Far North Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy
Source: Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources. Media Release.
" In the lead up to Queensland’s Growth Management Summit, Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson has announced plans to secure a long-term water strategy for far north Queensland. The Far North Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy will focus on the future water needs for urban, rural and industrial water users in the wider Cairns area, up to Port Douglas, out to Ravenshoe and west to Dimbulah."

Research project begins for the provision of therapy services in rural and remote NSW
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Aging and Minister for Disability Services. Media Release.
"The NSW Minister for Disability Services Paul Lynch welcomed the start of a major research project into the provision of therapy services in rural and remote NSW. Mr Lynch said the four year project, a joint enterprise between Ageing Disability and Home Care (ADHC) and the University of Sydney would focus on the effectiveness of the delivery of psychology and therapy services to people with disabilities living in rural and remote NSW."

Land clearing guidelines: Northern Territory Planning Scheme
Source: NT Government
Key changes from the 2006 Guidelines include:
· A heavy onus on landowners to prove that their proposed land clearing applications are sustainable.
· Specific regulations for the Daly River region such as the 1km buffer zone;
· Requirements to ensure greenhouse gas emissions from landclearing are properly estimated;
· All applications above 200ha will be referred to the minister to determine whether additional investigations are warranted through an Environmental Impact Statement.

XSEL program launched.
Source: NSW. Minister for Education and Training. Media Release.
"The Minister for Education and Training Verity Firth will join 30 students from remote
parts of NSW who will use the latest technology including laptops, interactive whiteboards,
web streaming and videoconferencing as part of a new virtual selective school.
The Government’s new xsel program allows academically gifted students in remote areas to
remain at home, close to their family and friends, instead of travelling to regional centres to
attend selective schools."

Water Resource Plan for Wet Tropics
Source: Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. Media Release
"North and Far North Queensland communities have an opportunity to have their say on the State Government’s proposed Water Resource Plan for the Wet Tropics.
Announcing the start of the planning process Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson said it was important the community and other stakeholders had an input into future water use for the area. “We are developing a 10-year Water Resources Plan to ensure sustainable allocations and management of water resources and help secure this unique environmental feature for the next generation,” he said.
“The Wet Tropics has some 2100 water bores in use making it the third highest for any water plan area in Queensland and there is significant demand to extract more surface and groundwater. The Bligh Government wants to ensure these water resources are managed in a sustainable way while maintaining a balance with economic development in the region."

First National Forum for Regional Development Champions
Source: Australia. Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Media release
"Maxine McKew, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development, has announced that Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees from across the country will come together at the first RDA National Forum in Canberra on 18 March. Ms McKew said the Forum would provide a valuable opportunity for the committees to exchange information and ideas about issues facing their regions, as well as strategies to address these common challenges. The first RDA National Forum will take place at Parliament House and will include keynote addresses from pre-eminent thinkers on issues affecting regional Australia."

Regional Economic Development and Employment Strategy (REDES)
Source: NSW. Premier. Media Release.
"The NSW Government today announced the Central Coast regional development vision to
support 45,000 new jobs, new businesses and industries in the region over the next 20 year.
Premier Keneally said the Regional Economic Development and Employment Strategy
(REDES) will support the growing population of the Central Coast – expected to be 405,000
by 2031 - an additional 100,000 people moving in."

Productivity Commission inquiry into rural research and development
Source: Australia. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Media Release.
"Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke. The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, have today announced the terms of reference for a Productivity Commission inquiry into rural research and development corporation arrangements. The Australian Government collects industry levies under legislation for the purpose of research and development and matches expenditure on research and development on a 1:1 basis, up to 0.5 per cent of industry gross value of production."

NEW FUNDING FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN QLD
Source: Queensland. Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland. Media Release
"The Bligh Government has committed $7.52M over the next four years to ensure all of the state’s regional and remote development organisations have access to funding. MP Wayne Wendt on behalf of Minister Mulherin today announced the new arrangements, which include an additional $1.26M to be distributed. “The 2010-2014 Queensland Regional Development Initiative (QRDI) will support economic development projects and activities across six regions,” the MP said. “We have been supporting the excellent work of a number regional and remote area development organisations throughout Queensland. “Under the new arrangements, five remote area development organisations will share in $2M funding over the next four years."

NEW STRATEGY FOR TOURISM RESILIENCE
Australia. Minister for Tourism, Media Release.
"Martin Ferguson AM MP, has outlined the Government’s commitment to a strong and competitive tourism industry, unveiling the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy and announcing more than $8 million in TQUAL Grants funding. The National Long-Term Tourism Strategy provides a work plan for skills, infrastructure and removing barriers to investment, giving investors greater confidence in the sector’s long-term prospects. The work plan includes better research for the industry and improving regulation to encourage more tourism investment.Visit www.ret.gov.au/tqual for TQUAL Grants details."

