Local Team Workshop Notes

Burnett Group

Incorporating BIEDO (Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation)

Question: What information from the speakers this morning is particularly relevant to your group?

• We have heard it before.
• Should build on what you already have in the community.
• At this point haven't seen a lot of outcomes.
• Don't get to hear what has happened previously.
• It is an opportunity for increased communication.
• Should be incentives for increased employment? eg. Tax benefit for infrastructure.
• Need assertive, proactive communities eg. Approach government with united strategic plans
• Need incentives NOT grants!!
• Preaching to converted here!
• Burnt out leaders -problem keeping community motivated.
• How to convert individual economic gains to a community effort / benefit? How do you combine individual gains and a community focus?
• Emerald workshop addressed this issue.
• Harness community skills + experiences.
• Processes of community consultation-
• Past experience of successful co-ops (community ownership) they are being pulled down from the top.
• Change is only beginning.
• Need to step outside the box and look at what we have -resource audit.
• We need to be a catalyst to empower the community.
• Do we have 'an edge" we can exploit?
• Burnt out community worker + aging workers is a serious issue.
• There should be Rural airports for freight rather than Brisbane.
• Companies should be encouraged to have rural sheds / distribution cheaper than city.
• Needs to be a proper decentralisation policy -to provide services to rural areas.
• Public infrastructure is important.
• The group decided to stay together as large group to get input from all for the rest of the conference.(25)
• There is community dependence on elected reps. -need to keep motivation as a whole community.
• Need to ensure not actively discouraging enterprise through regulation / red tape.
• Community owned project is not necessarily a co-operative
  it is something the community wants, planned and will support. :
• Availability of Venture capital is a key issue.
• Promote lifestyle to encourage increased population (critical mass )
  incentives eg. Rates
• Export points (airport -international?) for produce.
• Lack of project finance. Subsidising is a problem.
• Acknowledged support of state and commonwealth government finance.
• Positive attitude -do without worrying about finance.
• We are competing against ourselves. Can we so / see things differently?
• Elected reps. (leaders ) need to give the initiative to the community.
• Leaders need to look to the future -be one step ahead.
• Private sector needs to be involved with key initiatives.
• Working on developing local businesses.
• Utilising local resources better
  * rather than sourcing from outside
  * skills audit + resources / facilities
• Need to generate ideas from within the community but different sectors. Look at things from a different perspective.

Vicki Dickman

The group invited Vicki Dickman to speak about her successes and how she his achieved what she has in her community.

Reasons for Vicki's success.

Community was committed to start with-

Future search

• groups formed
• projects started! ! !
• group leaders given responsibility to promote etc.
• 60 to 70 people directly involved in projects.
• Funds for three staff. (an outcome not resource).
• Use locals, not consultants.
• Projects community based
• Value adding.
• Not major industrial project.
• Total population 5,400
• Town 2,200.
• Population has stabilised since her projects have started.

Grow Zone

• Main big project so far is Networking the Nation-
• Strategy for region.
• branding for the region (Grow Zone) -positive overseas.
• marketing produce under Grow Zone brand.
• persistent, noisy and as loose as possible.
• building on strengths.
• Costs 10x less? to create more jobs from expanding local businesses rather than major incoming industries.
• don't reinvent the wheel.
• big projects are not long term economically-sustainable.
• value adding and marketing cooperatively.
• Ray Heckendorf- Toyota man helped with promotion strategy.

The group asked the question:

• How to motivate communities?
• Motivate who?
• employees
• improve customer service .Recognition of service important.
• Recognition by who?
• community or bosses?
• Awards for service to individuals or businesses by Chambers of Commerce.
• Employee luncheon I breakfast (no bosses) for ideas to improve customer service.
• Nomination by other businesses.
• "First impressions" process as described by Peter Kenyon.
• Investigate funding for Aussie -host training -regional strategy
  Strategy No.1 -Community Involvement
• Outstanding customer service and regional promotion.

A) Golden Ceratidus Award.
B) Move from town to town on rotation around Burnett.
C) Finalists from each shire.
D) Access local services for event.
E) Use First Impressions process to ,judge and feed back to towns.
F) Include local tourist Knowledge as part of criteria for award.
G) Sponsored by shires run by the board. Bundaberg District Tourism Development Board.
H) Start award at shire level then to Rbax and then to whole region. Winners progress to next level.

