Regional Development Australia – Northern Rivers: a leadership voice for the region

The Northern Rivers region includes the traditional lands of the people of the Bundjalung, Yaegl, Githabul and Gumbaynggirr nations. RDA Northern Rivers acknowledges the traditional owners of this region. We recognise and respect their continuing connection to the land, waters and communities, and pay our respects to Elders past and present, and to all First Nation people.

Our region covers an area that reaches from the Queensland border to south of the Clarence River, encompassing seven local government areas: Tweed Shire, Byron Shire, Ballina Shire, Kyogle, Lismore City, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley councils.

We are not-for-profit, community-based organisation funded through the Australian Government’s Regional Development Australia Initiative. The Regional Development Australia Initiative is a national network of 50 committees across Australia’s capital cities and regions, including the Indian Ocean Territories, Norfolk Island and Jervis Bay Territory.

RDA Northern Rivers has an active role in our community with a clear focus on growing strong and confident regional economies that harness our competitive advantage, seize on economic opportunities and attract investment.

The RDA Charter

In accordance with the Regional Development Australia Charter we work with all levels of government, business and community groups to support the economic growth of our region.

Working within the RDA Charter we aim to help drive economic growth, innovation and entrepreneurship in our region. We do this through facilitating investment in community, industry and the environment. We work with a broad range of stakeholders across sectors and support the delivery of identified Australian Government strategic priorities to bridge the regional development gaps in our region.

As representatives of our local communities, we:

• focus our activities and strategy on the delivery of the Regional Investment Framework in our region, including investment in people, places, services, industries and local economies,
• support regional stakeholders, including local government and the not-for-profit-sector, to seek grant opportunities that advance strategic regional priorities,
• support decarbonisation efforts and the transformation to a net zero economy and enable regional linkages between sectors to achieve these aims,
• build the evidence for economic development, including innovation and diversification strategies,
• facilitate meaningful engagement across the three levels of government to ensure investments deliver better outcomes for regions, and
• contribute relevant data and local intelligence to support the evidence base to inform regional development strategies, program design and policy responses.

Our Board

Our Board is chaired by The Hon Donald Page and supported by Director of Regional Development, Anthony Shreenan and a small team.

Our vision is to connect the Northern Rivers to opportunities for growth through supporting and facilitating access to investment and trade.