Dear friends, colleagues and community members of the Mid North Coast

I invite you to take advantage of the collaborative potential of the Mid North Coast Regional Plan.

From the Manning to Coffs Harbour, distinctive valleys are developing, industries are diversifying, and more people are choosing to live and work here.

As each community’s ambitions grow, those ambitions can be connected by joint efforts that put our region on the map and allow us to present ourselves to public and private investors with a united voice.

This plan sets out how that collaborative work can unfold.

Over the next decade, if we work together, we can develop

· the infrastructure we need to strengthen our potential as an innovative region

· the skills we need to ensure people can achieve the opportunities they seek, &

· the community strength that makes our region an inclusive place for all.

I encourage you to connect with this plan, and with RDA, wherever you are in the MNC. The priorities will evolve as our region does – and we hope that will be with your input and engagement so that the work of RDA supports your community’s ambitions.

Comments are welcomed online until the 3rd August. Everyone registering for comment will be invited to a Feedback Session – Friday 13 August in Port Macquarie (Click here to register)

Elizabeth McGregor

Acting Chair (RDA Mid North Coast)

Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDA MNC) is an Australian and NSW Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to enhance the growth and development of regional Australia. The RDA MNC has broad brief and incorporates Social Cultural, Environmental, Economic and Governance issues in its portfolio. The government has asked the RDA MNC to prepare a Regional Plan and we seek your comment to assist and inform the Board of priorities you as the community and stakeholders of our region would like us to communicate to government.

To view and/or comment visit the RDA Mid North Coast website and register:

www.rdamidnorthcoast.org.au

Peter Tregilgas

Executive Officer

Regional Development Australia – Mid North Coast (RDA-MNC)

Suite 1 Oxley House 133-137 Gordon Street (PO Box 2537)

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

W: 02 6583 5647

M: 0400 191054

E: petert@rdamidnorthcoast.org.au

W: www.rdamidnorthcoast.org.au

Hi everyone,

Further to the Ecobello meeting on Monday, it would be great if you could send a letter of support for the two cycle way projects that Council is putting grant applications in for. Recently Council was successful in receiving a grant (through the same grant program) for the North Bellingen cycleway and I believe this success was partly due to demonstrated community support. Your voice is needed.

Please feel free to use the attached templates, or to create your own. (Already have letters from the Dorrigo green living group, Bellingen Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bellinger.

Draft letter of support – Dorrigo Cycleway Draft letter of support – Mylestom Cycleway

Thanks,

Nic Denshire

Development Engineer

Bellingen Shire Council

(02) 6655 7343

ndenshire@bellingen.nsw.gov.au

BCoC members may be interested in attending these meetings.

Proposed Coffs Coast Tourism Association – meetings – Monday, 14 June 2010

Hello TB members

Over recent months, as many of you already know, I have been in discussions with the presidents of Coffs Harbour and Nambucca tourism associations about a proposed new association covering all 3 local government areas – formally known as the Coffs Coast.

To this end you have already received an invitation to attend a Coffs Harbour Tourism Association meeting this Thursday 17th June, 5.30 for 6.00pm at the Bonville International Golf Club. All 3 tourism association presidents will be addressing the meeting and answering questions, and members of all 3 associations have been invited to attend

We are going to hold a Tourism Bellinger members meeting at Bellingen Shire Council Chambers on Thursday 24th June 6.30 for 7.00pm to provide information to members about the proposal and answer any questions. All 3 tourism association presidents will be addressing the meeting and answering questions, and members of all 3 associations will be invited to attend. Of course we hope to see many if not all of our members in attendance.

Nambucca Tourism Association is holding a members meeting on Tues 29th June in their council chambers and again all 3 presidents will be addressing the meeting and all 3 association members will be invited to attend.

Look forward to seeing you there

Regards Guy

Guy Saddleton – President Tourism Bellinger

Growing Agribusiness on the Mid North Coast Flyer

An Australian Government  initiative – Mid North Coast Keep Australia Working Advisory Committee

The Mid North Coast Group of Councils (MIDGOC) met in Port Macquarie today to discuss a range of issues affecting Councils between the Great Lakes and Coffs Harbour.

The Mayors and General Managers took the opportunity to lobby the Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry on a number of issues including Financial Sustainability, Timber Bridges and Waste Management.

Coffs Harbour Mayor, Keith Rhoades said, “Councils are under a great deal of financial pressure and are suffering a back log of infrastructure maintenance.”

One of the main issues confronting local Councils is the number of timber bridges that need major maintenance or total replacement.

Greater Taree City Mayor, Paul Hogan said, “As a group of Councils, we have a total of 765 bridges that need urgent work. That equates to around $190 million which Councils simply cannot afford.

A key component of MIDGOC’s presentation to the Minister was on the issue of rate pegging and in particular the 2010/2011 Variation of General Income of 2.6%.

Members were seeking an understanding of the methods used by the Minister in arriving at that percentage increase.

Mark Troy, Mayor of Bellingen Shire Council said, “Councils are suffering a funding shortfall which presents major problems for Councils in continuing to deliver vital community services in line with community expectations.

“To meet those service expectation, Councils need financial support and that is not always supported by local communities,” Mr Troy said.

Gloucester Shire Mayor Geoff Slack said, “The MIDGOC Councils recommended to Minister Perry that she consider a new rate approval process.

“We’d like to see the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) set the standard rate increase with individual Councils determining if they have a need to levy a rate above the IPART determination after they have conducted an extensive community consultation process.