• Improve selling outcomes to the community.
• Monto Chamber of Commerce to do function for farmers as part of their acknowledgment of the producers importance to the community - Local Community Strategy for Monto

Letter of welcome plus kit of services to new business is done now by the Bundaberg District Tourism Development board. This should be more widely advertised to the community as it is not widely known.

John Wise

• His model is still into dependency.
• Educated members of community
• Should be working on getting self funding projects / programs.
• Need people paid to do jobs.
• All funding at present focused at social community issues.
• Need to refocus funding into sustainable economically viable ventures.

Telstra

The group invited Jim Graham from Telstra to speak on their role in providing equity of information technology to the area-

• Mobile phone coverage Central and North Burnett
  35- 70 km -with digital
  Jims on our side!
• Combination of digital GSM and satellite coverage is available.
• Telstra is required by law to provide phone to everybody- government will and does make decisions on these issues not Telstra.
• Historic phone booths for town planning -have to follow up with pay phone section - rigorously.( coastal Burnett)
• Why no local call access for Internet?
• Why do Big Pond not give back-up service to owners of Apple Mac? To be followed up.
• ISP -buy Big Pond direct. Check numbers on Net.
• Telstra will assist with Networking the Nation application??
  Tech support and help with application -Lou Boyle.
  Jim to attend BIEDO meeting on the 15th of June to expand on what Telstra can provide to help group.
• Monto is on regional rates with Big Pond
• Kingaroy, Gayndah, and Eidsvold are all on Metro rates-
• Jim to contact Glen Baker and develop Telecommunication strategy for the Burnett!
• Including existing submissions to NTN.
• Jim agreed to attend the next BIEDO meeting on the 15th of June at Kingaroy.
• Need public purse for venture capital.
• Not just look at farm, look at the whole community when looking at options for development.
• Need long term commercial operation.
• Government needs to listen.
• Flexibility in funding.
• Allow communities to decide where seed funds are best spent.

Major Actions Planned.

• Golden Ceratodus awards.
  Run on a Shire Basis to start with. For detail see workshop 2.

Monto Chamber of Commerce to Host Dinner for Primary Producers.

To show the community's appreciation of producers and their input into the community's economy.

• Telstra will assist with NTN application??
• Technical support and help write application -Lou Boyle.
• Jim to attend BIEDO meeting on the 15th of June to expand on what Telstra can provide to help group.
• Leadership building.
• Pursue avenues to provide leadership training.
• How to get the best programs for rural community
• How to get hands on expertise at a local level for a sensible price.

The group agreed that we are good at working in the top 2 sectors but tend to forget about the bottom one.

Charters Towers Group

Penny Wallace, Councillor,
Dalrymple Shire Council

The Positive Rural Futures Conference, in Biloela presented an ideal environment for people from Greenvale to express the of their small community and to develop strategies that they can work with at home.

Three people representing the Greenvale Progress Association subsidised by the Dalrymple Shire Council to attend Conference, have set in motion short and long term goals that are achievable and will benefit their community economically and socially. Workshop situations were ideal to encourage interaction and a flow of ideas from other people from our region. The workshop group gained valuable information and advice from speakers through the sessions. this helped the decision making process become more effective.

The Dalrymple Shire Council is willing to work with the community to meet their goals as well as those of our other small communities.

A most important message gained from the conference speakers is that nobody owes us a living, but quite the reverse. We must work to make the world a better place. There is no cavalry to save us from our economic and social situation, we must create our own environment, working with what resources we have. People are our most valuable resource and it is this resource that must be developed to its full potential.

From the conference some short-term projects are being investigated to help the community economically and socially. The Progress Association is considering: -

• Telemarketing
• Young Achievement Australia for secondary school students
• Encouraging interaction between school and community -various ways "
• Input from all children into any community projects
• Plant a tree program within their 'Beautification' project
• Ownership by entire community of all community projects
• Structuring tourist route package -golfing trail -caravan trail
• Major event -back to Greenvale 1999.
• Walking track and eco tourism
• Web page for marketing the town
• Scenic drive to re-route traffic through the town

The workshop participants and the Greenvale people felt these goals were practical and achievable and would meet with community approval.

