In August, RDA supported the “Combined Government & Business Forum” hosted by University of Sunshine Coast and Sunshine Coast Business Council. Congratulations to all who attended, especially all levels of Government (State and Federal Members, Noosa Shire Councillors and Sunshine Coast Regional Councillors) and business leaders. I believe this was a first for the region, with all contributing to spirited and constructive discussion. It was fantastic to see this level of collaboration and it is now incumbent on us all to take action on the key issues like an Integrated Transport Plan and Educating for Innovation and Digital economy.
The 16th September presents another opportunity to collaborate as a region and to participate in the Advance Queensland Regional Innovation Hubs Program. This is a Queensland Government initiative designed to support innovation and entrepreneurship in regional Queensland. The upcoming workshop is an opportunity to understand how we can advance our unified vision for Innovation and Entrepreneurship on the Sunshine Coast Region.
The Australian Government recently announced that the NSRF will be refocussed to be eligible only to regional, rural and remote Australia. The new fund, to be known as the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF), aims to create jobs, drive economic growth, and enhance liveability in regional areas through investments in two streams: infrastructure projects and community investments. The new fund will assess infrastructure projects in three categories to ensure projects of a similar size will be ranked against each other, and small projects will not compete with major projects for funding. Guidelines for the BBRF are currently being developed. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor this website for future announcements regarding the new fund.http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/
The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development is currently providing advice to the Australian Government on NSRF Round Three applications. All applicants will be advised in writing of the outcome of their application in line with the NSRF Programme Guidelines.
– Darrell Edwards, CEO, Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast