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A stronger voice for regional Australia

2 July 2009

The three tiers of Australian goverment have reached agreement on a new regional consultative body, Regional Development Australia (RDA).

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 announced the agreement in Adelaide.

 "RDA SA will work across all three tiers of government to help ensure regional projects remain responsive to local communities' needs," says Ms McKew after signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

"For the Australian Government this is about getting the best local advice in a co-ordinated way.

"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 Australian Government has already made the greatest commitment in our history to community infrastructure. That commitment is now worth more than $1 billion."

Minister Caica says the South Australian Government believes RDA SA will put in place an agenda of renewal and opportunity for the State'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 says.

 "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 South Australia's Strategic Plan," Mr Caica says.

LGA SA President Felicity-ann Lewis says: '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 and regional development boards.

Ms McKew says she is confident that RDA SA will build on the success of the committees and boards 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," says Minister Caica.