First Regional Development Australia meeting held
Regional Development Australia - Riverina held its first meeting on the 2 September following the recent joint announcement by the Federal and State Governments of the members of the new regional development body.
First Regional Development Australia
The City of Wagga Wagga was the venue for the meeting and the Committee members were welcomed by the Mayor, Councillor Kerry Pascoe, who conveyed his best wishes to the new regional organisation and wished it well in its activities.
Regional Development Australia - Riverina replaces the Riverina Regional Development Board and the Riverina Area Consultative Committee and will work under contractual arrangements with both the Federal and State Governments to help promote, co ordinate and facilitate economic development in the region.
Chair of the new organisation, Mr. Tom Watson, said that "RDA - Riverina will engage with all levels of government and regional stakeholders and will help to develop solutions to meeting regional needs and priorities." "It will be a valuable conduit between local communities and the Federal and State Governments and will work closely with local government in determining priorities in the region," Mr Watson said.
"Among its responsibilities will be providing strategic input into Federal and State Government programs, the provision of information to the community on such programs and assistance with the co - ordination of regional planning and development initiatives."
"Infrastructure provision and water policy and management are among the challenging issues in the region which need to be addressed in a systematic and holistic way" Mr Watson said that "the Riverina is blessed with wonderful natural and social attributes and is increasingly entrepreneurial and diversified. We need to be even more successful in trumpeting the vibrancy and achievements of the region and its increasing contribution to national wealth and prosperity."
"There are increasing opportunities for the Riverina to address national challenges by the successful implementation of regional projects of national significance."
"RDA - Riverina will do all it can to play an integral role in the continuing success of the region by aligning its own structure, culture and operations to the achievement of clear and carefully developed strategic objectives, the determination of which will be the most important immediate priority of the new organization, Mr Watson said.
