Regional Development Australia Orana Chairman John Walkom has welcomed ten newly appointed members of the RDA Orana committee this week. Mr Walkom said I congratulate the committee members on their appointments and look forward to our first official meeting in December. The committee members include Brad Cam (Mudgee), Peter Yench (Cobar), Ian Stanford (Wongarbon), Janine Lea-Barrett (Cobar), Tracy McIntyre (Narromine),…
Mendooran’s Black Gate Distillery is a boutique operation which was established by husband and wife team Brian and Genise Hollingworth in 2009. The first of its kind in Central West NSW, the distillery has a tranquil bushland setting where a range of Single Malt Whisky and Dark Rum is made using traditional methods and high quality ingredients. Producing 3000 litres…
RDA Orana Director Megan Dixon is encouraging local small business owners and entrepreneurs to attend local events for NSW Small Business Month over the coming weeks. All NSW councils have been invited to participate and run events for their business communities. Local Chambers of Commerce and other business groups will also hold sessions to upskill and build resilience. Mrs Dixon…
Director of Orana RDA Megan Dixon has welcomed the recent commencement of the Australian Government initiative the Pacific Labour Scheme which will support labour force shortages in the region. The Pacific Scheme will see businesses in the Orana region and the rest of rural and regional Australia, who are unable to find Australian workers, sponsor people from the Pacific to…
Orana RDA Director Megan Dixon is encouraging everyone to have their say during the public consultation period for the proposed Orana region Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) application. Answering the need to address critical skill shortages being experienced by local business, DAMAs are custom-designed arrangements which support a tailored, regional response to labour needs. The over-arching nature of these agreements…
The power of negotiation is a necessary element of business, so an upcoming masterclass in Dubbo will work towards gaining this important skill. Hosted by Charles Sturt University, presenter Kevin Ryan will reveal the ‘Secrets of the Great Negotiators’ to participants to empower them with this knowledge. RDA Orana Director of Regional Development Megan Dixon said the 1.5 hour class…
Round 3 of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) has been announced, with an additional $200M giving further opportunity for eligible applicants to apply. RDA Orana Director of Regional Development Megan Dixon said the previous rounds of the BBRF had been beneficial for the Orana region. “Baradine, Mudgee, and Cobar were all successful applicants in the last round of funding,”…
RDA Orana Director for Regional Development Megan Dixon has welcomed the news that Cobar Shire Council has joined the NSW Government’s Easy to do Business program. Announced today by the Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries, the pairing will allow Cobar business people to set up a café, restaurant or small bar in less than 90 days, with the program cutting…
RDA Orana Director of Regional Development Megan Dixon has welcomed the appointment of Lucy White as the new General Manager of the Destination Country and Outback NSW Network (DCON). “Lucy has managed and guided tourism operations in both Bathurst and Mudgee and has some 22 years of industry experience gained from regional organisations in the Central West.” For the past…
The $61M small stock processing plant north of Bourke is ready to begin production in October. Operated by Darling River Meats, the development has provided a large boost to the local economy by employing a range of sub-contractors during construction. Once operational, there will be 200 new jobs for the meat processing facility, with a focus on employing local people.…
Applications are now open in the 2019 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Those aged 18 to 35 can apply for a grant of up to $22,000 to fund a project on an innovative or emerging scientific issue that will benefit Australia’s primary industries. There are 13 industry award categories available: cotton, dairy, eggs…
The Netstripes Digital Bootcamp assists small business with digital readiness in a world that is constantly evolving. These days, it is not enough just to be on social media or to have an active website. Instead, businesses need to focus on their action and ability to have their unique voice heard above the din of the rest of the business…
Riding the Lightwave of Technology brings scientists, researchers, community stakeholders, policymakers and industry leaders together to discuss the many aspects and impacts of light pollution and artificial light. The combination of expanding urban growth and cheap energy efficient lighting is resulting in artificial light at night becoming one of the fastest growing, yet most poorly understood or documented, forms of…