2019-2020 Land Monitor Report

Committee for Wagga, HIA and Regional Development Australia-Riverina have released the 2019-2020 edition of the Land Monitor Report.

This document enables stakeholders to make better informed decisions relating to market demand and future economic growth. This report has been provided to help ensure that there is a sufficient supply and choice of vacant land in the future.

Migrant Workforce Survey

Migrant Workforce Survey

RDA Riverina are leading a study that will collect information about, and work with, migrants and refugees already living in the Riverina. The first stage of this study is a survey. 

If you are a migrant or refugee living in the Riverina, we would love you to complete our survey. You do not need to do this, but completing the survey will help us to understand more about the help you need to find suitable work in the Riverina and settle well into our community.

This work is funded by Multicultural NSW as part of a three-year Regional Resettlement program in the Riverina region of NSW with a focus on creating linkages and pathways between the migrant and refugee workforce, employers, industry and relevant training and support providers.

If you would like more information regarding this project or this survey please phone us on (02) 5924 5861 or email us at migration@rdariverina.org.au.

Building Better Regions Round 5

The Building Better Regions Funding Round 5 closes on 5th March, with applicants urged to engage with their local RDA before submitting an application.

Applications for BBRF Round 5 can be submitted through the online portal at www.business.gov.au/bbrf . 

Applications close on 5 March 2021, with successful applicants expected to be announced in mid-2021.

This round of funding includes $100 million in dedicated funding for tourism-related infrastructure and

$100 million for broader community infrastructure and investment.

It is strongly suggested that applicants engage with their RDA before submission of an application.

Click below to view a presentation for more information on this round:

Country Change 2020 Magazine

Launched in September 2020, the Country Change 2020 Magazine showcases 10 Riverina Council areas including Coolamon, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Greater Hume, Griffith, Leeton, Lockhart, Narrandera, Snowy Valleys, Temora and Wagga Wagga.

The magazine was launched by Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Michael McCormack MP in Wagga Wagga.

Featuring personal stories from people who have relocated to the Riverina, information on the Indigenous history of the region, along with housing, employment and education articles, the magazine provides a guide to the ultimate Country Change.

You can download the magazine here:

Country Change 2020 Magazine

Riverina Skills Audit - Phase 2

Earlier this year we began the first phase of our Riverina Skills Audit with a survey. We had a great response to the survey and received important information that we need to understand the skills needs of employers in our region.

We are now at the second phase of this work. This will be a series of focus groups and interviews with members of the business community in the Riverina. We are now recruiting additional participants for these focus groups.

We are looking for business owners and recruitment managers from businesses and organisations across the Riverina in any industry. These focus groups will take about 1 hour of your time and will be conducted online.

Riverina Skills Audit

Riverina Skills Audit

Understanding the skills needs of employers and other issues they encounter when trying to find workers is vital to the prosperity of the region but, until now, quantitative data has been lacking.

To better understand these issues, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Riverina in partnership with Charles Sturt University is conducting research to identify skills shortages in the Riverina.

This research will be composed of two phases. The first is currently under way. RDA Riverina and CSU have put together a survey to collect crucial data into skills shortages in the Riverina. The second phase of this research will come later in the year.

We invite business owners and recruitment managers of businesses and organisations in the Riverina to complete this survey. It will take around 10 minutes to complete.

This project is funded by the AgriPark Seed Fund.

For more information please contact Rachel Whiting (ceo@rdariverina.org.au) or Melanie Renkin (research@rdariverina.org.au)

Jobs Riverina Murray

JobsRiverinaMurray is a free resource for employers and job seekers in the Riverina-Murray Region.

JobsRiverinaMurray is a one-stop-portal allowing job seekers to easily find work opportunities and apply online. It also gives employers a cost-free way to expand their recruitment activities to an audience specifically interested in working in the region.

Snowy 2.0 - Register with ICN Now!

Register your business capabilities for available work packages

Snowy Hydro expects Snowy 2.0 to create a range of business opportunities in the local region.

