Welcome to the RDA Wheatbelt NSRF Information Session Guest presenter - Colleen Yates, Executive Officer, RDA Perth
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE NATIONAL STRONGER REGIONS FUND Colleen Yates Executive Officer RDA Perth
TODAYS PRESENTATION • Regional Development – what is it? • National Stronger Regions Fund – essentials • Preparing an application – some basics
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTRALIA 1993 – Regional Development Commission Act Regional Development Australia uses the boundaries as defined by the 1993 Act Alignment with Wheatbelt Development Commission boundaries All regions utilise LGA boundaries
The Wheatbelt Region • Comprises an area of 154,862 sq km. • Home to approximately 73,817 people. • Third most populous region in the State. Central South Avon Brookton Beverley Corrigin Cunderdin Cuballing Dowerin Dumbleyung Goomalling Kondinin Koorda Kulin Northam Lake Grace Quairading Narrogin Shire Tammin Narrogin Town Toodyay Pingelly Wyalkatchem Wagin York Wandering West Arthur Central East Wickepin Bruce Rock Williams Kellerberrin Merredin Central Midlands Mt Marshall Chittering Dalwallinu Mukinbudin Moora Narembeen Victoria Plains Nungarin Trayning Wongan-Ballidu Westonia Central Coast Dandaragan & Gingin Yilgarn
Regional Development Australia (RDA) is a national network of committees fostering regional economic development. RDA Committees work with all three tiers of government, regional business and the wider community to boost the economic capability and performance of their region.
ALIGNMENT State: Federal: 1. Kimberley DC (4) 1. RDA Kimberley (4) 2. Pilbara DC (4) 2. RDA Pilbara (4) 3. Gascoyne DC (5) 3. RDA Gascoyne/Mid 4. Mid West DC (17) West (22) 5. Goldfields-Esperance DC 4. RDA Goldfields- (9) Esperance (9) 6. Wheatbelt DC (43) 5. RDA Wheatbelt (43) 7. Peel DC (5) 6. RDA Peel (5) 8. South West DC (12) 7. RDA South West (12) 9. Great Southern DC (11) 8. RDA Great Southern (11) Statutory Authorities 9. RDA Perth (29) Department of Regional Incorporated Bodies Development Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development
2014-15 RDA Wheatbelt Priorities Service Delivery Reform, with a specific focus on: Children’s Services - Aged Care - Workforce Development Support the implementation of significant regional planning documents including the Wheatbelt Integrated Aged Support and Care Solutions and Wheatbelt Workforce Development Plan Develop a Wheatbelt Children’s Services Plan Telecommunications Implement priority actions identified in the Wheatbelt Digital Action Plan with a particular focus on digital learning, connectivity/access and leadership/advocacy Transport Provide regional leadership and advocacy to guide investment decisions toward priority infrastructure required for the region to grow and prosper Promote economic growth and development of the region Work with the Wheatbelt Development Commission to produce and market sub-regional economic prospectuses
National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF) Overview • $1 billion Commonwealth Government program • Funding will be allocated over 5 years to fund priority infrastructure in local communities that promotes economic development in Australia’s regions and are sustainable into the future • Assisting disadvantaged areas to achieve growth • Encouraging strong partnerships with the private sector and local and state governments
Key Points • Competitive grants programme • Grants between $20,000 and $10 million are available • Grant funding must be matched in cash on at least a dollar for dollar basis • Funding will be provided for capital projects which involve construction of new infrastructure, or the upgrade, extension or enhancement of existing infrastructure
Key Points • Projects selected for funding should deliver an economic benefit to the region beyond the period of construction, and should support disadvantaged regions or areas of disadvantage within a region • Round Two will open on 1 May 2015 and close 31 July 2015 • Applications to be appraised by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development who will make recommendations to a Ministerial Panel • Decisions will be made in consultation with the National Infrastructure Committee of Cabinet
Eligibility – Who? Eligible Organisations Local councils Not-for-profit organisations (not owned by a Local, State or Territory Govt) Other organisations can participate where they are a member of a consortium led by an eligible applicant Ineligible Organisations X State and Northern Territory governments X State and Territory owned corporations and Not-for-profits X Organisations primarily supported by other Commonwealth programmes and initiatives such as universities, technical colleges, schools, hospitals X RDA Committees For profit organisations X
Eligibility – What? Eligible Projects must be: Projects which involve the construction of new infrastructure, or the upgrade, extension or enhancement of existing infrastructure Seek funding of at least $20,000 and up to $10M Have cash co-funding on at least $1 for $1 Deliver an economic benefit to the region beyond the period of construction Complete the NSRF funded component by 31 December 2019 Provide all mandatory documents Ineligible Projects are those that: x Do not deliver sustainable economic benefits x Are eligible for funding under the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) x Seek to shift costs from State or Local Govt to the Commonwealth; and/or x Are integral elements of hospitals (which are funded by other Govt initiatives)
Eligibility – What? • In addition grant funding from the NSRF cannot be used for the following: X expenditure incurred prior to the announcement that the project has been successful in its application for NSRF funding X provision of services and support activities X soft infrastructure, including computer software or hardware that is not an integral part of the funded capital project payment of salaries for new or existing staff or contractors, or X administrative overhead items, including office equipment, vehicles or X mobile capital equipment, for example trucks and earthmoving equipment
Assessment Criteria – Economic Growth • Criterion 1: the extent to which the Project contributes to economic growth in the region Most important criterion as it has been given a 50% weighting Guidelines contain examples of what might constitute economic growth Demonstrate link between project and economic growth Provide evidence to support claims Identify any social and community benefits
What is Economic Growth? Economic growth relates to those benefits generated by new or improved infrastructure, and can be described in terms of the ability to generate additional income through more efficient use of resources and improved trade opportunities.
What is Economic Growth? You have two cows…. JAPANESE: You redesign them so they are 1/10 the size of an ordinary cow, and produce the milk of 20 cows. You then create a clever cow cartoon image called cowkimon and market them worldwide. ITALIAN: You don’t know where they are. You decide to have lunch . BRITISH: Both are mad. AUSTRALIAN: Business seems pretty good. You close the office and go for a few beers to celebrate. AMERICAN: You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. Later, you hire a consultant to analyse why the cow has dropped dead.
What is Economic Growth? Does the project support and encourage: • Job creation and economic participation • Opportunities for participation of local and regional businesses • Opportunities for new business investment • Jobs and pathways to employment for disadvantaged communities
What is Economic Growth? ECONOMIC IMPACT (Multipliers! Multipliers! Multipliers!) Demonstrate the return on public investment: that every dollar invested creates more than a dollar’s worth of value in the community, such as : Direct impacts . Measured by new health and community services, and number of jobs generated by grantee activities (e.g., wages, salaries and benefits paid directly to grant-supported employees/contractors) Indirect impacts . Result of “second round” of spending that occurs when grantees purchase goods and services from local businesses Induced impacts . Occur when employees of the grantees and of firms that sell goods and services to the grantees in turn spend their earnings on local goods and services
Assessment Criteria – Addresses disadvantage Criterion 2: Demonstrate the extent to which the Project supports or addresses disadvantage in a region Project should support disadvantaged regions or areas of disadvantage Demonstrate link between project and disadvantage Provide evidence to demonstrate link and benefits Guidelines give examples of indicators that could be used to demonstrate disadvantage
What is disadvantage? Does the project address relative lack of opportunity and community disadvantage • Transport issues • Areas of high unemployment • Youth issues • Indigenous disadvantage • Weak social networks • Aging demographics • Health and wellbeing
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