RDA Barwon South West E-Newsletter - September 2011

KEY RDA BARWON SOUTH WEST ACTIVITY

RDA Meetings

The RDA Committee meets every month at locations across the region. The July meeting was a video conference between Deakin University Warrnambool and Geelong Waterfront campuses, with the August meeting in Colac and September’s meeting in Queenscliff. The next RDA meeting is scheduled for Portland on 18 October 2011, with the November meeting in Torquay.

Regional Development Australia Fund Announcements

On 7 September 2011, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Simon Crean MP announced the recipients of Round One of the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF).

The City of Greater Geelong will receive $10 million in funding for the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and the Geelong Football Club will receive $10m towards the Skilled Stadium Stage 3 Redevelopment. Southern Grampians Shire also received $1.05 million towards the Lake Hamilton All Abilities Playground and foreshore redevelopment. These projects combined represent almost $100m of new investment in the Barwon South West region, and partnerships involving all levels of government.

Round Two of the RDAF program will be valued at $150m, with applications open in November 2011.

For further information on the projects supported in Round One click here

For further information on RDA visit www.rda.gov.au

Victorian RDA State Advisory Committee Meeting

On 9 September 2011 the Victorian RDA’s met in Melbourne and were addressed by the Hon. Catherine King MP, Federal Member for Ballarat and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Australia (Victoria). Each RDA provided a brief presentation of activities and key issues. The outcomes of the RDAF were discussed, including feedback on the application and assessment process. The proposed Clean Energy Future programs of the Australian Government were also discussed.

Warrnambool State Cabinet Meeting

On 18-19 September 2011, the Victorian Government held a Cabinet meeting in Warrnambool and visited Warrnambool, Moyne and Glenelg Shires. This provided an invaluable opportunity for the RDA to present to the State Cabinet. The presentation included the role and activities of the RDA, including an update on the RDA’s three priority projects and also the Committee’s key strategic projects.

Regional Growth Fund

Agenda items for future RDA Committee meetings will soon include project proposals for applications under the Local Initiatives component of the Victorian Government’s Regional Growth Fund. This includes the Local Government Infrastructure Program (LGIP) and the Putting Local’s First Program (PLFP). The role of the RDA will be to provide comment and where appropriate, provide endorsement for projects prior to recommendations being made by the Department of Planning and Community Development to the Victorian Minister for Regional and Rural Development.

SEGRA (Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia)

Australia's premier conference on regional economic issues is being held this year in Geelong’s Deakin University Waterfront Campus on 25-27 October 2011. As an introduction to SEGRA there will be an RDA Professional Development Workshop for RDA Committees and their staff on 24 October 2011. The workshop will commence with a review of where RDAs are now at, followed by focus groups designed to share information between RDAs on operational matters. Please visit www.segra.com.au to find out more and to book your place or email: executive@segra.com.au

New Executive Officer

On 10 October 2011, Peter Anderson will commence in the role of Executive Officer for the RDA Barwon South West Committee, as well as Regional Director, Barwon South West region for the Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert Byrne for his contribution to the RDA Barwon South West Committee over the past four months as the Acting Executive Officer.

PRIORITY PROJECTS

The RDA Committee has previously identified three priority projects for the region, being the implementation of the Green Triangle Freight Action Plan; upgrades to Princes Highway West; and the Geelong Future Cities project. Updates are listed below:

Green Triangle Freight Action Plan

• The Victorian Government has budgeted $10 million to construct a rail passing loop between the Warrnambool and Marshall train stations. Click here to read the media release. 

Princes Highway West

• Construction of a westbound passing lane at Illowa (between Warrnambool and Port Fairy) is now complete.
• Construction of four passing lanes along Princes Highway West will start in the second half of 2011/12. These passing lanes are westbound west of Terang, eastbound between Port Fairy and Yambuk, westbound between Port Fairy and Yambuk and west of Lyons. VicRoads expects to complete construction of these passing lanes in 2011/12, with final sealing works in 2012/13. Click here to read newspaper article.

Geelong Future Cities project

• On 7 September 2011, the Australian Government Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Simon Crean MP, announced $10m to the City of Greater Geelong for the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, a $45m project within the Geelong Cultural precinct which is a partnership between Local, State and the Australian Government.
• On 21 September 2011, Harvard University academic and leading expert in public realm open space and urban landscapes, Ms Martha Schwartz visited Geelong to provide comment on options and future directions for the revitalisation of central Geelong as part of the Vision II project.
• On 3 October 2011, world renowned Danish architect Jan Gehl visited Geelong to provide insight and advice on urban revitalisation projects that he has been involved in around the world. Jan participated in a workshop with key stakeholders involved in the Vision II project and was the keynote speaker at a public lecture held that same day.