Snowy Hydro's principal contractor for Snowy 2.0 is the Future Generation Joint Venture, a partnership between Australian construction and engineering company, Clough, with global hydropower and tunnelling specialists, Salini Impregilo, as well as Lane Construction..

Future Generation is managing the project’s procurement, specialist subcontracting and workforce requirements.

Opportunities exist in the following work packages:

• Accomodation and Housing

• Civil Works and Plant Hire

• Concrete and Formwork

• Cranes and Cranage Services

• Education and Training

• Electrical Trades and Services

• Environmental and Rehabilitation Services

• Fabrication and Engineering Services

• Fencing and Landscaping

• Fuel and Power

• Haulage and Cartage Services

• Health and Safety Services and Supplies

• IT Services and Data Networks

• Light Vehicle Servicing and Parts

• OEMs and Industrial Supply Items

• Plumbing and Sewerage

• Quarry Products

• Residential and Commercial Builders

• Retail Food and Beverages

• Scaffolding Supply and Installation

• Steel and Structures

• Surveying Design and Estimation

• Waste Management

• Supplier Development Program

Local companies interested in working on Snowy 2.0 can find available packages directly on the Industry Capability Network (ICN) 

You will need to register your business with ICN before applying.

Image Source: https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-energy/hydro/the-history/

Direct Solar Buying for Business

A forum was held in Griffith on the 20th of June to discuss Power Purchase Agreements with solar providers. These PPAs are an opportunity for businesses to buy power direct from the provider. 

If this may be of interest to your business, please look at the presentations below or contact Klaus Baumgartel for more information at klausb@icnnsw.org.au

Presentations:

• Rachel Hayden (NSW Department of Planning & Environment) - Opportunities for Large-Scale solar in NSW
• Anita Stadler, (Associate, Energetics) - Market Update and Corporate Power Purchase Agreement Approaches
• Angus (Renew Estate) - Solar Farm at Bomen
• Stephan Au (Senior Business Development Lead, Flow Power) - A Better Way to Buy Power With Flow Power
• Grant Harris (Head of Business Development and Strategy, RES) - Solar Farms at Deniliquin and Narandera
• Andrew Wilkinson (Development Manager, IB VOGT) - Solar Farms at Temora and Yanco
• Lindsay Gullifer (De Bortolli Wines) - Large User Perspective

Griffith Mayor, Cr John Dal Broi welcomes everyone to the event

Rachel Hayden - NSW Department of Planning and Environment

Angus - Renew Estate

Workforce Futures Development Officer Forum

Development Officer is a broad term and can include attendees such as community & economic development officers from local government, government departments and agencies, business/industry representatives (arts, culture, tourism, health, education, environment), regional organisations, NGO's and community members.

The Workforce Futures DO Forum provided an opportunity for these groups and organisations to promote programs, services and funding. There was a variety of presentations which can be accessed below.

Presentations:

• Ivan Neville (Branch Manager, Department of Jobs and Small Business) - Riverina Labour Market
• Hayley Achurch (Senior Research Assistant RAI) - Making the Trend Your Friend
• Phil Harding (Manager Tourism & Economic Development, Griffith City Council) - Griffith Overview
• Richard West (Director, Griffith Feed and Grain) - Case study

Taste Riverina: New Year-Round Format

Visitors and locals can now enjoy the best of Riverina produce any time of year with Taste Riverina being transformed into a 12-month calendar of food and wine events across the region. Formerly a month-long festival in October only, the new year-round format kicked off on Sunday 8th April at the Piccolo Family Farm’s Autumn Festival. The event featured locally sourced food including organic rice, locally made salami and smoked meats, as well as local Murray Cod and cheese from Coolamon. Even the entertainment was homegrown with the soulful Ben Ceccato, local legends Malikah and the smooth Zac Robertson Band.

“Taste Riverina has been so successful that we’ve decided to extend it to a year-round celebration of the region’s remarkable produce. This opens the doors for seasonal events and experiences at any time of the year,” said Mr Craig Sinclair, Chair of the Taste Riverina committee.

“This exciting development means that operators and organisations across the Riverina that want to be included in the Taste Riverina calendar can register their event now or at any time that suits them,” said Mr Sinclair.

