4 May 2010

Welcome to RRD's Inside the Region for the 4th May 2010. Below you'll find links to this fortnight's articles. Click on the link to jump to the article.

Jump to article:

•  From the Desk of the Chief Executive
•  Tourism Members to Vote on Merger
•  Creating Inclusive Communities
•  YouthInvest
•  SEQ Daylight Savings Feedback
•  Networking for Effective Engagement

The CQ Leading the Way Regional Summit 2010, which was held in Dysart on 15-16 April, may well turn out to be one of the critical steps in enabling Central Queensland to reach its full economic and social potential.

The summit, which was organised by the CQ Local Government Association as a follow on to the Queensland Government’s Growth Summit in Brisbane at the end of March, attracted almost 100 delegates from throughout the region.

Those attending the Dysart conference were given the opportunity to understand the context in which the next burst of economic growth, and it’s likely to be protracted,  will take place.  Some commentators talk of the next step in the mining boom as lasting as long as 30 years!

They were given the chance of understanding the implications of this growth from a Central Queensland wide perspective. Considerable time was given to looking at the cumulative social and environmental impacts. 

Previously, we’ve had the limitation of looking at these issues on project by project basis. However, developments in the Bowen Basin over the past five years have highlighted the need to look at the cumulative impacts.

The coming growth spurt will be based upon the continuing development of the Bowen Basin, the opening up of the Galilee and Surat Basins for coal and the massive growth of LNG in all coal basins. These projects require very significant infrastructure for rail and ports. All of this may result in many large projects taking place at the same time.

Those who have heard the raw numbers before had the chance of understanding the full impact. Many of those delegates now have the chance helping put these massive projects in place while at the same time protecting CQ’s lifestyle and environment.

Rick Palmer

Acting Chief Executive

Rockhampton Regional Development Limited
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Tourism Members to Vote on Merger

The final legal step relating to the merger of Rockhampton Regional Development and Capricorn Tourism will take place on 18 May 2010 when Capricorn Tourism members vote on the creation of the new combined entity. The meeting will take place at 6pm at the CQ NRL Bid Leagues Club.

As part of the process, Rockhampton Regional Council has already resolved to provide annual funding of $750,000 to the new organisation and the RRD members unanimously voted in favour of the merger.

The merger steering committee, which is chaired by Grant Cassidy, has been working carefully through the process issues relating to the merger in expectation of a positive vote from the Capricorn Tourism members.

This work will gain extra momentum if the Capricorn Tourism members approve the amalgamation.

Other members of the merger steering committee are Mick Cranny, Ian Mill and Michelle Comley, with Rick Palmer and Mary Carroll acting as advisors.

It is expected the new organisation will commence operations on 1 July. The two existing structures will then be wound up over the following year.

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Creating Inclusive Communities

Australia’s social landscape is changing.

New and emergent social issues in Australia will require individuals, businesses, communities and government to think and respond differently.

The National Disability Services’ Building Belonging: Creating Inclusive Communities week is occurring from the 17-21 May in Rockhampton.

The week will provide an opportunity to gain information on the social inclusion agenda and how it can be incorporated into business practices.

For details on what is happening during the week, visit their website.

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YouthInvest

Are you interested in the skills and knowledge of our future workforce while addressing the needs of your industry and business?

Then YouthInvest with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland would like to hear from you.

YouthInvest is a School Business Community Partnership Broker, funded by the Commonwealth of Australia.

This new national program has been established to work with stakeholders to improve young people’s education and transition outcomes.

For more information, contact Lee Paradies on 0424 751 815 or go to their website.

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SEQ Daylight Savings Feedback

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has asked regional MPs to provide feedback on the government’s plan to introduce a SEQ trial for daylight savings.

Residents from Coolangatta to Cooktown are also invited to join the debate online through the Premier’s website.

The forum will be open until 31 May 2010 and can be accessed here.
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Networking for Effective Engagement
Rockhampton Regional Council will be holding their next Networking for Effective Engagement event on Thursday 20 May.

The guest speaker will be Dr Mark Brophy, the director of Australian Study Circles Network, who will present “Dialogue to Change”.

Find out how dialogue and deliberation can help communities find ways to work together and solve their problems.

For more information about this event, click here.

Dr Brophy will also be conducting an orientation workshop on the Dialogue to Change program on Friday 21 May.

For more information about the workshop, download a brochure.

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