RDANI Community Meetings

Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) has started a program to learn what people in the region would like to see in their towns and villages to help build a regional plan that both State and Commonwealth Governments will use to determine funding allocation into the region.

Chair of RDANI, Mal Peters said for the plan to accurately reflect people’s concerns and aspirations a series of community consultation meetings will take place across the region. “We have selected a representative cross-section of population centres across the New England North West, so we understand what is currently needed and what people would like to see in the future”. This series of meetings will complement the knowledge from the physical stock take we are taking of each towns’ services, business and social assets.”

He continued: “We want to hear from people in those communities, to tap into local knowledge about the needs and issues that our region’s communities are facing. We would particularly like to hear feedback from representatives of businesses, industry and community groups”.

Public consultation meetings will take place in the following localities from 20 July 2010 until 28 July 2010:

• Glen Innes, Glen Innes & District Services Club, Tuesday 20 July 2010, 6.00pm – 8.30pm
• Deepwater, School of Arts, Wednesday 21 July 2010, 2.00pm – 4.30pm
• Tenterfield, Schools of Arts/Museum Wednesday 21 July 2010, 6.00pm - 8.30pm
• Bingara, the Council Chambers , Wednesday 28 July 2010, 10:30am - 1.00pm
• Barraba, Former Council Chambers, Thursday 29 July 2010, 1.00pm - 3.30pm

Details of August 2010 meetings and venues will be announced in the third week in July 2010 for Werris Creek, Quirindi, Manilla, Gunnedah, Inverell, Tingha, Warialda, Ashford and Moree.

RDANI is funded by both Commonwealth and State Governments and is required through its regional plan to assist with regional development by facilitating collaborations between Local, State and Commonwealth Governments to achieve practical, lasting outcomes towards the region’s development.

“The Regional Plan will identify the developmental challenges that Northern Inland NSW faces as a region but importantly will prioritise those critical areas that need addressing urgently and describe objectives for finding solutions and how Government departments approach the region,” Mr. Peters said.

“The proposed RDANI Strategic Plan will be an important document. It will serve as a reference, so all levels of Government can be put ‘in touch’ with the region, and see at a glance what its communities and industries need to grow cohesively and develop sustainably,” he said. “On this basis, the RDANI Committee is extremely keen to consult with locals and take on board what they want for their region.”

“I am very confident that a comprehensive, well researched regional plan will provide a strong foundation for northern inland NSW so we can provide a future for our children by continuing to grow while remaining a great place to live and making sure we have all the services a society should have in the 21st century” Mr. Peters said.