torres/NPA ACC’s report was submitted to the
Government and the Interim RDA Board in August.
The report covers issues such as the charter and role of
the Torres/NPA RDA committee, the committee structure
and membership, management and administrative
arrangements, boundary, reporting requirements,
priorities for ways to improve communication and the
rationale for these priorities.
Inquiry into a new regional development funding
program
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and
Local Government is holding an inquiry into a new
regional development funding program, with a report
expected to be provided to parliament by the end of this
year.
The Terms of Reference for the inquiry are:
-
Provide advice on future funding of
regional programs in order to invest in
genuine and accountable community
infrastructure projects;
-
Examine ways to minimize administrative
costs and duplication for taxpayers;
-
Examine the former government’s
practices and grants outlined in the
Australian National Audit Office report
on Regional Partnerships with the aim of
providing advice on future funding of
regional programs; and
-
Examine the former government’s
practices and grants in the Regional
Partnerships Program after the audit
period of 2003-2006 with the aim of
providing advice on future funding of
regional programs.
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Submissions sought on infrastructure needs
The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional
Development and Local Government, the Hon Anthony
Albanese and Infrastructure Australia chair Sir Rod
Eddington have invited members of the public and
business community to submit project ideas to
Infrastructure Australia for evaluation and possible
inclusion on the National Infrastructure Priority List
-- the first of which will be handed to the Council of
Australian Governments in March 2009.
Infrastructure Australia's immediate tasks are to
conduct an audit of the nation's transport, energy,
communications and water infrastructure; produce an
Infrastructure Priority List to guide future public and
private investment decisions; and develop nationally
consistent guidelines for Public Private Partnerships.
Infrastructure Australia will also provide advice on the
harmonisation of policies and regulations relating to
investment in and use of nationally significant
infrastructure.
A discussion paper (available at
www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au) calls for
evidence-based submissions to inform each of these
tasks. The website also has information about how to
prepare and lodge a submission. The closing date for
submissions is October 15.
Infrastructure Australia is an independent statutory
advisory council with 12 members drawn from industry and
all levels of government, including five from the
private sector.
Meanwhile, the Torres/NPA ACC is preparing a report to
the Minister on the local infrastructure needs of the
Torres and NPA Region, and has sought input from a wide
range of State Government agencies, local governments,
regional development organisations and business and
community groups.
Torres/NPA ACC nominates Torres Shire’s Tourism Steering
Committee for the Southern Cross Central “Community
Awards for Tourism”.
This award is to recognise the effort of community
people working hard to develop tourism in their region.
Since the establishment of the Torres Shire Tourism
Steering Committee in March 2007, the committee has
worked really hard to commence real dialogue between
various groups directly and in directly related to
tourism in our region, it has successfully applied for
funding through the Shire to engage a consultant to
develop and “Torres Shire Tourism Development Plan” and
is involved with other area’s relating to tourism in the
Torres Strait as a region.
For further information please go to
www.torres.qld.gov.au, the Tourism section and look up
2007 Achievements and 2008 Goals.
Regional Promotion through QLD Country Expo 2008
The Torres Shire Council is bringing a delegation to
Brisbane for this year’s QLD Country Expo in which they
will showcase what the Torres Shire and Torres Strait
has to offer. The main aim of the expo is to promote and
market your region (realistically), to those who may
want a life style change that could bring investment,
skills and experience into the region.
For further information
www.countryweek.com.au
The theme of this year’s expo is "Live & Work in
Regional Queensland", will be held from 19 – 21
September 2008 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition
Centre, Southbank.
Formalising Partnerships with FNQ ACC
On Thursday 25th September, 2008 at the Gab Titui
Cultural Centre, Thursday Island 10.00am there will be
the signing of the MOU agreement between the Torres/NPA
ACC and the FNQ ACC. The Torres/NPA ACC and the FNQ ACC
(The Far North Queensland Area Consultative Committee)
traditionally enjoyed an informal and strong
relationship of cooperation and collaboration over many
years. They have freely shared information and
collaborated on - regional development issues and the
delivery of government programs. Both ACCs have
collaborated successfully across the delineated
boundaries of each ACC’s region in the delivery of
services such as the Small Business Field Officers
Program, Freight and road issues and others.
Both ACCs are transitioning into Regional Development
Australia (RDA) committees as part of the Australian
Government’s plans for improving regional development.
TS ACC and FNQ ACC are also active participants in
developing regional development across all of North
Australia and are founder members of North Australia
Economic Development Forum (NAEDF).
TS ACC and FNQ ACC recognise the importance of expanding
and formalising the existing relationship as a
foundation for transitioning into RDAs. This will
benefit all stakeholders in their respective regions and
across all of Northern Australia, particularly in light
of the recent formation by the Australian Government of
the Office of North Australia.
