1 June 2010

01-Jun-2010

Welcome to RRD's Inside the Region for the 1st June 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
•  Last Hurdle Overcome
•  Three Deputations to Community Cabinet
•  New Premises for New Organisation
•  Tony Mooney's Visit
•  AIM Expressions of Interest
•  Rocky River Run
•  Help Reinstate Rockhampton to Melbourne Flights

From the Desk of the Chief Executive

The last two weeks have witnessed the completion of a series of important steps in the merger of Rockhampton Regional Development with Capricorn Tourism to form a new economic development and tourism entity for the Rockhampton Region.

 

First, on 18 May, members of Capricorn Tourism & Development Organisation Inc voted unanimously to merge with Rockhampton Regional Development Limited to create Capricorn Tourism & Economic Development Limited. This vote removed the last legal obstacle to the amalgamation.

 

As part of the approval process it was announced Capricorn Tourism Chairman Grant Cassidy will chair the new company and Capricorn Tourism CEO Mary Carroll will be the new organisation’s first chief executive.

 

Second, on 24 May, former Townsville City Council Mayor Tony Mooney spent a day in Rockhampton updating RRD board and advisory committee members, Capricorn Tourism board members and Rockhampton Regional Councillors on the establishment and operations of Townsville Enterprise Ltd.

 

The two workshops were particularly well attended and informative. They gave those who will be involved in the new organisation at board and advisory committee level the chance of adapting strategies which have made Townsville Enterprise such a success to improve economic development and tourism in the Rockhampton region.

 

Finally, the new organisation has agreed to lease part of the first floor of the Channel 7 building at 130 Victoria Parade, Rockhampton as its office.

 

This will result in a change in its office from the fourth level where RRD presently resides to space three floors below.

 

There’ll be less need for the lift and more use of the stairs when the new organisation gets underway on 1 July 2010.

 

Rick Palmer

Acting Chief Executive

Rockhampton Regional Development
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Last Hurdle Overcome

The final formal obstacle to the merger of Rockhampton Regional Development with Capricorn Tourism was overcome on 18 May when the members of Capricorn Tourism & Development Organisation Inc unanimously approved three amalgamation resolutions recommended by their board.

 

The following resolutions which were approved by Cap Tourism’s members were:

 

• That Capricorn Tourism and Development Organisation Inc (CTDO) merge with Rockhampton Regional Development Limited (RRDL) to form a new Capricorn Tourism and Economic Development organisation.

   

• The Board of CTDO are authorised to determine and transfer the net assets and operations of the organisation to the new tourism and economic organisation.

   

• The merger of the CTDO with RRDL is contingent on RRDL also transferring its net assets and operations to the same legal entity.

 

CTDO chairman Grant Cassidy, who will chair the newly created Capricorn Tourism and Economic Development Ltd, said:

 

“Our vision is to create a high level dynamic organisation leveraging the strengths of two existing organisation by harnessing efforts and activities. We will create a focussed organisation that will re-position the region as powerhouse of Tourism and Economic Development and make up lost ground to ensure we are more competitive and raise the stakes in increasing and attracting visitation and investment, leading to an increase in economic development activity and jobs!

 

“We can’t keep doing the “same old thing” or we will continue to lag behind key competitive markets such as Townsville and Mackay. This region needs to raise the bar and compete better than we have, have a higher profile than we have, leverage off the strengths of the region better than we have – in short, we want to be the single “one-stop shop” offering a unique suite of products and services and working with all levels of government and the broader business community.”
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Three Deputations to Community Cabinet

Three deputations from Rockhampton Regional Development advisory committees spoke with ministers at the Queensland Community Cabinet meeting in Emu Park on 30 May and in Rockhampton the following day.

 

The Planning & Infrastructure Advisory Committee deputation, which met with the Minister for Infrastructure & Planning Stirling Hinchliffe, included Patrice Brown (chair), Geoff Higgins (deputy chair) and Graham Scott.