The Greenvale Progress Association has become incorporated and has done a strategic plan but this strategic plan may need to be revisited after introduction of community development programs.

The three members of the Greenvale community expressed a desire to involve some of the keynote speakers in motivational presentations to the whole of their community to help create a healthier attitude towards development. They see these visits as the first stage of introducing their community to a development program through leadership development.

Although it has not been decided what type of programs would benefit Greenvale and the other towns in the Dalrymple Shire, funding through the proposed "Regional and Rural Development Strategy" announced by the Premier will be of great benefit. Submissions could include:

• Secondment of tertiary or Department people to the region
• Introduction to communities of people with world wide experience in community development-
• Visits by our small town community people to experience what other communities have achieved. -such as TWYZEL NZ with very similar background
• Secondment of various professional people for short-term consultation and consultation and skills programs
• Linking with other Regional Development groups who are achieving their aims

The outcome from the Conference for Community Development in the Dalrymple Shire is positive and most encouraging towards a better future. The Dalrymple Shire Council recognises the need for giving people within the communities the skills to take responsibility for their own futures, and is willing to facilitate the necessary changes to encourage this to happen.

Mabuiag Island Action Plan

Participants

Terrence Whap	Chairman Mabuiag Island Council
Thowa Whap	Deputy Chairman Mabuiag Island Council
Sophie Luffman	Community member -PCAP representative

Location

Mabuiag Island is located between the tip of Cape York and New Guinea and is one of the many islands forming the Torres Straits Island group.

Action Plan

During 1997 the Mabuiag Council under leadership of the Chairman, Terrence Whap conducted a number of community meetings to identify strategies to provide employment opportunities for the future.

Strategies were considered under the following:

• Development of confidence in the individual self worth and in the future of the island as a whole.
• Provision of local employment.
• Supporting financial independence.
• Community driven.
• Island ownership.
• Self managed.
• Achievable.

A Sea Food Processing plant initially targeting the crayfish industry met these criteria. The plant is to process live crayfish and dry product ( crayfish tails).

Action to date:

• Timelines established.
• Potential employment areas identified.
• harvesting -processing -management -marketing. Plant establishment finance raised.

Future Requirements

Raising of contracts between Mabuiag Island and product distributors Extension of power grid. Ongoing training

• process workers
• management

Community Consultation

A number of addresses given at the conference highlighted the need for self ownership and management of Mabuiag Island's future. It is the intention of the group to share this information at community consultation meetings in addition to:

• Reviewing progress to date and developing future action steps for the seafood processing plant.
• Identifying cultural and recreational issues on the island to be further developed
• Consideration of future tourism potential.

Ravenshoe/Herberton Shire

Participants

• Yvonne Tunney- Esmerelda Station, Croydon
• Lyn Carlisle-Jacobs -Economic Development Officer for Shire of Herberton, Eacham and Atherton
• Dianne Fitzgerald -Mount Garnet Resident
• Jean Versace -via Innot Hot Springs
• Ivan Searston -Via Herberton
• Lyn Durnsford Sue Farley
• Karen Gardner
• Elaine Godden
• Anne Portess
• Jane Rodwell
• Judy Stephens

(The latter seven (7) are all from Ravenshoe)

As all the participants were either from or involved with Herberton Shire. The majority of time was spent discussing Shire, or in particular, Ravenshoe activities and possibilities. Tourism was regarded as relevant to both Herberton and Croydon Shires as they are geographically linked.

Key points that were raised by the group and conference speakers in relation to rural regions were -

• Start and never quit
• Community development takes times
• Start with something small and achievable then build on to it
• Bringing integration into playas community development is social, educational, economic, cultural and sometimes environmental
• The importance of working from the bottom up
• Loyalty to a community can be achieved by highlighting the positives.

Much has occurred in Herberton Shire in the past few years. A summary of Fr North Queensland, large and small Shire projects and The Possum Concept is as follows. Community "Builders" and opportunities to be pursued in the future are also recorded.

