This Special Edition is the last issue of the Capital Region ACC's newsletter: ACCent on the Capital Region. The Capital Region ACC has produced regular newsletters since its inception in 2005, and previously as the Capital Region Employment Council, providing regional news and information to a broad regional network that includes some 1000 people.

Watch out for our next newsletter, to be produced under the new Regional Development Australia ACT banner.

Transition means ‘the process of change', and currently change is happening all around us. The Capital Region ACC is to formally transition to become Regional Development Australia ACT in coming weeks. There will be a newly appointed RDA ACT transitional committee - in place for 12 months, which will include five of the Capital Region ACC members and five from the NSW Capital Region Development Board, who together will establish the work of RDA ACT into the future.

A Committee is all about its members. My main message at this time is to thank each one of the Capital Region ACC members for their tireless efforts in facilitating local regional development over past years. Capital Region ACC members are community leaders, volunteers from around the region who represent a broad range of local interests including business, local government, education, the arts, indigenous and social inclusion. Each member has provided their expertise, time and energies over many years and helped to develop stronger local communities with a better quality of life for those who live in them.

To reflect on everything that has been achieved in recent years would be a long process indeed. Most recently we undertook the community consultation process to provide advice to government, at their request, on the way forward for regional development in our area, but this is just one of the arenas where the Capital Region ACC has represented local regional interests in a broader forum. Some other memorable examples include our input into last year's government inquiry into the regional funding program, input into Productivity Commission reviews, Auslink and the Job Network. In addition we have worked to deliver small business advisory services, assist Indigenous communities, and we have supported many regional employment and careers expos and business and community forums.

Throughout the years the Committee has also been instrumental in helping to bring numerous community projects to fruition, assisting communities to access funding to support their projects, making their ideas become realities that have enhanced the vibrancy and economic sustainability of local communities - particularly important work in the face of the real challenges to survival being posed for local communities by drought and climate change, and more recently, from the global financial crisis.

Some notable project examples from around the region include: ACT - the Lifeline Book Sorting and Storage Facility and Scouts ACT's Cotter Enviro and Experiential Living Camp; Queanbeyan City - The Q, Queanbeyan's Performing Arts Centre; Palerang - Bungendore's Youth Recreation Project; Goulburn Mulwaree - the Goulburn Paceway Track Upgrade; Upper Lachlan - an Integrated Medical Centre in Crookwell, and Yass Valley - upgrade of the Bookham Memorial Hall. In earlier years the Committee supported many other projects relating to employment and strengthening local economies such as the highly acclaimed Taralga Community Centre and Crookwell Market Days.

To look forward and plan the future is exciting, evolving the role and functions of RDA ACT in local regional development. The new RDA network will carry on the ACC's tradition of working on behalf of the region's communities to help them to overcome challenges and to prosper. The future will provide an opportunity to forge new partnerships, develop broader networks, explore new areas of interest and establish a way forward for this new committee of dedicated volunteers who will work to advance the interests of the ACT, and to enhance its efficacy as the hub of the region.

As we all know, the border separating the ACT and NSW is just a line on a map that separates government jurisdictions. The border is porous and there is a close rapport between the ACT and its surrounding areas. Many people cross the border each day to access employment, education, health services and social amenities. Australia's network of RDA committees has been designed to work across the levels government, and we also look forward to building a close working relationship with the newly formed RDA Southern Tablelands NSW who will be servicing the area around the ACT, as well as with RDAs in the wider SE NSW region.

David Malloch
Chair, Capital Region ACC

Even good things must come to an end and the imminent finale of the Capital Region ACC provokes some particularly poignant farewells to the nine members of the Capital Region ACC who will not form part of the new RDA ACT committee. We thank these members, and those who have served in the past, each of whom have made substantial contributions to the prosperity of their region through their work on the Capital Region ACC. What makes their contributions even more special is that they have worked tirelessly as volunteers, giving their time, energy and expertise to enhance the Capital Region as a ‘capital' place in which to live and to work and prosper.

