RDA Riverina - facilitating regional growth and prosperity

The Australian Government is investing $48 million to improve mobile coverage in regional New South Wales, enhancing connectivity and supporting local communities.

Submissions are now open for the very best satirical art for the 2025 Bald Archy Prize, with a $10,000 first prize up for grabs.

The Federal Government has announced it will provide up to $80 million in financing to help Rex Airlines maintain its regional routes during an extension of its voluntary administration process. The funding will support the airline’s critical services to regional communities across Australia.

The NSW Government will waive tuition fees for children of parents holding Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visas, starting in Term 1, 2025. This policy, aimed at addressing skills shortages in regional areas, will allow families to access free public education, saving up to $7,400 per year in fees.

Applications are now open for Creative Nations NSW, a funding program designed to support and strengthen First Nations artists, organisations, and communities across New South Wales. With funding available between $10,000 and $100,000, this initiative is aimed at fostering the growth and sustainability of First Nations arts and culture.

The 2024 Regional Development Australia (RDA) National Forum brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss key issues and opportunities facing regional Australia.

This workshop, facilitated by Enterprise Plus Business Advisor, Court Sayer-Roberts, is specifically designed for small businesses catering to both newcomers and established businesses.

A free education tool is now available to help all Australian small business stay cyber-safe and protect against financial loss.

MNHP Round 3 is providing $20 million (GST exclusive) in grant funding for Resilience Upgrades to mobile telecommunications infrastructure to reduce the risk of outages and improve restoration times during and after a Natural Disaster.

We’re thrilled to share the highlights from our inaugural meeting hosted by Regional Development Australia and held at Transgrid Wagga Wagga.

Regional Development Australia are launching Country Change Spring 2024 Magazine: A guide to discovering the unique lifestyle, community spirit and career opportunities beyond the city limits.

Local communities can help to identify potential locations for the next round of Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP) funding through a Project Noticeboard opened by the Albanese Government today.
 
Round 8 of the MBSP – which will open for applications from industry later this year - will provide $55 million in Government co-funding, targeted at natural disaster-prone locations in regional and rural Australia to better assist local communities during and after emergencies.

Wagga Wagga City Council is inviting the community’s input on its proposed 10-year plan of management for the Lake Albert precinct.

The draft Lake Albert Plan of Management is now on public exhibition and is open to public submissions until 7 November through an online submission on our Have Your Say Wagga Wagga website.

The Government opened a Project Noticeboard for Round 3 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program to allow local governments and local parliamentarians to submit potential mobile network resilience upgrade projects or locations for consideration by potential applicants when preparing their applications for funding.  Projects submitted to the Project Noticeboard must be located in:

• regional, remote and peri-urban Australia; and

• have been impacted by, or at risk of, Natural Disasters.

Griffith City Council invites residents to have their say and help shape our region’s housing future.

Griffith is growing, and the demand for diverse housing options across our region is becoming increasingly evident. To ensure we meet the evolving needs of our community, Council has engaged consultants, PSA Consulting, to conduct a comprehensive review of the Griffith Housing Strategy, originally prepared in 2019.

Regional airports and aerodromes can now apply for a share in $25 million in funding for vital upgrades under Round 4 of the Regional Airports Program.
Eligible projects can include upgrades to runways, drainage, lighting, fencing, navigation and safety training.
Under Round 4, in addition to safety and access works, funding can be used for projects that will help with the transition to net zero in aviation.

Devices that depend on the 3G network won’t work when it’s gone.

Impacted devices may include phones, smartwatches, tablets, in-home personal emergency alarms, EFTPOS terminals and fire and security alarms.

A record number of community groups across regional NSW are set to thrive with much-needed funding following Transgrid’s latest round of its Community Partnerships Program.

The 61 community organisations that received grants are located across the state, including Armidale, Coleambally, Cootamundra, Deniliquin, Hay, Junee, Moulamein, Tumbarumba, Uranquinty, Wagga Wagga, Wentworth and Yass.

Now in its fifth year, the initiative aims to help regional based businesses and individuals transform their great ideas into game-changing achievements.

Run in partnership with the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), the Innovate with nbn Grants Program is part of our commitment to lift the digital capability of people and business in regional Australia.

RDA Riverina recently held their third board meeting for 2024 in Coolamon. Board members met on September 5th for strategic planning, followed by lunch and a town tour with Coolamon Shire Council.

Regional Development Australia (RDA) Riverina are conducting research into the availability of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services in our region.

The information collected in these surveys will be de-identified and complied into our report on ECEC availability in the Riverina which will be used to advocate for communities across our region.

Applications are now open for community infrastructure projects to seek funding under the second round of the Albanese Government’s $600 million Growing Regions Program. 

For Round 2, $393 million in funding is available to invest in community infrastructure projects across regional and rural Australia. 

The program provides funding for capital works projects such as libraries, parks, multi-purpose community centres, and sport and cultural facilities that enhance liveability, bolster social cohesion and support local amenity. 

The NSW Government’s 'The Welcome Experience' is expanding across the Riverina, after a successful pilot in Griffith delivered by Regional Development Australia Riverina (RDA Riverina).

This initiative, which has already seen success in Griffith since its launch in July 2023, is designed to help essential workers settle into the region with free personalised support.

Essential workers (and their families) who are considering applying for or have accepted a job in regional NSW are linked with a ‘Local Connector’ from the community who provides advice, introductions and support throughout the whole relocation process.

Food Agility, Charles Sturt University and RACEfor 2030 CRC are launching the Australian Agri-Renewables Innovation Challenge, offering significant investment and support to fast-track new technologies and services.

Applications are now open around the themes of energy, chemicals and fertilisers, and agricultural waste
and residues.

Charles Sturt University will provide one third co-investment for successful applicants or ‘challengers’ from a $2 million investment pool.

Eighteen local community groups and charities will share in a combined $155,693.50 in funding for projects and initiatives through the 2024 ClubGRANTS scheme.

The successful recipients were announced at a presentation ceremony at the Rules Club Wagga Wagga on Thursday morning (22 August).

The Aviation White Paper sets out the Australian Government’s vision for Australia’s aviation sector towards 2050 to ensure it remains safe, competitive, productive and sustainable.

As a nation, Australia is uniquely reliant on aviation to connect us to each other and to the world. Despite its importance to our nation, the sector is not currently meeting the needs of Australians. The White Paper sets out a comprehensive plan to bring Australian aviation back on the right flight path.

We have decided to extend our 3G network closure by another two months to allow people more time to upgrade their devices. We will close our 3G network from 28 October 2024.

The Growing Regions Program - Round 2 Program Guidelines are now available for eligible applicants to start preparing applications ahead of the upcoming opening of Round 2 for applications. Potential applicants can check their initial eligibility to apply before applications open. Further information on the application process, including application forms, will be provided when applications open.

The Albanese Government has today announced it will guarantee regional flight bookings for Rex customers throughout the voluntary administration process. 

Travellers can continue to book regional flights on Rex during this process with certainty that they will either fly or get their money back. 

The Wagga Wagga community is encouraged to help direct the region’s future by having a say in a survey defining the issues, opportunities and challenges facing the electorate. 

 The survey, conducted by the Independent Member for Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr, is gathering feedback that can be used to advocate for changes and improvements.