STRATEGIC PROJECTS

• The Great Ocean Road Tourism Destination Management Plan project has commenced, with the RDA Committee working in partnership with regional stakeholders. The project will identify new tourism investment opportunities for both the public and private sector in the Great Ocean Road region, and will outline strategies to implement the plan and attract sustainable tourism investment to the region. The expected completion date is December 2011.
• The RDA Committee is working with regional stakeholders to develop a Barwon South West Tertiary Education Attainment Strategy that will identify actions to help increase tertiary education attainment rates in the region, which are below the state average. The Alfred Deakin Research Institute at Deakin University will auspice Stage 2 of the project with work commencing shortly. The expected completion date is April 2012.
• The RDA Committee, in partnership with the RDA Limestone Coast in South Australia and other regional stakeholders, is working on the Green Triangle Plantation Timber 2011 and Beyond project. The aims of the project are to provide evidence and advice on the current forestry activity in the Green Triangle region, collect data on development trends (including production forecasts and wood flows), and identify opportunities for investment and value-adding in the Green Triangle timber industry. The final version of the document has been circulated to the Steering Committee, which is seeking the endorsement of the Victorian, South Australian and Australian Government Ministers for Agriculture/Forestry.
• The RDA Committee is working with regional stakeholders to develop a study into the Impact of dairy industry growth in the Great South Coast region. The project will identify and analyse the economic benefits, challenges and threats associated with the growth of the industry in the region, and possible ways to respond to these issues.
• The RDA Committee, in partnership with regional stakeholders, is assisting with the preparation of the Budj Bim Masterplan, which outlines the overall vision for the Budj Bim landscape in south west Victoria. Outcomes include a prioritised implementation plan and investment strategy, as well as recommended zone controls over the landscape, and detailed designs and business plans for cultural and tourism related investment.
• The RDA Committee is working in partnership with the Surf Coast Shire Council to develop a Surf City Renewal Feasibility Study. The aims of this study are to facilitate investment at the Surf City Precinct in Torquay, capitalise on the Barwon South West region’s competitive strengths in surfing culture and plan for its future development. The study is expected to be undertaken between October 2011 and May 2012.
• The RDA Committee is also considering a number of additional projects that focus on attracting investment and creating jobs in the Barwon South West region.

To stay up to date on the RDA Committee’s activities and announcements please visit www.barwonsouthwest.org.au or follow the Committee on Twitter @RDABarwonSW

G21 NEWS

RDA Committee members Ed Coppe, Elaine Carbines and Michael Malouf hold the respective positions of Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer and Director for the G21 Geelong Region Alliance.

• Geelong: Cruise Ship Destination – The Victorian Government through Regional Development Victoria and Tourism Victoria has committed $65,000 towards a Business Case to examine the opportunities in developing infrastructure that will establish Geelong as a cruise ship destination. This G21 Priority Project would positively impact central Geelong, further boost the waterfront and grow the Geelong region's tourism market.
  Click here to view the Geelong: Cruise Ship Destination Priority Project description
  
• Climate Resilient Communities of the Barwon South West – $600,000 has been secured for this project through the Local Sustainability Accord program. The project will help communities in the Barwon South West region prepare for climate change impacts, with the ultimate aim of building community resilience and opportunity.
  Click here to find out more about the G21 Climate Change Taskforce
  
• Skilled Stadium – The Australian Government commitment of $10 million from the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) for the Skilled Stadium Stage 3 Redevelopment, which adds to the Victorian Government’s commitment of $25m towards the project.
  Click here to view the Skilled Stadium Stage 3 Redevelopment Priority Project description
  
• Geelong Regional Library and Heritage Centre – The Australian Government’s commitment of $10 million from the RDAF to this project will help develop community reading areas, child, youth discovery and multimedia zones, community IT areas, library collections, community meeting rooms, and an auditorium over six levels.
  Click here to view the Geelong Future Cities Priority Project description
  
• Geelong’s Active in Parks Launch - On 19 September, the Geelong’s Active in Parks program was launched by Hon Nick Wakeling MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health. The program is a joint initiative of G21, Parks Victoria and People & Parks Foundation and funded through Medibank Community Fund. It will see health professionals including doctors, maternal health nurses, and youth workers prescribing park visits to improve the health and wellbeing of their patients and clients. The program will also offer a range of free or low cost activities for the general community, detailed on the program’s website www.activeinparks.org.

To keep up to date on G21 activities, you can:

GREAT SOUTH COAST NEWS

RDA Committee member Bruce Anson is a member of the Great South Coast Group.

The Great South Coast Group Ltd is open for business! Over the past months, the Group has finalised its governance model and established a plan to progress its charter of implementation of the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and to provide a united voice on important regional issues in the six local government municipalities of the Great South Coast region.

The Group is now forming Pillar Groups under the stewardship of interim leaders. Each Pillar is aligned with the strategic objectives of the Regional Strategic Plan. These include:

• Position for Economic Growth
• Improve our Connections
• Sustain our Natural Assets
• Strengthen our Communities.

The Pillar Groups will identify and develop projects of significance to the region. The Board is beginning to develop a list of key projects for each of these pillars.

To find out more about the Great South Coast or to be included on an email distribution list, please contact the Executive Officer, Karen Foster on 5568 3095 or 0407 312 836 or by email at karen@o2media.com.au.

Please visit www.greatsouthcoast.com.au for more information on Great South Coast announcements and activities.

FUNDING NEWS

The Victorian Government has committed funds to the following projects:

• $600k Sustainability Grant awarded to G21 Climate Change Taskforce (G21 news);
• $1 million for City of Greater Geelong to reinvigorate public spaces and create pedestrian links throughout the centre of the city (media release);
• $50,000 to the City of Geelong for targeted online marketing activities to attract business and industry investment to the region with the Hit Geelong strategy (media release);
• $430,000 to South West Institute of TAFE to be put towards purchasing specialist teaching equipment (media release);
• Warrnambool City Council & Corangamite Shire will each receive a share $270,000 of funding under the Vic Govt’s Rural & Regional Youth Inclusion Grants (media release);
• $1.4 million to the Colac Otway Shire to purchase a brand new dredging vessel to service the Apollo Bay Harbour (media release);
• $20 million to make studying easier for regional students (media release);

Please contact Regional Development Victoria in Geelong on 5223 2104 or Warrnambool on 5561 4135 if you would like to learn more about these projects.

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