RDA NORTHERN RIVERS ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS QUARTERLY REPORT: 1 April 31 June 2018 OUR ACHIEVEMENTS The Northern Rivers Freight and Supply Chain study commenced Implemented our new communication strategy with E-newsletters moving to a monthly publication cycle plus regular social posts providing a more timely update. Newsletter distribution to over 2000 regional recipients, and as web posts. Website attracted over 4,200 unique visitors who viewed in excess of 30,000 pages. Assisted the winding up of Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils Assisted the formation of the new Northern Rivers Joint Organisation. Engaged as Interim Executive Officer. RDA-NR stand and presentations at the inaugural Innovation Centre of PRIMEX Agricultural Event, Casino. This was a collaboration event with Federal, State and Local Government agencies Hosted two local innovative startup businesses as part of the stand at Primex 2018. Chaperoned Brad Twynham, Incubator Facilitator to regional meetings. Two new Experts in Residence have been engaged following these introductions. Walan Mayinygu Indigenous Pop Up Hub supporting Indigenous Entrepreneurs in Lismore Sponsored Bright Sparks event aimed to encourage entrepreneurship at High School level. Successful event with over 100 students attending from local high schools.
WE CONNECTED WITH... Federal Government meetings and consultations promoting RDA s new Charter, receiving updates on matters of regional priority: Attended Trade Commissioner Meeting, Malaysia and Japan hosted by TradeStart Officer Meetings with Department of Jobs and Small Business Officer Met with AusIndustry Regional Manager Met with Entrepreneurs Program, Business Advisor Met with Entrepreneurs Program, Innovation Facilitator State Government Agency meetings and consultations promoting RDA s new Charter, receiving updates on matters of regional priority: Met with the Hon Thomas George, MP, State Member for Lismore Regional Leadership Exec Economic Sub Committee Meeting (NSW DPC Chair) Met with Department of Premier and Cabinet Met with Department of Industry (Primary Industry) Met with Department of Industry (Training NSW) Met with Jobs for NSW Met with TAFE Local Government meetings and consultations promoting RDA s new Charter, emphasising investment attraction focus and receiving updates on matters of local Council priority: Met with Northern Rivers Region of Councils (NOROC) Mayors and GMs, including final meeting of NOROC organisation Attended Inaugural Northern Rivers Joint Organisation meeting Attended NOROC/NRJO GM Advisory Group meeting Individual meetings with Byron, Ballina, Clarence Valley, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Tweed Shire officers Attended Byron Shire Strategic Economic Advisory Committee, Huonbrook Industry Body meetings and consultations promoting RDA s relevance at an industry level, receiving updates on matters of industry priority: Destination Tweed Destination North Coast Digital Industry key stakeholders: Meeting to discuss training needs and potential pilot for new mode of delivery
Business and Industry meetings and consultations: Various meetings were attended with a wide range of individual businesses to discuss grant opportunities, employment issues, referrals to other agencies and more. Digital Precinct Meeting (NSW DPC/Industry) Met with stakeholders to develop a startup investment ecosystem Sourdough (mentoring) Networking meetings Other stakeholder meetings and consultations were held to develop RDA Northern Rivers linkages with and among key stakeholder groups : TAFE North Coast. Meeting to discuss Digital Industry training needs Sustain Northern Rivers: Sustain Energy Working Group quarterly meeting Sustain Northern Rivers: Sustain Food quarterly meeting and Strategy meeting Walan Mayinygu Indigenous Pop Up Hub Lismore - Advisory Committee Meeting Met with Manager, Gold Coast Airport Meeting with NORTEC Manager, Small Business Solutions Various meetings to establish Northern Rivers Together Collaboration Attended NR Food & Agritourism Program Lismore City Council s floating solar farm, debrief a sustainable energy project NSW Small Business Month project inception meeting with Lismore City Council, NSW Business Chambers: North Coast, Lismore Chamber of Commerce & Industry and NORTEC WE ENGAGED AND SUPPORTED Grant Advice has been given to individuals, businesses, and industry bodies for example: R&D, Accelerating Commercialisation and Entrepreneur Programme grants for various agri-businesses Jobs for NSW for various food manufacturing and other businesses Sustainable Valley and Sourdough Mullumbimby Incubator: Incubator Support Clarence Valley Working Group: Part of working group to address increase in unemployment against regional trend. Attended North Coast Accord meeting including major projects, Job Actives, Local, State and Federal agencies
Workshops: We provided 3 Grant writing workshops rolled out across the region: Held in Lennox, Tweed, Lismore. A collaboration with OFT and SafeWork NSW. Attended NSW Infrastructure Funding Workshop Presentations were given across the Region: Presentation to SCU inaugural Incubator cohort Presentation at Primex, Casino Presentation to Destination North Coast Board GOOD NEWS AND HOT SPOTS The good Lismore City Council awarded $433,000 from the Australian Government s Safer Communities fund to upgrade the Lismore CCTV network. Tweed Shire Council received top up funding of $225,000 for Anchorage Boardwalk in Tweed Heads from NSW Roads & Maritime Services. Grafton Regional Gallery secured $7.6m funding from Round 1 of the $100m NSW Regional Cultural Fund for gallery expansion. The Northern Rivers Conservatorium received over $600,000 funding from NSW Government's Regional Cultural Fund for refurbishment of their historic building. Over $234,000 was provided across 18 preschools in Lismore, Murwillumbah and Kyogle to improve learning facilities for the Quality Learning Environments program, from the NSW Government s $332 million Start Strong Program. The NSW Government committed $370,000 to build a koala holding facility at Pottsville. Lismore Friendship Festival s Piazza in the Park received a $5,000 Multicultural NSW Unity Grant. Ballina Shire Council received $1,630,000 in State Government funding from the $200 million Stronger Country Communities Fund and $300 million Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund for coastal pathways and walking tracks. RDA-NR DRD Tim Williamson with participants that the Tweed Grant Writing workshop Richmond Valley Council has been allocated $1.72 million for projects over $50,000 Kyogle Council will receive $1.4 million in the second round of the NSW Stronger Country Communities
The good cont Hot spot $146 million worth of new projects identified for Lismore in the new Lismore Prospectus Mullumbimby Music Festival has secured three years of funding from the Destination NSW Flagship Event Fund. Despite Clarence Valley Shire experiencing a a number of major infrastructure projects, such as a new gaol, major bridge project, Pacific Highway upgrade and more, the unemployment statistics appear to be on a two year trend increase. A task group including Council, Department Jobs and Small Business, RDA Northern Rivers and others are developing a number of actions to address this anomaly. This trend is in sharp contrast to the other six Councils areas in the Northern Rivers region, who are trending downward to near State averages.