In This Issue

• Welcome From The Chair
• Regional Development Australia Fund Announcement
• NBN Workshops Come To The Region
• NSW State Budget
• A Way To Expand Your Marketplace
• Town Success Story
• Health and Wellbeing
• Would You Like A Say In The Future Of Your Industry?
• Funding For The Barraba Pipeline
• Grants, Funding Opportunities and Tenders

Welcome From The Chair

Dear Fellow Northern Inland Residents,

After waiting with baited breath for the outcome of the first round of the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF), the announcement made on September 7th was warmly welcomed. Due to the larger than expected number of applications, funding was increased to $150 million and 35 projects across regional Australia received much deserved funding. In the Northern Inland, we received the largest grant allocated for NSW; $8 million for the redevelopment of the Freeman House drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre. Round Two will open in November and we look forward to seeing some innovative projects across the regions come to the fore.

With the carbon tax currently being debated in parliament, the next few months could have very interesting outcomes for our region and we welcome any feedback or queries you may have.

Mal Peters, Chair

Regional Development Australia Fund Announcement

On September 7th 2011, the much anticipated announcement of recipients for the first round of the Australian Government’s Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) was made and Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) are thrilled that one of the recipients is based in the Northern Inland.

Freeman House, in Armidale, provides a specialist homelessness drug and alcohol rehabilitation service using an innovative service model not seen elsewhere in regional Australia. The $8 million received as part of the RDAF will assist the St Vincent De Paul Society’s overhaul of the facility to not only enlarge it but to create an integrated regional and community health centre.

Strong partnerships with the University of New England and TAFE New England Institute underpin the professional learning and development outcomes that arise from use of the Freeman House Complex for student and professional markets across NSW, Australia and overseas.

By having this infrastructure in place, client treatment will be available in a specialised care facility ‐ health care becomes more locally and regionally integrated and treatments become appropriate to the setting, freeing acute care and hospital bed capacity in the region.

This project will rebuild the Freeman House Complex, which houses a specialist Homelessness & Drug and Alcohol (D&A) Rehabilitation service and education program. The build design and process incorporates innovative professional, environmental and heritage standards.

RDANI are delighted that such a ground breaking facility is in our region and congratulates all involved in Freeman House on this great achievement.

NBN Workshops Come To The Region

he Northern Inland is incredibly fortunate to have one of Australia’s leading telecommunications advocates in our own backyard. Alun Davies, the head of the NBN New England Work Group and a member of the Regional Telecommunications Review Committee, is based in Armidale and is passionate about bringing the NBN to all corners of regional Australia.

Workshops on the benefits and applications of the NBN will be held in Tamworth at Parry House at 10.30am on Tuesday 25th October 2011 and in Gunnedah at the Civic Theatre at 10.30am on Wednesday 26th October 2011. Workshops will also be held in Narrabri and Moree in the near future.

Mr Davies is passionate about telecommunications in regional areas and will provide an excellent insight on the benefits of high speed broadband and optic fibre cabling. For more information on the NBN Workshops please call RDANI on (02) 6771 2790 or email rdani@rdani.org.au

NSW State Budget

The NSW State Budget announced on 6th September 2011 by the Treasurer Mike Baird, delivered many benefits for the Northern Inland. However, some first home buyers in the region will be affected by the decision to restrict the $7,000 first home buyer grant to newly built homes. There are a large number of small businesses in our region and broad State based initiatives which can assist them include the establishment of the Office for Small Business and the Small Business Commissioner to provide an independent voice for businesses as well as an additional $2.5 million funding to NSW Business Advisory Services. In addition, $53 million funding has been made available to the Regional Industries Investment Fund to drive economic growth in regional NSW. The Northern Inland could also benefit from the increases in the number of nurses, police and teachers in the State. To improve waiting times for people in regional NSW, $4.6 million has been set aside to increase the number of planned surgical procedures and $1.2 billion committed to ageing and disability services in rural and regional NSW.

A Way To Expand Your Marketplace

The Industry Capability Network (ICN) can help you reach potential customers in a new and exciting way. ICN is a network of independent industry consultancies and provides a free matching service between suppliers and project proponents.