Review of Regional Provision of Higher Education
Australia. Minister for Education. Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Minister for Social Inclusion. Deputy Prime Minister. Acting Minister for Workplace Relations. Joint Media release.
"The Acting Minister for Education, Senator Kim Carr, today released an issues paper to encourage discussion within the Australian higher education sector about the best way to fund flexible and sustainable regional higher education. The Review of Regional Loading – Issues for Regional Provision is part of the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to Transforming Australia’s Higher Education System and response to the Bradley Review. The Review of Regional Loading will examine the cost of providing quality teaching and learning in regional Australia as well as current funding arrangements, with the aim of developing a new, more logical basis for funding..."

VICTORIA’S REGIONAL ECONOMIES TO GROW EVEN STRONGER
Source: Victoria. Minister for Regional & Rural Development. Media Release
"Victoria’s regional and rural economies are set to grow even stronger after the Brumby Labor Government combined Regional and Rural Development portfolio with Industry and Trade. Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan acquired Industry and Trade and said the economic development super-portfolio would make it easier to attract more investment to regional Victoria as well as ensuring continued investment in metropolitan Victoria.“With both portfolios allocated to one Minister, investors will be more aware than ever before of the incredible opportunities in regional and rural Victoria,” she said.“This will mean more jobs, stronger investment, and secured lifestyles for regional and rural cities and towns.” Ms Allan said regional and rural Victoria was an integral part of Victoria’s industry and trade future."

JOBS BOOST FOR VICTORIAN SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES
Sources: Victoria. Minister for Regional & Rural Development. Media Release
"A program linking regional and rural businesses to major infrastructure projects will be rolled out across Victoria beginning this month after the Brumby Labor Government committed $150,000 to the project. Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said the extension of the government’s Regional Industry Link program would offer more jobs for Victorians employed by small and medium businesses across the state.“The pilot connected 3000 businesses from 26 regional and rural councils to $9 billion worth of private and public building projects across Victoria during its 18 month trial period,” Ms Allan said."

$16.35m To Boost Rural Education In Tasmania
Source: Tasmania. The Premier
Rural, regional and disadvantaged communities across the State will benefit from an increased presence of the Tasmanian Polytechnic and Academy through a $16.35 million boost to rural education. Mr Bartlett said that funding commitments would go a long way towards supporting young people to continue with education and training in their local communities.

Digital Projects to Improve Services in Regional Communities
Source: Australia. Prime Minister. Media Release
"The Prime Minister today announced a $26.5 million investment in the first seven Digital Regions projects that will deliver more connected health, education and emergency services in regional, rural and remote communities across Australia.
The Prime Minister made the announcement at the Realising our Broadband Future Forum held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney."

Queenslanders will develop new Community Plans for cities and towns
Source: Queensland. Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. Media Release
"Local Government Minister Desley Boyle has announced a July 1 start date for the much-anticipated new Local Government Act 2009. Cities and towns across Queensland will also be developing their first ever Community Plans, setting down Queenslanders’ vision for the future of their communities. “The July start date was suggested by councils, the Local Government Association of Queensland and unions,” Ms Boyle said."

State Parliament passes Royalties for Regions Bill
Source: Western Australia. Dept of Regional Development
"The State Government’s Royalties for Regions Bill has been passed in State Parliament. Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls welcomed the passage of the legislation which provided a legislative base for the Royalties for Regions program’s continuing operation.
“This is an historic result for regional Western Australians and ensures there is a continuing focus on regional development into the future,” Mr Grylls said. The Bill provides for the equivalent of 25 per cent of the State’s annual mining and onshore petroleum royalties to be returned to the regions for additional investment in projects, infrastructure and community services in the regions."

First batch of Neighbourhood Safer Places announced
Source: NSW. Minister for Emergency Services. Media release.
"Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan has announced the locations of the first set of new Neighbourhood Safer Places, bush fire safety refuges.Mr Whan said the Neighbourhood Safer Places concept was identified as an additional safety measure for bush fire prone communities following the Victorian bush fires in February"Neighbourhood Safer Places are community refuges where people can go at short notice if a major fire is threatens, or if they had decided to stay and defend their home but then find this is too dangerous in the fire conditions," Mr Whan said. "

Royal Commission Building Report Welcomed
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
"The Australian Government has welcomed the release of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission’s interim report on priorities for building in bushfire prone areas. The Australian Government supports the Commission’s recommendations on the three priorities identified in the report, namely:
* regulation of bushfire bunkers;
* revision of some aspects of the Australian Standard for the construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas; and
* revision of the Standards Australia Handbook on building in bushfire prone areas.
The Australian Government supports the development of a national standard for the construction of personal bushfire bunkers as a matter of urgency. While bunkers are not the entire solution to bushfire survival, when built and used appropriately they can be used as a last resort for people faced with an impending bushfire front."

ARTS AND CULTURE ACTION PLAN SET TO ENRICH QUEENSLAND COMMUNITIES
Source: Queensland. Premier and Minister for the Arts. Media Release
"Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh forecast a healthy future for Queensland culture with the launch of a statewide action plan to keep arts in the regions thriving.
“artbeat: Regional Arts and Culture Strategy 2010-2014 is important because it affects all Queenslanders who live in regional and remote areas. “It commits the Government to working with regional communities, our partners in local and federal government and with arts organisations to achieve common goals. These goals include using arts and culture to build stronger communities and to give opportunities for people to take part in arts and culture."