REGIONAL Development Australia (RDA) NSW will greatly benefit from new appointments to each of its committees.
John Walker has been appointment as the Chair of RDA Northern Rivers, the Australian Government announced today. A new deputy chair will be appointed later this year.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the three-year appointment will provide leadership to RDA Northern Rivers to develop a model where all three tiers of government work together.
“The RDA committees can play a key role in growing stronger regions across the nation and ensure all three tiers of government work together,” Mr Truss said.
“The committees will advise on priority activities that will unlock regional economic development and improve the productivity of their region.
“RDA committees will provide advice to the Government on critical issues affecting each region and are an important mechanism to increase access to Australian Government programmes in their communities.
“The committees will also assist local community stakeholders to develop project proposals and direct them to appropriate public and/or private funding sources – including the $1 billion National Stronger Regions Fund.”
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said RDA Northern Rivers was based in Lismore and is made up of committee members from across the region.
“Mr Walker, who will continue in his current role as the General Manager of Richmond Valley Council, comes to the RDA with a strong and proven track record,” Mr Hogan said.
Regional Development Australia consists of a national network of 55 committees designed to strongly focus on regional economic development and facilitate local projects that aim to make a difference in their local communities.
The Chair will now move promptly to appoint a team of active local community leaders to support them.
Mr Truss and Mr Hogan thanked retiring committee Chairs and members for their service and wished the new committees well as they work to deliver stronger local regions.
More information on the Australian Government’s National Stronger Regions Fund is available at: www.infrastructure.gov.au
Information on the work currently being undertaken by RDA Northern Rivers can be found at: www.rdanorthernrivers.org.au
For more information and the latest news from the national RDA network visit: www.rda.gov.au