“The one thing that remains the same is our commitment to Riverina grown and made produce. Wherever you see the Taste Riverina logo, you can be assured that the event serves local produce almost exclusively,” said Mr Sinclair.

Over the past three years, the award-winning Taste Riverina Festival has brought a total of 110,673 visitors and $4.57 million in revenue to the Riverina, during October. 

Regional Development Australia - Riverina is calling for expressions of interest from young people residing in RDA Riverina rural communities to attend

Destination Riverina Murray NSW Event Development Workshops

Destination Riverina Murray has partnered with regional tourism and marketing consultant Krista Hauritz to deliver workshops in Griffith, Wagga and Albury. This series of Event Development Workshops is designed to expand the knowledge and skills of event owners and organising committees in the Riverina Murray.
RDA-Riverina is proud to announce its support for the 2018 Event Development Program and is now calling for expressions of interest from young people working and residing in RDA Riverina region aged 18 – 35yrs to be involved in this year’s event.
Eligible RDA Riverina Local Government Areas are:
Bland, Carrathool, Coolamon, Griffith, Cootamundra Gundagai,Hay, Junee, Leeton, Lockhart, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Snowy Valleys, Temora, and Wagga Wagga.
RDA-Riverina is a strong advocate for youth leadership. This year RDA-Riverina is offering to sponsor four delegates in total – 2 delegates to attend the 2018 Event Development Workshop held in Griffith and 2 delegates to attend workshop in Wagga.
This program is designed to provide you with the skills required to:

• Develop a business and strategic plan
• Successfully apply for grants and funding
• Become an expert on cost effective event marketing
• Measure event impact and success

 
The RDA-Riverina offer will cover:

• workshop registration fees
• travel expenses (ATO reimbursement rate/km)
• accommodation

For more information about 2018 Event Development Workshops

RDA-Riverina Profile

With a focus on facilitating the growth and prosperity of the region, RDA Riverina has produced a Regional Profile to help local government, industry, small business and community groups better understand the region in which they operate.

The Regional Profile includes population, demographic, employment, industry, tourism and housing information presented in an easy-to-read format.

As RDA Riverina Director of Regional Development and CEO Rachel Whiting explains, the Regional Profile was compiled from a range of sources including REMPLAN, ABS Census data, .id Forecast and Destination NSW.

“RDA Riverina sees enormous value in supplying up-to-date information for local government, industry, business and community groups to enable them to better understand the region they work in and for use in business planning, tenders, grant applications, proposals and capability statements. 

“This information will also assist regional entrepreneurs and emerging business leaders to explore new opportunities to grow local jobs in the region by focusing on their competitive advantage.”

The Report includes statistics such as:

• Population forecast: the region’s population is expected to grow by 14.5% from 2018, reaching 187,500 by 2036
• Industry information: the total output generated by the Riverina’s economy in 2016 was estimated at $21.678 billion, with Manufacturing and Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing the two key drivers of the economy
• Tourism data: visitor numbers increased by 12.1% in 2016-17, with visitor expenditure increasing by 11.4% to $661 million

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the Regional Profile provides a single point for people to easily access important information.

“The statistics collated by RDA Riverina give organisations and businesses in the region vital knowledge to apply best-practice solutions to localised issues," Mr McCormack said.

“I commend the work the RDA Riverina team does to help better understand the part of the world in which we live.”

While the Regional Report provides a snapshot, RDA Riverina can also provide more specialised data for individual entities on a fee-for-service basis, such as investment impact analysis, cementing its value as the go-place for regional data and investment information.

Horticulture Skills Study

In early 2017, through RDA Riverina’s relationships with the local horticulture industry, we became aware of a skills shortage. Growers expressed difficulty in finding skilled staff after advertising widely. Affected horticulture industries in the Riverina include irrigated crops of citrus, tree nuts, vegetables, stone fruit, wine grapes and the cooler climate apple industry.

With the Riverina region producing: 

• One third NSW fruit and nuts - $271 million 
• One third NSW vegetables - $141 million 
• Half NSW wine grape production - $81 million 

This skills issue has had an enormous impact and will continue to impact on economic development in the Riverina and as well as NSW if solutions are not found.