By registering with ICN your business can be matched to projects and tenders all across Australia and New Zealand in one easy to use platform.

ICN has offices across Australia and New Zealand and a new manager has just been appointed for Northern NSW.

If you have any questions about ICN and how it can assist your business please go to www.icnnsw.org.au or contact Peter Grant (Manager Northern NSW) on 0417 464 165.

Town Success Story

Did you know that the largest pecan farm in the Southern Hemisphere is in Moree? Not many people do but it’s due to the location of this particular property that Stahmann Farms have been able to produce some of the world’s most highly sought pecan nuts.

Stahmann Farms established ‘Trawalla’, 35km east of the centre of Moree, in the late 1960s and it now comprises more than 70,000 mature and highly productive trees. Due to the unique growing conditions that Moree offers and the talented locals that are employed in the operation, Stahmann Farms have been able to run ‘Trawalla’ as a purely insecticide free property while maintaining high levels of quality and output.

Moree has certainly benefited from having Stahmann Farms and the pecan plantation in town as they are a huge employer with positions ranging from pickers and packers to research scientists and agronomists. ‘Trawalla’s’ insecticide free status also has far reaching benefits for the entire community. Not only are consumers starting to demand lower chemical intervention in food products, farm staff members are much safer in their workplace and the wider Moree community can be safe in the knowledge that there are no chemicals entering local water systems.

Here at RDANI, we love to hear about innovative businesses and communities. If you have a ‘Town Success Story’ that you’d like to see in our newsletter then please email it to rdani@rdani.org.au

Health and Wellbeing

Breast cancer is one of the biggest killers of women around the world. To raise awareness and funds for this important issue, October has been designated as International Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Every October the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) encourages the community to focus on the impact of breast cancer and to help raise funds for vital research into its prevention, detection and treatment.

Anyone can get involved in Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in any number of ways. Businesses and community groups can hold Pink Ribbon Breakfasts or morning teas; groups of friends can hold a Girls’ Night In and schools can hold a simple sausage sizzle. An even easier way to get involved is to purchase many of the products available from the NBCF. Pens, ribbons and badges are available throughout the month of October from various retailers but a whole gamut of merchandise is available at www.pinkribbonshop.org.au

For more information on the great work carried out by the NBCF and information on how to get involved, please go to www.nbcf.org.au

Would You Like A Say In The Future Of Your Industry?

You don’t have to be big to have a big voice about your industry’s future. No matter the size of your business, it’s important to have your say on policy and regulation that may affect the future of your industry.

The Australian Government has developed the Business Consultation Website which provides instant access to all current public Australia Government Consultations. By joining, free of charge, your business will be joining more than 2000 businesses, large and small, who are helping to shape policy for their industry.

To register for the Business Consultation Website please go to www.consultation.business.gov.au

Funding For The Barraba Pipeline

Earlier this month, the Australian Government announced that they will provide $6.55 million towards a pipeline from Split Rock Dam to Barraba.

The people of Barraba have needed a secure water supply for years and the announcement that the pipeline will go ahead will give the community the confidence to plan for their future.

The pipeline project will include not only the pipeline itself but the construction of a pumping station, water storage tanks and alterations to the Barraba water treatment plant.

This project will contribute greatly to the Barraba community and surrounds. Not only will the development provide enormous long term benefits, the construction phase is set to create many new jobs in the very near future.

Grants, Funding Opportunities and Tenders

As RDANI has access to a plethora of grants and funding opportunities, as of this month, there will be a new Grants Portal on our website which can be found here www.rdani.org.au/our-region/grants-and-funding-opportunities.php

This page will highlight a selection of the funding opportunities available as well as provide further resources on how to find the appropriate grant. The new portal will inform communities, businesses and industries within the region of the many government, business and philanthropic grants available.

Tenders
Tendering is becoming a vital part of how many businesses in the Northern Inland operate on a day to day basis. RDANI would like to highlight the many sources of Tender information available.

Both state and federal governments often have projects open for tender. For more information on NSW State Government Tenders please go to tenders.nsw.gov.au for further information on Federal Government Tenders please go to www.tenders.gov.au

Commercial tenders are also becoming more popular. For more information on the commercial tendering process please go to www.tenderlink.com or www.tenders.com.au