“The Minister for Local Government could intervene to refuse any increase above the IPART recommendation if there is no evidence of community support.

“We were pleased with both the Minister’s address and her interest in what we were saying. The Minister said the State Government is considering the IPART recommendations,” Mr Slack said.

This article can be found on the web at:

http://bellingen.local-e.nsw.gov.au/news/pages/7969.html

Good afternoon,

Council recognises the benefits from a strong ICT sector as demonstrated by our support of early introduction of the NBN on the North Coast:

http://www.gobroadband.org.au/

To further strengthen the local industry, the ACS is keen to create a local chapter.

This local chapter is to be launched on 26 May at the CHEC.

If you are interested in meeting other professionals engaged in IT in the local area you are welcome to attend. Details are attached.

Thanks

Barry Davis

Research and Business Development

Economic Development Unit | Coffs Harbour City Council

Rigby House | Coff Street

Phone: 02 6648 4082 | Email: barry.davis@chcc.nsw.gov.au

Council website: www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au

Skills website: www.coffscoastjobs.com.au

There’s Nothing Like Australia campaign

This user generated campaign calls for people to upload photos and a brief description of why there is nothing like that experience anywhere else in the world.

This isn’t just a consumer competition. Entries will be used to create an international marketing campaign for Australia to be rolled out by Tourism Australia across key markets.

This is the perfect opportunity for Mid North Coast/ NSW to show the world that we have key experiences not in NSW but in Australia

To ensure we get the cut through our region deserves we need our local industry to get involved and upload their experiences to nothinglikeaustralia.com

To upload photos and see more about the campaign go to: www.nothinglikeaustralia.com.au

Belinda Novicky

Executive Officer

Mid North Coast Tourism

p: (02)65694058 m:0400033663

Dear Bellingen Chamber of Commerce members

I’m writing on behalf of the Coffs Coast Local Food Alliance, requesting your support for the inaugural Coffs Coast Local Food Film Festival.

The aims of the Festival (our website is here: http://www.coffscoastlocalfoodfilmfestival.org.au/) are to:

(a) raise awareness around a range of issues connected with food production, agriculture, fishing and food retailing at the global and national levels,

(b) promote the need for changes in attitudes and practices to support sustainable, resilient and more locally-based food systems, and

(c) to entertain audiences & provide them with a good night out.

The Festival will feature the following five full-length documentaries:

Black Gold - http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/

Dirt – http://www.dirtthemovie.org/

End of the Line – http://endoftheline.com/

Mad City Chickens – http://www.tarazod.com/filmsmadchicks.html

The Price we Pay – http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2008/20080901_woolies/interviews.htm

In particular, the End of the Line is an internationally acclaimed film which recently commenced public screenings in Australia, to considerable critical acclaim and with much media attention, including reports on Radio National’s The World Today on 11 May; it was also the lead story on ABC’s 7.30 report last Wednesday (http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2891404.htm).

The dates are as follows:

3, 10 & 17 June – Sawtell

5, 12, & 19 June – Bowraville

6, 13 & 20 June – Bellingen

Sponsorship options for the Local Food Film Festival are available on the following link:

CCLFFF_Sponsorship_Brochure_FinalSecureMk2 - because of the graphics it’s a reasonably large file & not suitable to send as an email attachment.

The following is a link to the Local Food Alliance’s Framework document, which will give you more details and background about the Alliance, who’s involved and what we’re trying to do – http://www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/www/html/4499-local-food-futures-framework.asp. Independently from whether you choose to support the Film Festival or not, we would value your thoughts and feedback regarding the contents of the Framework, which is currently in the process of revision following consultations with key stakeholders.

Please let me know if you need any further information, and thank you for your time and assistance.

Kind regards

Nick Rose

Coffs Coast Local Food Alliance

66559442 / 0429 496792

North Coast NSW Innovation Festival 2010 local events

Please conact BCoC to pass on your concerns at guy@guysaddleton.com.au or coordinator@bellingenchamber.com.au

Subject: Country Energy Rural Advisory Group

Hi!

Just to let you know that I’ve been asked by Sandra Hollins and Brian Mclean from Country Energy to be a representative on one of their Rural Advisory Groups.

If you, or your members, have anything specific you wish me to bring up with Country Energy regarding service, infrastructure development, ideas for initiatives, etc. Can you pls let me know by Tuesday April 27th.

Many thanks

Jan Baker

Vice-President

Urunga~Mylestom Chamber of Commerce

Country Energy has an established Customer Council, Rural Advisory Group and eight Regional Advisory Boards, and prides itself on keeping in touch with customers.

Customer Council

The Customer Council acts as a forum for consultation between Country Energy and its

customers. The Council meets four times per year, or such other number as the Council and

Country Energy agree so long as at least two meetings are held each year. They contribute

to planning and service decision making relevant to small retail customers.

The Rural Advisory Group

The Rural Advisory Group consists of members specifically representing rural customer

segments, throughout rural New South Wales. The group is voluntary and an avenue for

Country Energy to discuss issues related to rural specific topics. The group meets on a

quarterly basis throughout our area.

Regional Advisory Boards

The Regional Advisory Boards include members representative of the customer base of

Country Energy and the diversity of the community Country Energy serves. They are the

regional component of Country Energy’s Customer Representative Structure giving each of

the nine Country Energy regions a presence within the structure. The Boards meet four

times per year, or such other number as the Boards and Country Energy agree so long as at

least two meetings are held each year.