(left to right) Wendy Campana, Executive Director Local Government Association; Maxine McKew, Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; and Paul Caica, SA Minister for Regional Development.

Today in Adelaide, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Maxine McKew, SA Minister for Regional Development Paul Caica, and the Local Government Association of SA’s Felicity-ann Lewis have reached agreement on arrangements for the new regional consultative body, Regional Development Australia (RDA).

 “RDA SA will work across all three spheres of government to help ensure regional projects remain responsive to local communities’ needs,” said Ms McKew after signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

“For the Rudd Government this is about getting the best local advice in a co-ordinated way,” said Ms McKew.
 
“As a Government we are listening to regional communities, as evidenced by last week’s $220 million expansion of the Community Infrastructure Program, which includes immediate funding of another $7.3 million direct to local councils in South Australia.”

“The Rudd Government has already made the greatest commitment in our history to community infrastructure. That commitment is now worth more than $1 billion.”

Minister Caica said the State Government believes RDA SA will put in place an agenda of renewal and opportunity for South Australia’s regions.

“Focussing the collective efforts of all spheres of government will help us to better align our priorities for the development of our regional communities and it will strengthen the effectiveness of those efforts,” he said.

 “The most important task of the new RDAs will be to work with all levels of government on the best way to build jobs and investment in their communities and meet the objectives of the South Australian Strategic Plan,” Mr Caica said.

LGA SA President Felicity-ann Lewis said, “We recognise that local communities want their elected leaders to work together to deliver results.”

“We believe Regional Development Australia will significantly improve co-operation across all levels of government by better aligning our efforts and resources to deliver programs and services to local communities.”

Seven regional RDAs and an RDA Adelaide advisory committee are being created to align with South Australia’s Government Regions. They will carry on the work of the previous Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) and Regional Development Boards.

Ms McKew thanked all those who have served on Area Consultative Committees and Regional Development Boards over the years for their contributions.

“I am confident that RDA SA will build on the success of the previous ACCs and RDBs and become a stronger voice for regional development.”

A call for expressions of interest for RDA SA  members including chairs and deputy chairs will be advertised in metropolitan and regional newspapers shortly.

“We want to fill the new RDAs with local community leaders who can strongly represent grass-roots views and who bring with them a renewed commitment to the social and economic development of their regions,” said Minister Caica.

 The Role of Regional Development Australia
RDA is an Australian Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to enhance the growth and development of regional Australia.

RDA will:
• Provide advice to governments about local regional issues;
• Provide strategic input into Australian and South Australian government programs;
• Provide information to regional communities on Australian and South Australian government initiatives;
• Help to coordinate regional planning and regional development initiatives; and
• Establish links and cooperative alliances as appropriate by closely working with other regional development organisations, neighbouring RDAs and local governments to promote regional development.