Helping volunteers pay for petrol
Not-for-profit organisations can now apply for grants of
up to $2,500 to help pay for their volunteers' petrol
bills, as part of the Australian Government's $21
million Volunteer Grants Program 2008.
Under the program, grants of between $1,000 and $5,000
can also be used to purchase equipment, including
computers, tools, air conditioners and sporting
equipment.
School parents and citizens associations will also have
the opportunity to apply for funding along with other
not-for-profit organisations.
The new program, administered by the department of
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous
Affairs, will assist volunteers who use their vehicles
to support people in the community for activities like
delivering meals, taking disadvantaged children to
weekend sport and visiting the elderly.
Voluntary and other charitable organisations can apply
for funding to contribute to the reimbursement of fuel
costs incurred by their volunteers.
Applications close on Friday 17 October and successful
organisations will receive funding by the end of the
year.
For details on how to apply go to
www.fahcsia.gov.au or
phone 1800 183 374 (toll free).
New program helps SMEs implement business improvements
Small and medium businesses in the Torres/NPA region are
able to access a new Australian Government program that
provides practical help to improve their business.
Called Enterprise Connect, the program provides a free
business review with an experienced business advisor
using expert bench-marking tools to identify areas
within the business for improvement. A second stage of
the program allows the firms to apply for up to $20,000
in matching funding to implement the identified areas
for improvement.
To be eligible, firms should have a minimum turnover of
$2 million and be in the manufacturing or manufacturing
services sectors. Smaller firms may be eligible if they
apply as a group with common attributes.
Potentially eligible firms comprise fabricators,
assemblers, furniture-makers, exporters, food
processors, wineries, mining companies, engineering
firms, engineering consultants and equipment designers.
The North Queensland Small Business Development Centre
is the closest regional centre to our region that could
possibly support businesses and are ideally placed to
take advantage of this initiative, for further
information please go to
www.beca.org.au
For more information go to
www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au
or call Don Geare in Bunbury on 0447 955 498.
Small grants for small communities
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal has small
grants (up to $5000) available to not-for-profit
organisations to undertake projects and activities that
offer clear public benefit for communities living in
small rural and remote locations in Australia,
contributing to their development in social and
community welfare, economic, environmental, health,
education or cultural areas.
Communities with fewer than 10,000 people are given a
priority.
Applications for the next round close on September 30,
and preference will be given to projects that support
community hardship in drought effected areas; community
infrastructure; resettlement of immigrants in rural
Australia, and community development involving
disadvantaged children or young people
Details on how to apply are at
www.frrr.org.au.
Climate Ready
Small and medium-size businesses in the Torres/ NPA
region can apply for funding to support projects that
address climate change through the Australian
Government’s new Climate Ready program.
Managed by AusIndustry, the program provides grants from
$50,000 to $5 million on a matching funding basis for
any or all aspects of the development of an innovative
product, process or service including research and
development, proof-of-concept, and early-stage
commercialisation.
A broad range of project applications are expected.
For example:
-
Water recycling, waste recovery or small
scale renewable energy technologies.
-
Technologies that reduce the energy used
by appliances or increase the efficiency
of industrial processes.
-
Products, processes or services to
monitor emissions or power usage.
-
Using biotechnology or nanotechnology to
address the effects of climate change on
humans and the environment.
-
Information systems for businesses or
consumers to compare the carbon
footprints of different activities.
-
Green building materials that make homes
more energy efficient.
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The program offers small grants ($50,000 to $500,000)
and large grants ($500,001 to $5 million).
The small grants support small business, as well as
companies controlled by universities and public sector
research organisations, through a simpler application
form and reduced reporting requirements.
Applicants compete for limited grant funds, based on the
merit of their application. The program opened for
applications on 28 July 2008 and closing dates for the
next three rounds are 4 December 2008, 12 March 2009 and
25 June 2009
Details on how to apply are available at
www.ausindustry.gov.au.
Meanwhile, the Australian Government will also provide
$75 million for the Re-tooling for Climate Change
competitive grants program as part of the Government's
Clean Business Australia initiative.
Australian small and medium-sized manufacturers will be
able to apply for grants from $10,000 to $500,000 to
support initiatives such as improving the
energy-efficiency of their operations; investing in
energy-efficient manufacturing tools; improving
insulation and recovering waste heat; investing in
small-scale cogeneration plants that capture waste
energy and use it to produce electricity on site; and
cutting water wastage, including through stormwater
capture and improving water recycling.
For further details go to
www.ausindustry.gov.au.
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