However, the most cohesive project identified as of interest to the majority of the group and the Ravenshoe region was the Possum concept. The international uniqueness of Ravenshoe's possum and ecological diversity has been recognised for some years but has not, until recently, had a meaningful focus.

The Women's Agricultural Arts Project has already commenced with a possum theme. By building onto this, it is believed that a pride of place for Ravenshoe can be developed. All associated activities are regarded as compatible with the regional and sub-regional projects already underway.

Knowing About 'Here' -According To Agnes Gannon

1. The Larger Scene

• Membership of and participation in the Regional Organisation of Councils (ROC).
• Particular benefit with the distribution of the National Heritage Trust funds.
• Membership of the Cairns Regional Development Organisation (CREDO). Gives access to and input into overall economic and other development initiatives across the region.
• Partner in the Directions program.. This is a cooperative program addressing agricultural and social needs and investigating new agricultural opportunities on the Tablelands. There is a leadership training component in Directions.

The Tablelands is a pilot district for a new Department of Economic Development and Trade program designed to improve the export potential of Tablelands Businesses. The Tablelands has been successful in gaining Networking the Nation assistance to lift he awareness of and access to the Internet for Tablelands residents.

2. Closer To Home, But With Sub-Regional Impacts

The Upper Herbert Catchment Management study is well under way. There appears to be a huge potential for a new irrigation district centred around water impoundment (s) on the Upper Herbert River just to the west of Ravenshoe. So far the results have been extremely positive. This may even have the potential of being another Tinaroo/Mareeba-Dimbulah Irrigation Area. The possibility of a Koombooloomba Tourism Eco-Village is the centre of study of another committee. Potential appears great but a number of issues centring around impacts and land tenures have to be fully addressed yet. The Ravenshoe Institute of Training is the focus of another study group. The possibility of (this initiative being set up under Skill Centre guidelines looks bright.

3. Very Close To Home -Locality Specific Projects In The Herberton Shire

(a) Herberton

• Site plan town concept
• Focus on Historic Tourism
• Great Northern mine site development
• Walking track investigation including a Walking Lodge Ag Art project

(b ) Ravenshoe

• Site plan town concept
• Ag Arts project
• Business Network- Timbercraft Charmillan Creek tracks
• Sports Centre at high school
• Expansion of the Visitor Centre
• Yabu Mija -ATSI community training Youth Shed
• Parent library and centre at the school

(c) Mt Garnet

• Ag Arts project Sports Park
• Dynes and Brotherton Parks Respite Centre Library

(d) Innot Hot Springs

• Community Centre

(e) Croydon (for Yvonne -a participant from Croydon Shire) Bedmore Dam Sports Centre

(the above list, while extensive, is not exhaustive. Some notable omissions included membership of the Far North Queensland Regional Planning Advisory Committee (FNQRPAC) which has just released the FNQ 2010 Strategic Directions and Regional Strategies Reports; membership on the vocational training FNQ Roundtable; representation on the Herbert River Catchment Management Committee; and involvement in the Greencorp. There are also a number of other smaller projects.)

Some Existing And Future Sources Of Support For These And Other Projects

• Rural Financial Counsellor
• Regional Business Advisor program
• Rural Women's Program
• Community Centre at Ravenshoe

Some Networks

• Chamber of Commerce
• Parents and Citizens
• Priority Country Area Program
• Ag Arts network
• Visitor Centre volunteers
• WELink
• Yabu Mija
• Tablelands Promotion Bureau .Qld Rural Women's Network
• Landcare
• Qld Dairyman's ' Organisation
• Contacts in the Health Care area.

Mention was also made of the need for adequate Daycare provision to allow women in the community to have a greater ability to pursue careers and interest and to make a greater contribution to community development.

The possibility of using the Mac Unit to assist with youth activities was also discussed.

