• $20m to drive economic growth and create jobs in Cairns & Douglas regions
• Funding will be invested across three streams – local infrastructure projects, business innovation grants and skills and training
• A Local Planning Committees will lead the program in the region
Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash and Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch have today announced the members of the Leichhardt Regional Jobs and Investment Package’s (RJIP) Local Planning Committee.
Mr Trent Twomey has been appointed chair of the Committee along with the following members:
• Ms Deb Hancock
• Mr Richard Ireland
• Ms Darlene Irvine
• Mr Rob Giason
• Mrs Sally Mlikota
• Ms Joann Schmider
• Mr Gordon Wellham
“These leaders are the drivers of their community and know their region best,” said Minister Nash.
“This package will be locally-led through the Local Planning Committee in line with our vision for the future, and the Committee will nominate the sectors of local industry the package will invest in.”
Minister Nash and Mr Entsch congratulated the Committee members on their involvement in the ground-breaking RJIP, which will provide never-before seen opportunities for local businesses.
“This is a really exciting step – every person on the Committee is local and brings an enormous amount of experience and expertise to the table,” Mr Entsch said.
“Combined, we’ve got representation from a whole range of sectors – from tourism and defence to regional and economic growth, indigenous enterprise, business and employment, social and community development, health and sport, education, community engagement and environment.”
The Committee, supported by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, will be able to organise its first meeting as soon as practical. The Committee’s role is to develop the local investment plan that will identify forward-looking strategic growth sectors that will drive economic growth and create jobs.
“Much of this work has already been done by peak local bodies such as Advance Cairns, the Chambers of Commerce and RDA FNQ&TS, so we won’t need to reinvent the wheel,” Mr Entsch said.
“Once the investment plan is finalised, funding across all three streams of the programme will open for applications from businesses.
“This $20 million investment is designed to strengthen and stimulate long-term economic growth and deliver sustainable employment – something that we all know is critical if the Cairns and Douglas regions are to maximise opportunities into the future.”
For more information visit the Regional Jobs and Investment Package website.
