REGIONAL Development Australia (RDA) WA has made appointments to each of its committees.

The appointment of the Chair and the Deputy Chair of the Kimberley, Mid West Gascoyne, Pilbara and Wheatbelt RDAs have been announced by the Australian Government.

RDA Kimberley – Cr Graeme Campbell (Chair); Cr Elsia Archer (Deputy)
RDA Mid West Gascoyne – Mrs Vickie Hablitz (Chair); Mrs Leonie Noble
RDA Pilbara – Cr Fiona White-Hartig (Chair); Cr Lynette Craigie (Deputy)
RDA Wheatbelt – Mr Graham Cooper (Chair); Mrs Heidi Cowcher (Deputy)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the three-year appointments will provide leadership to RDAs to develop a model where all three tiers of government work together.

“The RDA committees can play a key role in growing stronger regions across the nation and ensure all three tiers of government work together,” Mr Truss said.

“The committees will advise on priority activities that will unlock regional economic development and improve the productivity of their region.

“RDA committees will provide advice to Government on critical issues affecting each region and are an important mechanism to increase access to Australian Government programmes in their communities.

“The committees will assist community stakeholders to develop proposals and direct them to appropriate public and/or private funding sources – including the $1 billion National Stronger Regions Fund.”

Federal Member for Durack, Melissa Price said the four RDAs in Durack had undertaken valuable work over past years and that an important role over the coming term will be to work efficiently and productively across the tiers of government for the benefit of the community.

“This will require some readjustments and prioritising, if the real benefits of inter government collaboration are to be realised.”

Regional Development Australia consists of a national network of 55 committees designed to strongly focus on regional economic development and facilitate local projects that aim to make a difference in their local communities.

The Chair and Deputy Chair will now move promptly to appoint a team of active local community leaders to support them.

Mr Truss and Ms Price thanked retiring committee Chairs and members for their service and wished the new committees well as they work to deliver stronger local regions.

More information on the Australian Government’s National Stronger Regions Fund is available at: www.infrastructure.gov.au

For more information and the latest news from the national RDA network visit: www.rda.gov.au