Suggestions About Where We Would Like To Be -Again Using Agnes Gannon’s idea

(During the identification of the 'we are here' phase of the workshop, a number of suggestions for the future were also put forward. These suggestions were grouped together so they would not be forgotten as discussion progressed. )

1. Keeping rainforest as part of a farm -ways of encouraging
2. Jirrabul Collection returned to Ravenshoe. Needs special housing.
3. Entrances to Ravenshoe need work done (and other towns too)
4. Mt Garnet Community Centre
5. Do more with Innot Hot Springs
6. Walking tracks across the Shire
7. Business motivation
8. Amenities need attention (including disabled access). Peter Kenyon's S... led recovery?
9. Potential of Mt Garnet mining dams.

Other Potential Opportunities

(These were compiled into a further list during a workshop session that set out to identify further opportunities)

1. Cyber Cafe
2. Well being workshops
3. Internet workshops
4. Acquire one of the local newspapers as a community newspaper. Include a kids column
5. Residential workshops Arts; well being; environmental studies.
6. Compile a resource database of people
7. Prepare a number of ½ and 1 day tour packages of what to see and do locally.
8. History on a cassette
9. Host a murder (live in -parties)
10. Theatre restaurant and drama
11. Student exchange -an idea floated with Malanda Milk
12. Needs an 'out of this world' or other startling event
13. Must keep media attention on Ravenshoe. Articles for Geo magazine etc.
14. Possibility of old-time railway picnics in conjunction with Railco
15. A big Didge

A Single Project To Concentrate On

Participants felt it would be wise to select one project to concentrate on when they had returned home. This would focus energies and limit distractions caused by the feeling there was 'so much to do'. In view of the work already done, and the positive audience reaction to the Possum concept at the Rural Futures Conference, this was unanimously selected as the project to concentrate on.

The Possum Concept

Within a radius of 10 kilometres of Ravenshoe live twelve separate specie of possums. This is thought to be the largest and most concentrated diversity of these animals in the world. The potential for tourism, both at the popular level and in the niches scientific market, appears to be very large.

Some of the ways the concept could be developed included:

1. Sale of a range of soft toys in the shape of the twelve possums. The top end of the range could have individual names and a 'Passport' that encourages the purchaser to periodically return with the possum to Ravenshoe for 'spiritual renewal'. Special discounts would be available to those who bring back possum and passport. Certain times of the year might even be specified on the passport to spread the tourist load.

2. Potential of a small casting foundry to manufacture small metal possums

3. Big possum actor to stop people

4. Develop a range of books/magazines/ CDs about possums. Write local stories/poetry etc with a possum focus.

5. Banners

6. Use 'real' samples ie taxidermy in displays

7. Educate businesses to support the concept. Stores adopt a possum species. 8. Media, newspaper, Have a 'possum corner'.

Community Builders

In conjunction to the above, where the concentration is mainly on community development

projects in the community, it was recognised that attention should also be paid to specific activities that focused on development of the community. That is community development should not be left to chance or assumed to trickle out from development in the community.

Specific community building activities identified were:

1. Welcome baskets for new residents
2. The equivalent of urban 'block parties' where residents in a street or small area get together for a Bar-B-Q every so often.
3. Keep up the 'business after hours' social initiative
4. Form a 'Chamber of Community'
5. Elder support and student support activities 6. Empowering workshops
7. Afternoon teas for wonderful people
8. Good news promotion I
9. Family functions: at Visitor Centre, dances, sing-a-longs, movies
10. Exercise in the park
11. 'Council meets the public' chat times
12. Over 40 fairies clubs 1-
13. Neighbouring community assessment excursions and families (need to check how to fund this idea)
14. Poets at the Pub. Culture club/Yuletide etc activities

Warroo Shire Team

The Team:

Mayor George Schwennesen, Secretary Surat and District Development Association (SDDA)

Cr. Ian Ritchie, President SDDA

Cr. Andy Hunter, Treasurer SDDA Marlyn McInnemey, Development Officer, Warroo Shire Council

General Themes

• Self-skilling
• Group Reflection
• Back to the Future
• Rural Issues:
• New Crops
• Strengthening Existing Crops
• Rural Development Facilitation
• Future Profit
• BRLP
• Information Services
• Co-operatives

Strategy	Who	When	Resources
1)Self-skilling	M.Mcinnerney N.Cruikshank	A.S.A.P.	Growzone DPI-in-kind SSC
2) Group Reflection	SDDA	? A.S.A.P.	DPI-in-kind SDDA
3) Back to the Future *Rural Issues	Community	after #2	SDDA DPI-in-kind SSC

Boonah Shire Group

Action Plan

Where are we now?