Craig Fowler - Deputy Chair
(6 June 2005 - 18 May 2009)

Craig Fowler is Faculty Director, General Education & Access Programs at the TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute, managing the operations of the TAFE NSW campuses at Moss Vale, Goulburn, Yass, Queanbeyan and Cooma, and two learning centres in Bombala and Jindabyne. A resident of Goulburn, Craig is an advocate of vocational education and training. His wide experience in industry, education and training, and his membership of a number of regionally-focused business groups helped to make him an invaluable member of the CRACC team.

Stephen Larcombe - Treasurer
(22 August 2005 - )
Formerly CEO of the Northside Community Centre and currently a public servant at AQIS, for many years Stephen Larcombe has led organisations and teams in the private, community and local government sectors in the ACT and Victoria. In these roles, and as a graduate of the Capital Region Development Board Community Leadership Program, Stephen has developed his interest and expertise in regional development and creating a capacity building culture that he has generously shared in his role on the Capital Region ACC.

Charles Halton - Board Member
(23 February 2000 - )
A dedicated and long serving member of the CR-ACC team, Charles Halton has served in numerous high level positions within the public service, including Departmental Secretary to the former Commonwealth Departments of Transport, Defence Support and Communications, and he was Commissioner of the Snowy Hydro Electric Authority. Charles is currently a Director of Sky Station Australia Pty Ltd and co-convener of the Balanced State Development Working Group. His outstanding skills and commitment are of great benefit to the work of the Capital Region ACC.

John Bell - Committee Member
(6 August 2007 - )
Now General Manager of the Upper Lachlan Shire Council, John Bell has 31 years' experience in local government and with associated community groups and organisations in the Capital Region. With John's qualifications in accounting and management, his strong track record of achievements in local government, his broad regional networks and commitment to a strong future for the region, he has made consistently valuable contributions to the work of the Capital Region ACC.

Terry Williams - Committee Member
(13 October 2003 - )
Terry William's aim on joining the Capital Region ACC was to help to develop equity and participation for indigenous people in mainstream programs and he has worked hard to achieve this goal in his years on the Committee. Terry's contribution to the Capital Region ACC has been enhanced by his extensive experience in developing, implementing and evaluating commonwealth government policies in terms of achieving broad economic equity for aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people in the areas of employment, education, enterprise development and training.

Jill McLeod - Committee Member
(1 September 2001 - )
As owner/manager of the McLeod Gallery, located in historic Braidwood, Jill McLeod's main interests lie in the enhancement of Braidwood and district's economic base and development of the wider region. Jill has been President of Braidwood's Chamber of Commerce and is currently Chair of the Heritage Day Committee, a member of the Palerang Tourism Advisory Committee and the Braidwood Quilters. Her expertise and leadership in local arts and tourism related projects have shaped her important contribution to the work of the Capital Region ACC.

Daryl Evans - Committee Member
(26 August 2005 - 18 May 2009)
Daryl Evans is a former Principal of Karabar High School and brought his extensive experience in teaching, education management and youth to the Capital Region ACC. His particular interests are in program design and management with a focus on effective learning, welfare strategies, resource management, conflict resolution and community participation. In retirement Daryl has taken on numerous voluntary roles in Queanbeyan and volunteered his teaching expertise to work with young people in South East Asia in addition to his constructive contributions to the Capital Region ACC.

Cathy Campbell - Committee Member
(25 November 2004 - )
Cathy Campbell's busy role as Community Development Manager of the Yass Valley Council - managing home living support services, family day care, tourism, road safety, youth, and library services, combined with her postgraduate study in International and Community Development and background in environmental science, provide her with valuable insights and experience into communities in the region. Cathy's strong commitment to improving cultural and social development in small rural towns in the region has shaped her important contributions to the work of the Capital Region ACC.

Peta Beelen - Committee Member
(6 August 2007 - 22 June 2009)
Peta Beelen's contribution to the Capital Region ACC has been enhanced by her concurrent role as Executive Officer of NSW's Capital Region Development Board (now RDA -Southern Tablelands NSW). Peta's keen interest in helping small communities and regional centres to achieve their potential, combined with her experience as Executive Officer of the Riverina ACC and completion of a Masters degree in Regional Development, ensured that her involvement in the work of the Capital Region ACC was productive and beneficial to the region.

