Regional Development Victoria

Annual Report

12-13

Front and back cover image shows the new $52.6 million Regional and Community Health Hub (REACH) at Deakin Universitys Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong.

CONTENTS

Highlights 2012-132

Introduction6

Chief Executive Foreword 6

Overview8

Responsibilities8

Profile9

Regional Policy Advisory Committee11

Partners and Stakeholders12

Operation of the Regional Policy Advisory Committee14

Delivering the Regional Development Australia Initiative15

Working with Regional Cities Victoria16

Working with Rural Councils Victoria17

Implementing the Regional Growth Fund18

Regional Growth Fund: Delivering Major Infrastructure20

Regional Growth Fund: Energy for the Regions28

Regional Growth Fund: Supporting Local Initiatives29

Regional Growth Fund: Latrobe Valley Industry and Infrastructure Fund31

Regional Growth Fund: Other Key Initiatives33

Disaster Recovery Support34

Regional Economic Growth Project36

Geelong Advancement Fund37

Farmers Markets37

Thinking Regional and Rural Guidelines38

Hosting the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development38

2013 Regional Victoria Living Expo39

Good Move Regional Marketing Campaign40

Future Priorities 2013-1442

Finance 44

RDV Grant Payments 45

Economic Infrastructure63

Output Targets and Performance69

Revenue and Expenses70

Financial Performance71

Compliance71

Legislation71

Contact Information72

HIGHLIGHTS 2012-13

July 2012

Launched the Latrobe Valley Industry and Employment Roadmap.

Provided funding for three Flood Recovery Officers in the Hume region.

Released the Fire Recovery Housing Survey, identifying rehousing progress achieved since the 2009 bushfires.

August 2012

Hosted the Case for Growing Regions seminar on 30 August 2012 with the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Grattan Institute.

Coordinated the OECD field trip around the G21 region for its global comparative study of how regions are developing partnerships to enhance interactions between cities and rural areas.

Provided a $300,000 grant to initiate stage one of the Regional City Growth Strategy, a partnership between Regional Development Victoria (RDV) and Regional Cities Victoria to improve planning for future city growth.

Supported a $1.5 million water and infrastructure project for Olam Orchards with $467,528 from the Regional Growth Fund.

Supported the building of Bayer CropSciences $14 million world-class Wheat and Oilseeds Breeding Station with $1.24 million in State support.

Supported the Northern Mallee Leadership Program with $400,000 from the Regional Community Leadership Program.

Approved funding for two Flood Recovery Officers for East Gippsland and Wellington Shire Councils.

September 2012

Announced the date for the 2013 Regional Victoria Living Expo at the Good Move campaign stand at the Royal Melbourne Show.

Workforce Development in the Grampians Region research study completed by the Grampians RDA in conjunction with the University of Ballarat.

October 2012

Provided $5 million towards the Flood Support Program to help five catchment management authorities with flood restoration projects.

Announced the successful developer of the $28 million Vibe Hotel and Conference Centre in Marysville.

Announced a $2 million contribution from the Regional Growth Fund for the Cattle Underpass Program.

Supported an $8.27 million access project for the Warrnambool Eastern Industrial Precinct with $3.6 million from the Regional Growth Fund.

November 2012

Requested expressions of interest from companies to deliver natural gas to priority towns using compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of the next phase of the $100 million Energy for the Regions program.

Officially opened the $5.57 million Ballarat Airport upgrade, a project supported by $3.43 million in State Government funding.

December 2012

Supported the $46.9 million redevelopment of central Wodonga with $3 million from the Regional Growth Fund.

Supported Wodonga Renderings $4.12 million Tri-Generation Plant Project at the Wodonga Abattoirs with $1 million from the Regional Growth Fund.

Commenced the $2 million Flood Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund to support flood-affected communities in the Hume and Gippsland regions.

Gippsland RDA undertook the Young Dairy Development Leadership project that generated development workshops for young farmers.

Completed $52.6 million REACH centre on Deakin Universitys Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong with $7 million provided by the Victorian Government.

January 2013

Shortlisted leading energy companies with the technical and financial capability to tender for the development and operation of a delivered natural gas capacity for regional Victoria utilising CNG or LNG alternative delivery solutions.

February 2013

Held a public event at Melbourne Museum to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Black Saturday.

Released the Bushfire Recovery Four Year Update report.

Supported Mars Australias $6.2 million utilities efficiency investment project with $1.5 million from the Regional Growth Fund to help deliver significant water and energy efficiencies at its Ballarat manufacturing facility.

Published Reinventing the Regions report in collaboration with the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.

Held the Regional Policy Advisory Committees (RPAC) Regional Leaders Workshop to identify long-term investment priorities for regional Victoria.

March 2013

Launched the $11 million Geelong Advancement Fund to drive jobs growth, increase skills and innovation, and deliver economic and community infrastructure in Geelong.

April 2013

Held the 2013 Regional Victoria Living Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 19 to 21 April which attracted almost 9,500 visitors a 15 per cent increase on the inaugural event in 2012.

Announced Avocas connection to natural gas as part of the Energy for the Regions program.

Launched the Regional Policy Advisory Committees Thinking Regional and Rural Guidelines across the Victorian Government.

Led the development of the Framework for Regional Economic Development, a key element of the work program of the Council of Australian Governments Standing Council on Regional Australia.

May 2013

Helped the local council, business and community in Bendigo benefit from the new $650 million Bendigo Hospital by providing $350,000 to ensure local jobs, investment and business growth opportunities.

Supported Rural Councils Victorias Rural Summit held from 2-3 May in Lakes Entrance.

Announced natural gas connection for Bannockburn as part of the Energy for the Regions program.

Construction began on Marysvilles $28 million Vibe Hotel and Conference Centre.

Supported Golden Plains Shire Councils Infrastructure to Expand Intensive Agriculture for Food Security and Economic Development project, with $2.94 million from the Regional Growth Fund.

Approved the thousandth project funded under the Regional Growth Fund.

June 2013

Announced natural gas connection for Winchelsea and Wandong-Heathcote Junction as part of the Energy for the Regions program.

CHIEF executive foreword

Now in our tenth year, Regional Development Victorias operations in 2012-13 confirmed the agencys capability as a pivotal access point into government for regional and rural Victorians.

We delivered more than $200 million in regional infrastructure commitments and approved more than 1,000 regional projects under the Victorian Governments $1 billion Regional Growth Fund, making up $325 million invested into projects worth $1.3 billion in only two years.

Regional and rural Victoria plays a key role in Victorias future prosperity and growth. Our regions account for about a quarter of the states economic output and employment and its population is projected to grow by an extra 528,000 people from 1.48 million to 2.01 million by 2036.

Regional Cities Victoria recently updated its report by Essential Economics that showed that by supporting growth in the regions we can help reduce the estimated $95 billion in cumulative congestion costs associated with expanding Melbournes outer-metropolitan areas over the next 20 years. The report forecasts costs of $1 billion to support an additional 50,000 people in regional cities compared to more than $3 billion for an equivalent number in metropolitan Melbourne.

In 2012-13, RDV played a leading role in delivering key outcomes to help manage regional growth and boost regional economies. Our work ranged from facilitating large-scale infrastructure to small-scale projects that address specific business and community needs. All activities were underpinned by comprehensive strategic planning and policy development in partnership with key stakeholders, including local government, business and community organisations.

The agency helped develop and deliver important infrastructure in collaboration with industry and all tiers of government, as illustrated by programs like the Energy for the Regions rollout which enables Avoca, Huntly, Bannockburn, Winchelsea and Wandong-Heathcote Junction to experience the social and economic benefits of natural gas in their commun