• We are already on the road and headed in the right direction
• There is a burgeoning community awareness of the benefits of self help
• But there is a need to address youth, agriculture, community education and training
• Our prosperous appearance is only a facade when compared to the number of properties for sale
• Outsiders are moving in adding new impetus in some areas but most are commuters - their potential benefits are eroded
• Rural production is in economic decline which has a flow on effect to all sectors of the community
• Signage is ineffective, inefficient and uninteresting
• Basically only have single tier development in land use
• Boonah is one of the most prosperous looking country towns in the region
• And Kalbar is well on the road to looking the same
• We have the advantage that council is willing and will work directly with people and organisations

Boonah Shire's decline has reached its nadir because there is a willingness to seek solutions. We now need to find the direction to pursue the keys to success through community cohesion.

Where do we want to be?

• Rural economy based on value added rural diversity and sustainable agriculture
• Niche markets -sought, found, developed and the search is ongoing
• People are aware of the jeopardy in which they place their town's by spending money elsewhere -shoppers and businesses always seek the needed item or service locally first
• The uniqueness of the local shopping experience has been developed, enhanced, boosted, exaggerated and promoted
• Shopping precincts are bustling, all shop fronts full, a good diversity of product is offered, service and uniqueness is penultimate"
• Product pricing is in line with metropolitan markets
• Shopkeepers and residents have a total pride in the shire and verbally promote it at every opportunity
• Shops are open all weekend
• Tourism opportunities have been identified, researched and developed we bring people in control what they do; get as much money off them as possible; ensure they come back for the next experience
• We have identified, developed and boosted our uniqueness and marketed it aggressively
• Jobs have been created for youth, unemployed and former commuters as a flow on effect of all the above
• We have retained our most valuable resource -our strong sense of community
• There is a feeling when you come into the Boonah Shire that there is something incredibly special here
• All sectors not only want to be the best but be the best and pursue that goal doggedly
• We illustrate through our every move, decision and event that there is nowhere else in the world like the Boonah Shire
• Parochialism is part of our past and has no place in our future

Boonah Shire has become a community with a strong economy based on rural diversity and offers tourists a unique range of experiences. Its sense of community is intact and there is a constant push to not only keep abreast of change but lead change in a direction which will benefit all

Action Plan

1. Undertake a Resource Audit

(a) Exchange visit with a group from Laidley Shire where group from here visits Laidley, they in turn visit us and all do a critique on each other's Shire

(b) Take a trip to northern NSW towns and other forward moving towns and see if we can adapt some of their best strategies

(c) Call a public meeting

- compel them to come by seeking reps from every sector and promote it properly
- motivate them
- all to break into defined groups and suggest other categories of groups -groups to be promoted on the night -agriculture, tourism (FVTG), commerce
(BBDP) .find the leaders in the groups, each one to be facilitated -by a member of the organising committee
- each group to be a sub group of the chamber of commerce -meet regularly and report back to chamber
- distribute questionnaire at the meeting -'do you have a hidden talent?'

( d) each group is to undertake a resource audit; formulate an action plan and bring them back to the Chamber

( e) encourage and support each group to ensure they remain on track, inspired and cohesive

2. Develop projects

3. identify the first achievable projects from each group and enact them

4. Activate projects Some will be able to begin immediately others will need to source funds and further specialist members to begin the project

5. Regularly evaluate projects and promote successes

6. Complete or sustain projects

7. Review and adapt

8. Start whole process again

Those who attended and contributed to this Action Plan were

Boonah Shire Councillor and President Boonah Shire Chamber of Commerce -Stephen Smith .
Boonah Shire Councillor -Richard Stanfield
Regional Business Advisor Dept Tourism Small Business and Industry -Marianne Buckham
BARA advisor from the Dept Tourism Small Business and Industry -Brendan Ryan
Julie Mackenzie
Olive Neuendorf
Kristine Markwell
Felicity Fenwick
Wendy Creighton

Eastern Downs Group

Linseed/Flax

• Re-work RAP Application for Linseed/flax to meet SIACC -RAP guidelines by Thursday 11 June

Whiskey

• Check funding prior to June 16 with DEETYA
• Inform prospective DWC members of successful funding of project by June 16 Advertise for tender for WP Consultancy by June 30
• Contact DPI facilitator to run consultation meetings by August.