Marion first joined the Capital Region Employment Council (CREC) in October 2001 - nearly eight years ago, spending her first three years assisting communities to develop project ideas.

She was appointed to the Executive Officer position in May 2005 where she has worked ever since as the tireless and inspired manager of the Capital Region ACC secretariat, supporting the work of the Capital Region ACC members.

As Marion reflects on her involvement with the Committee, her favourite memories are of the people she has met and worked with: the Committee members who have given so generously of their time to support the work of the ACC, the great team of staff, and the people she has worked with from the region - the community, business and government leaders who she thanks for their assistance and co-operation. "It has been a pleasure and an honour to work with them", she said, "they have opened their doors to the Capital Region ACC which has allowed us to accomplish some really special work."

Marion is moving on to new challenges and we wish her all the best in her future ventures. She will be much missed as a leader, mentor and friend. The position of Executive Officer of Regional Development ACT has been advertised, with an appointment expected in coming weeks.

The transition from Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) to Regional Development Australia (RDA) began in March 2008, with the Commonwealth Government's announcement that Australia's network of 54 ACCs were to become RDAs, with a role to be determined following consultation.

In July-August 2008, at the request of the Commonwealth Government, the Capital Region ACC held six Community and Local Government Consultation Workshops and numerous face-to-face meetings to consult extensively with stakeholders in regional communities, businesses and governments throughout the region on future directions for regional development. These consultations culminated in the provision of three reports to Government containing advice on the way forward for RDA, and priorities for a new regional infrastructure program.

For more information on Regional Development Australia, nationally and for each state and territory, visit the website: www.rda.gov.au

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Commonwealth and ACT Governments was signed on 25 May by Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development Gary Gray, and ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope. The signing signaled formal agreement to establish Regional Development Australia ACT (RDA ACT), and the MoU included plans for its creation and operation. RDA ACT will form part of the network of RDAs currently being established around Australia with the overall objective of bringing all levels of government together to enhance growth and development in regional Australia.

The Ministers invited members of the Capital Region ACC and Capital Region Development Board to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the RDA ACT transition committee, and announced appointments to the committee at the MoU signing.

Five of the 14 members of the Capital Region ACC have been appointed by the Ministers to the RDA ACT transition committee that will be in place for 12 months, including: David Malloch (Deputy Chair), David Gregory, Christopher Bourke, Faye Powell and Elizabeth Brown. They will be joined by Ross Barrett (Chair), Diane Hinds, Marita Corra and John Howard, previously members of the NSW Capital Region Development Board.  Profiles of the RDA ACT transition committee members will be provided in the next newsletter.

It is expected that the formal transition from Capital Region ACC to RDA ACT will be finalised shortly. Our office location and contact details will remain the same. The RDA ACT transition committee will manage the transition to RDA and guide the first year of the committee's work.  Following the initial 12 month term of the transition committee, the Commonwealth and ACT governments will publicly invite EOI for membership in the final composition of the RDA ACT committee.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 25 February between the Commonwealth and NSW Governments laid the foundation for the establishment of 14 RDA Committees in NSW, replacing the 14 NSW Area Consultative Committees and the State's 13 Regional Development Boards.

The region surrounding the ACT is the responsibility of Regional Development Australia - Southern Tablelands NSW (RDA ST NSW), and includes the local government areas of Bombala, Boorowa, Cooma-Monaro, Goulburn Mulwaree, Harden, Palerang, Queanbeyan City, Snowy River, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Upper Lachlan, Wingecarribee, Yass Valley and Young. It is expected that RDA ACT and RDA ST NSW will work together as the reality is that Canberra and its surrounding regions are inextricably linked. Continued co-operative and productive cross border consultations will be mutually beneficial - to share thinking, consult closely, address issues and plan together for a future that has a regional as well as a local focus.