CEO intro
Hello to all,
2020 has started with a bang for RDAMIW – fresh off the heels of starting a New Year, we organised and delivered an Infrastructure Workshop in early Feb 2020, focused at MIW stakeholders having the capacity to inform and influence the reforms and policy initiatives associated with infrastructure development. Supported by Infrastructure Australia, the workshop attracted over 50 regional leaders in infrastructure planning and implementation. It is hoped that, from the workshop, regional stakeholders continue to engage with Infrastructure Australia and have influence toward national reform, planning and strategy processes.
While on the subject of workshops, we are also set to deliver two workshops (Moranbah and Mackay) in April 2020 focusing on improving regional community and SME business skills and capabilities in finding and completing grant applications. These workshop follow on from similar workshops run in the Whitsundays in late 2019.
February has also seen the formal release of the MIW Agribusiness Export Study – funded by CRC Nth Aus, RDAMIW, NQBP, GW3, and BGGA. The purpose of the study was to identify and map the export freight task for MIW agri-food products and associated waste, and identify potential markets which will deliver a sustainable future for the MIW regional economy. Key recommendations from the study will now seek to be implemented to support agribusiness export growth within emerging and innovative industries in the MIW region.
This month RDAMIW has also committed investment and resources support toward the following;
- The MIW METS Export Project – a project partnership involving federal and state government, RDAMIW, RIN, GW3, MRC, IRC, WRC, and METS Ignited. The project seeks to better understand MIW METS sector capabilities and capacity to export products and services and, in doing so, also offer business development support to local METS businesses to achieve export aspirations.
- The Bowen food processing study – funding from RDAMIW to BGGA to support efforts in the commercial identification and production of food supplements from horticulture waste in Bowen.
- RDAMIW Committee committed $20K in investment toward the development of a future Regional Infrastructure Deal, which will support the development of a Regional Infrastructure Investment Proposal aligned to government investment.
- Development of a MIW Agribusiness Futures Committee and Initiative - linked to the Growing Greater Whitsunday Agribusiness Futures Road Map and the MIW Agribusiness Export Study. The focus is to have private, public and industry input toward actions that overcome common challenges and support aspirations within agriculture - key areas of focus may include workforce attraction and retention, job skilling, water and energy security, processing infrastructure, Ag Tech, and many other areas.
It is looking like 2020 will be a very busy year and one where RDAMIW hopes its efforts, collaborations and partnerships will enhance the region's economic development and growth - so stay tuned for more updates in upcoming newsletters.
Robert Cocco,
RDAMIW CEO
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