Submissions for Regional Development Australia

Regional Development Australia ACT (RDA ACT)

RDA ACT is the local organisation within a new national program to replace the Commonwealth Area Consultative Councils & State Regional Development Boards. Whereas the former Capital Region ACC & the Capital Region Development Board had a broader coverage RDA ACT, as a joint initiative of the Commonwealth & ACT governments, primarily covers the ACT only. Other RDAs cover the rest of the capital & coastal regions.

RDA ACT has been established to:

(a)        ‘Provide advice to the Australian & ACT governments about regional issues;

(b)        Provide strategic input into Australian & ACT government programs;

(c)        Provide information to ACT & regional communities on Commonwealth & ACT government initiatives;

(d)        Help to coordinate regional planning & regional development initiatives; &

(e)        Establish links & cooperative alliances by working closely with other regional development organisations & neighbouring NSW RDA committees & local governments to promote regional development.’

RDAs are expected to unify policy & planning across governments for regional development. They are governed by committees comprised of community & business representatives appointed by the relevant Commonwealth & State/Territory ministers.

The anticipated roles for RDA ACT will be:

• Galvanising input from ACT stakeholders.
• Identifying their issues, concerns & policies.
• Providing an overlay to ACT & Commonwealth government programs & policies.
• Identifying gaps in government programs & policies.
• Balancing ACT & commonwealth government views.
• Applying a regional perspective, wherever relevant, to policies & programs.
• Producing reports/strategic plans to highlight actions & policies necessary to achieve priorities.

RDA ACT seeks stakeholder contribution to the above roles, to hear about the policies, issues, planned programs & projects & views of your organisation on how we, collectively, can make improvements to the economic & social development of the ACT & surrounding region.

A key feature of the RDA ACT program will be the development of a Regional Strategic Plan. We propose to update the Plan progressively & to regularly advocate for action on specific components during the course of each year. Stakeholder & community sessions will be convened to identify issues of critical importance & RDA ACT will seek to add value to community representations by utilising the influence of our ministerially-appointed committee.

RDA ACT will seek to bring all tiers of government ‘to the table’ to jointly address regional issues or local issues that have a cross-border impact. We have established close working relationships with other regional RDAs & LGAs to liaise on issues & programs of mutual interest & concern.

RDA membership is limited to the ministerially-appointed committee. RDA ACT has created a category of Participating Stakeholder whereby business, community & social organisations agree to contribute & share their policies, concerns & issues to assist in the development of a composite view of what is required to make the ACT a better place in which to work, do business, visit, live, play & learn. 

A new RDA ACT committee, broadly reflecting the interests of the community at large, is the expected to be in place by early July 2010.

RDA ACT will produce the initial version of its Regional Strategic Plan by the end of July 2010. If you require additional information visit our website at www.rdaact.org.au.