Audit of Groups

• Identify groups and organisations Involved in the community with similar or supportive goals to this group.
• Assess skill base with view to resource exchange.
• Identify group members to liaise with these groups. Measure by feedback by other groups. TIME -3 months

The purpose of The EDTG is

1. To generate ideas and enthusiasm for change within our rural communities for the benefit of the whole community

2. To improve living standards via income for rural community by investigating and implementing ideas

3. To create an environment for change

4. To build a capacity within the community to enable fanning to be profitable and sustainable

5. T o encourage small business to be more outward looking

6. To promote, encourage, foster and establish rural community and regional viability and growth which is sustainable

7. To improve income in rural community

8. To encourage industries into our area and confidence in our aim

9. To foster attitudes and opportunities that will enable the eastern downs community to make the changes necessary for it and the environment to thrive in an uncertain future

10. To create change in the community aimed at improving the sustainability of the community economically and ecologically and to put $ in farmers pockets

11. To facilitate/create a preferred future that include a vibrant young community involved in a sustainable and viable economy

From these we created three

The purpose of the EDTGO is to

1. Generate/foster/encourage ideas and attitudes to strengthen the communities capacity to create a preferred future!
2. Generate/foster and promote attitudes and opportunities to create a preferred future for the community which is ecologically and economically sustainable
3. Confidently create a preferred future of viable and sustainable growth for rural community and industry through fostering and promoting attitudes and opportunities which are economically and ecologically sound/progressive

Outstanding Action Items

Concerns

1. Let's not bog down in negative thoughts
2. Members of the group who are not here might not own what we come up with
3. That the group will lose energy if our two important projects don't continue
4. That we put limits on what can be achieved
5. That we won't be side-tracked
6. That we can't carry enthusiasm to those: who are not here
7. That this group is not representative of the region

Participant Role

1. Identify and commit the group to a course of action

2. Be open-minded and indicate where our hopes lay

3. Co-operative and committed, learning to apply ideas to our situation

4. To have honest input about where we are and where we want to go

5. Actively, opening and fully participate in our planning and direction day

Government Staff's Role

1. Assist with information, ideas, skills and links today as well as in the future

2. To encourage us when we need to change direction and how to get there

3. Encouraging with positive support

4. That they are part of our group

We need to manage the different perspectives we bring to the group

Expectations -planning day EDTG

1. Work to gain common focus, understanding and schedule of where we are going and how we are going to get there

2. We will be enthused

3. That we can create a new vision for this group by working collaboratively

4. Some doable activities

5. Find the direction in which our group aims to head

6. The group needs to get a sense that R is OK

7. That Ron White gains a clear understanding of issues affecting the region

8. Have Fun

9. A lot of open-mindedness

10. Some positive ideas we can start on right away

11. To find out how to better use people in the community

12. Make use of the resources of government

13. A sense that we can help ourselves

14. Reciprocal group assessment

15. Package projects for superannuation investors

16. Develop regional super funds "

17. Develop relationships with fund managers

18. Managers for Queens St. Farmers

19. Pool Specialisation across a number of properties -Plant, Harvest etc. 20. Find opportunities to let people know about our successes

Biloela Points

1. Start from the bottom -up

2. Maintain positivity

3. Failure is feedback

4. Often change C.D. in mid-stream

5. ASK -What does my community near to me -often not just $

6. The top is supported by the other layers

Economic Development
Community Development
Leadership Development

7. Agriculture is not really a Primary Industry. - We need to think of land use of which agriculture is part

8. Look to value-add to what we already have

9. Successful projects were a collection of lots of small successes -it is incremental -you have to grow the system from where people are at

10. We have to work collaboratively

11. Do we know where 'there' is and do w~: know where 'here' is

12. We have made more progress then we have recognised and celebrated

13. Recognise what the group is doing for the individuals in it i.e. Confidence

14. We recognise that people take time to learn to adapt

15. Stay positive and believe in your ideas

16. Time to promote ourselves in our Community

17. This group provides members with opportunity for friendship and information

18. Seek involvement in the interests of others

19. Include our schools

Need to keep working on awareness of wider community (a number of practical outcomes) Realisation of community development has a critical time dimension

What has your group been doing?