RDA Riverina’s Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187 visa) (RSMS) enables regional employers to sponsor overseas skilled workers and employ them in skilled positions that cannot be filled using the local labour market. We found that the horticulture industry was using RSMS at a higher rate than before. RDA Riverina sought funding from the NSW Government to conduct a study to establish and validate the extent of the issue and formulate policy responses to address these skills shortages. This formed part of a broader study across NSW of skills needs. In June 2017, RDA Riverina engaged RMCG to lead this investigation.

Country Change

Looking for a tree change? Country Change can help you make the move to the Riverina and Murray regions.

Providing information on career and business opportunities, affordable housing, tourism, infrastructure and the like, the Country Change website is your portal for change.

Country Change is made up of a collection of communities or Local Government Areas (LGAs) that are working together to promote the wonderful opportunities on offer by relocating to the country. The Country Change project is under the auspices of RDA-Riverina and exists purely to help you make the move to the Riverina and Murray, not to make a profit.

Want to make the move to the Riverina and Murray? Visit the Country Change website for further information.

Grant Writing Workshops

RDA-Riverina offers grant writing workshops to community groups and individuals across the Riverina region throughout the year to provide advice and tips on how to produce a high-quality grant application.

The popular workshops assist participants with their writing skills, provide advice on how to locate relevant grants, share the importance of producing a comprehensive application and why you need to have a plan of attack. 

Want to brush up on your grant writing skills or learn new ones? Visit the Upcoming Events page to find a workshop in your area. or contact Marg Couch

Finance and New Technologies to Improve Energy Productivity

The Finance and New Technologies to improve Energy Productivity Industry Workshop was held at the E3 workshop space at the Wagga Wagga City Art Gallery. Thanks to all the speakers and partners including Industry Capability Network, City of Wagga Wagga, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage ABC Riverina Business NSW WIN News Riverina.

• CBA EEEF Client Pres MGray Powerpoint Presentation
• Wagga Industry Workshop Powerpoint Presentation
• Wagga Wagga ESS presentation Kylie OEH
• Duncan - CCM Energy Solutions - OEH Seminar Too Large
• Jeremy - Gas activities in ESS - Powerpoint Presentation
• Verdia Intro EE Wagga Matt Smiley

Riverina Development Officer (RDO) Network Forums

RDA-Riverina hosts three Riverina Development Officer (RDO) Network Forums each year, bringing together development officers from across the Riverina region.

Development Officer is a broad term and can include attendees such as community & economic development officers from local government, government departments and agencies, business/industry representatives (arts, culture, tourism, health, education, environment), regional organisations, NGO's and community members.

The Forums provide an opportunity for these groups and organisations to promote programs, services and funding. There is always a presentation from a Council representative highlighting activities within that particular Local Government Area where the forum is being hosted. The forums also showcase community projects and provide time for networking, collaboration and a partnership approach to addressing the opportunities and challenges facing the communities across the region.

Please see the Upcoming Events page to see the agendas & presentations from previous RDO Network Forums.

West Wyalong Presentations:

- Agenda
- Framework for Regional Development
- Deloittes: Purpose of Place
- CSIRO SME Connect
- Majors Mulch

Contact for inquiries: RDA Riverina Project Officer, Marg Couch

Riverina Regional Business Accelerator Program

Businesses that invest in their futures grow and create new, sustainable jobs. 

How does business find the support it needs to grow?

Click here for full flyer. 

Riverina Top Plates

RIVERINA TOP PLATES is an RDA Riverina initiative for TASTE Riverina Food Festival. It is also an eat local campaign to be launched online in September 2016 to coincide with Riverina’s flagship event TASTE Riverina Festival.

The concept is designed to attract visitors ravenous for new culinary tourism experiences to the door of Riverina food retailers who serve or sell Riverina grown or produced food during the month of October. This encouragesa rigorous regional food economy. Those who agree to the criteria for participation will have their regional signature menu included on www.tasteriverina.com.au

Click here for more information

Contact for inquiries: RDA Riverina Project Officer, Marg Couch