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Enews

February 2009

In this edition

AU$3.5 million funding is available to the Goldfields-Esperance region thru the Royalties for Regions Services and Infrastructure Grants Scheme.

Royalties for regions

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GEDC CEO Robert Hicks travelled with Minister Grylls to Geraldton for the 12th February 09 launch.

Royalties for Regions heralds an exciting new era for investment in regional Western Australia. By putting funding back into regional areas of Western Australia, the State Government is helping to build stronger communities.

The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission Regional Grants Scheme is one of a series of funding initiatives designed to make the Goldfields-Esperance region an even better place to live, work and grow.

Funding is available under the scheme to improve economic and community infrastructure and services in the region. Priority will be given to projects that will assist in attracting investment and increasing jobs or help to improve the quality of life in the region.

Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission CEO Robert Hicks said "we're very keen that the projects which will be funded will have the capacity to increase investment and jobs and improve the quality of life within the region".

Applications can be downloaded from the GEDC website http://www.gedc.wa.gov.au/

Further support funding opportunities maybe available by visiting the new grants online directory at http://www.dlgrd.wa.gov.au/

Over the horizon 2009

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ITC Regional Forrestry Manager Ian Duncan, Hon Wendy Duncan MLC and Esperance Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Marcus Tromp at Over the Horizon

The inaugural Over the Horizon business and industry forum held in Esperance received a great response with over 110 delegates attending.

An iniative of the GEDC the forum was coordinated by the GEDC and Esperance Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and included a first class line up of presenters from a range of companies and key organisations in the region.

Presentations were conducted by:

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Regional Development Wendy Duncan MLC was the key note speaker and outlined the government's plans on developing regional WA and the significant role Royalties for Regions will have in sustaining regional growth.

GEDC Senior Project Officer Shane Liddelow said "the range of presenters attracted a diverse cross section of delegates, and despite the global downturn there still exists a number of companies and organisations continuing to develop and ramp up their operations".

"The information provided at the forum should instill confidence in the local business and industry groups and allow them to continue to plan for the future".

"Given the exceptional response for the first forum we will be considering making the forum an annual event".

GEWDA launch

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GEDC CEO Robert Hicks, Minister for Energy Training, the Hon. Peter Collier MLC, with GEWDA Chairman Bill Mckenzie and GEDC Chairman Graham Thomson at the GEWDA launch.

On January 30 the much anticipated Goldfields - Esperance Development Workforce Plan was launched by the Minister for Energy; Training, the Hon. Peter Collier MLC.

The plan was designed in response to serious labour shortages across a range of sectors and occupational groups that threatened to constrain economic growth and prevent the region meeting its full potential.

The plan contains a series of action points, research and advocacy activities recommended by the research consultants. The plan is divided into three main sections:

1. Attraction and Retention
2. Education and Training
3. Monitoring and Evaluation

Implementation of the 10 year plan will be undertaken over the next two years, with the majority of the work required done in the first 12 months.

Further information on the report can be obtained by visiting the follwing website http://www.stb.wa.gov.au/

$40million for WA regional telecentres

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Leonora Telecentre Coordinator, Nicky Taylor

WA regional telecentres will receive AU$40 million dollars over the next four years as part of the Royalties for Region funding scheme.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls recently announced new funding for the WA Telecentre Network with an initial AU$5 million to be allocated this financial year, including an immediate boost of AU$10,000 for each facility.

Mr Grylls said there were more than 100 not-for-profit facilities in the WA Telecentre Network in regional Western Australia and this additional funding would help them expand and enhance their services.

“These are important centres that are community-owned and operated and provide access to some core services for people living and working in regional communities throughout the state,” he said.

“Their services include providing access to computers and high-speed internet; two-way video conferencing; education and training; as well as government information and referral services.”

To reflect the increased role, the telecenters will be renamed Community Resource Centres and would form part of the WA Community Resource Network.

The minister also announced that in addition to the AU$10,000 immediate increase to the operational support grant for each of the centres, the first phase of the new funding would include a one off grant of up to AU$10,000 for minor refurbishment work and equipment upgrades. There would also be an immediate increase in funding available for community based projects.

Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations Indefinite Suspension

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Aerial view of Hopetoun

On 21 January 2009 BHP-Biliton announced the indefenite suspension of it's Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation (RNO).

The closure of the mine has had a severe impact on the towns of Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe
as many of the mine’s workforce had taken the opportunity to buy houses in Hopetoun, and many small businesses had been established to either cater for the expanded population or to provide support services to the mine site.

Substantial social infrastructure had also been constructed to assist the local Shire in delivering services to the expanded local community.

To help manage the issues arising from the indefinite suspension Premier Colin Barnett and Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls have established a taskforce to deal with the issues.

The Government has also provided an initial assistance package of AU$5 million, to allow the Shire of Ravensthorpe to maintain local services and to provide grant assistance to local businesses. The State Government also gave a commitment to retain essential State Government services at their present levels for up to six months.

GEDC CEO Robert Hicks sits on the taskforce and GEDC board member Tony Bright has been appointed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet as the ‘on the ground’ coordinator of the taskforce.The GEDC board recently met with BHP Biliton in Hopetoun and were briefed on the closure and what support they were providing to affected workers and businesses.

Mr Bright will play a key role in the assessment of the effect of the closure on the Shire, local businesses and the community in both Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun, as well as coordinating the deployment of government agencies to ensure that they are delivered to the best effect to meet the community’s needs.

Mr Bright comes with a detailed knowledge of both the Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun communities, as well as BHP-B’s nickel project, through his previous role as a GEDC Project Manager during the development phase of the public infrastructure and services necessary to cater for the mine and its workforce in the region.

GERDS funding announcements

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Robert Balgaret and Glen Symonds from the South East Football Academy

The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission is pleased to announce that 11 projects have been successful in receiving funding support thru the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Development Scheme.

The successful projects will help enable organisations to provide additional social and economic benefits to the community, plus aid in the attraction and retention of people to the region.

Projects to receive funding from the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Development Scheme 2008-2009 include:

Page last reviewed: 13 March 2009

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