 

They spoke initially about the need for a major industrial/heavy vehicle link between the Bruce and Capricorn Highways which could open up the industrial land south of the Capricorn Highway, but to the west of the Gracemere Saleyards.

 

A Rockhampton Regional Council deputation also outlined the need for the opening up of land in the Gracemere-Stanwell Industrial Corridor, while a deputation of Gracemere industrial landholders spoke about the danger posed by the present Langley and Malchi rail crossings.

 

All three deputations were well received by various Queensland Government ministers.

 

The RRD presentation was developed at meetings attended by Patrice Brown, Geoff Higgins, Graham Scott, Bill Gannon, Cr Brad Carter, Terry Hill (Main Roads), Mick Cranny, Wayne Litherland, Peter Hielscher, Cecil Barnard and Bert Borland (Ergon Energy) and Rick Palmer. The actual presentation was a joint effort of Bill Gannon and Graham Scott.

 

The Planning & Infrastructure Advisory Committee also spoke with Minister Hinchliffe about problems posed by the Iconic Queensland Places Act.

 

Other deputations from the developers of the Oshen project in Yeppoon and from Capricorn Tourism also outlined problems which the Capricorn Coast is encountering with the act.

 

The Minister asked the RRD deputation members to put their points of view to the public review of the legislation in August.

 

Members of the Economic Development Advisory Committee undertook the third deputation to the Minister for Transport Rachel Nolan and included Glen Giles (chairman), Ray Conder and Rick Palmer.

 

They outlined the need to develop good road infrastructure between Rockhampton and Gladstone to enable Rockhampton residents to work in Gladstone and Gladstone residents to access the Rockhampton airport.

 

They requested funding be set aside to calculate the demand for these services.  A copy of their submission can be accessed here.
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New Premises for New Organsation

Capricorn Tourism and Economic Development Limited has agreed to lease space on the first floor of the Channel 7 building at 130 Victoria Parade, Rockhampton for its offices.

 

The space on the first floor, previously occupied by IPA Personnel, will after 1 July house RRD staff and Capricorn Tourism’s administrative and marketing staff who are presently located at The Spire.

 

The Spire’s visitor information centre will then be expanded to re-include areas which had been taken over for administrative and marketing purposes.
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Tony Mooney's Visit

Former Townsville City Council Mayor Tony Mooney spent a day in Rockhampton on 24 May explaining the structure and operations of Townsville Enterprise Limited (TEL) which he played a major role in establishing in the 1980s.

 

Tony is still on the TEL board representing Ergon Energy, of which he is a director.

 

As he has seen Townsville Enterprise through two restructures, he is well qualified to discuss the way TEL operates and explain its strategies.

 

The two presentations were open to RRD board and advisory committee members, Capricorn Tourism board members and Rockhampton Regional Councillors.

 

The first at lunch time was attended by 23 people while the 5pm workshop attracted another 13 people.

 

Those attending found Tony to be a fountain of knowledge on the ways to transform a large regional city to such an extent that Townsville’s growth has become self-sustaining.

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AIM Expressions of Interest

The Australian Institute of Management is calling for expressions of interest to become the Chairperson of their Rockhampton Regional Committee.

 

The role of the Regional Committee is to grow management and leadership excellence by supporting, development and promoting the profession of management at all levels.

 

For information about this position, click here.
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Rocky River Run

The Stanwell Power Station Rocky River Run is being held on Sunday 13 June.

 

The Rotary-organised run helps raise money for local charities working for the prevention of youth suicide.

 

There is a 5km run, 10km and a half marathon. To register as a runner, download a form. Teams are also welcome to register.

 

For more information about the run, click here.
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Help Reinstate Rockhampton to Melbourne Flights

Tiger Airways have announced a nationwide competition to determine the next direct flight from their new Melbourne base in Avalon.

 

This competition provides Rockhampton residents with the chance to reinstate the Rockhampton to Melbourne direct route which was cancelled earlier this year.

 

To vote, visit the Tiger Airways website.
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