• Training in retail and commerce (Schools)
• Promoting new industries
• Better organisation for Rural Development
• Australian Rural Education A ward
• Most effective path for group to follow
• Recognition of constraints (Tourism)
• Focusing on events and self-drive tourism
• Annual opportunity identification workshop
• Identified possibilities and progressed selective opportunities

How do you see your group?

Facilitators of action or the doers themselves

What does it want to achieve?

• Achieving quality of life appropriate to local community
• Self-determination
• Appropriate Cross-Regional Equity (City Vs Country)
• Improve economics of region
• Revitalising community
• Awareness of advantages of living in rural community
• Capacity building in group
• Helping people to broaden their thinking is greater achievement than physical things
• Celebrate successes no matter how small
• Rural Development less scary by starting on smaller issues/projects

Not Delivering Group Expectations

• Group wondering about own value
• Group not growing in public support

We think doesn't know/care about our struggle

Limited Beliefs

• The way we will go about it
• Clear
• Define role
• Being well

How successful has it been in achieving these outcomes?

• Group members have benefited from struggle
• Quality of life -Yes supporting local issues: (Whambo )
• Working on it -(EDTG)
• Self Determination
• Yes (EDTG)
• Yes Whambo with refocus

Commitment To Cross-Regional Equity

• Economics of region -core focus and a number of projects in progress
• Yes the message is being spread

Workshop 2

• Recognition of Skill Gap -Opportunities
• Need to involve and represent community
• Selling benefits and promoting of group
• Flexibility
• Reciprocal town assessment
• Little projects as well as big projects
• Re-visit the region as well as the group representatives .
• Resourcing the group
• Grab the Initiatives by the throat 1
• Plan it and do it properly
• Upset when looking at enourmous loss of Superannuation funds

Workshop 3

• Bottom-up approach to community development seems to be universal
• Linking those with theory with doers.
• The ability to be focused but flexible enough to cope with changing circumstances .Our responsibility for now and for the future
• Good basis for change would be accepting where we are
• Experience extends the goals
• Importance of identifying and growing (animators/amateurs??)
• More interest from community by broadening our horizons/look at other issues

BILO

Even we will disagree we are capable of working together.

Action Plan

Strategic Planning Meeting Wambo 16/6 and EDTG 4&5/6

Publicity -Community awareness of the group and conference and community development is alive and well in Rural Queensland.

Values Expectations

My Goals Commitments

High Energy -Low Result -Mini Groups –purpose

Issues

Workshop 1

• In general, education s not included in community economic development
• Change should not be dependant on Government funding
• Refreshing focus on broader land uses
• Involving young people as part of community
• Struggle of group is positive part of outcome
• Awareness of other models of good practice for use by group
• Local ownership
• Being honest about where we are and where we are going
• How should government have this partnership role
• Consider the realities and uniqueness of local resources
• More regional in our thinking
• Achievable by our group (10)
• Viable/achievable (6)
• Extent of the benefits (9)
• Regional Equity (1)
• Has some positive reflection to power the group (6)
• Will be supported by the community (13)
• Short Term -Achievable by our group with large benefit and supported by the community.

Eastern Downs Turnaround Group -Goal Selection Criteria

• Some positive publicity about the ideas we generate and which seem achievable (8)
• Seeking out and meeting with other community groups and industries and seeking out their ideas (5)
• Sell the groups benefits, ideals and ideas (2)
• Identify where the group needs to be and position it (3)
• Tell others what we are about and get their views at their level (8)
• To determine where is HERE and where is THERE (4)
• Get Whisky and Linen defined and underway or scrapped (10)
• A Subscriber list for EDTG and a means of growing the group through a network (7)
• To create a project to keep young people on the land (i.e. young fanner/urban investor partnership) (6)
• Seek out other projects in the community we could either support or lead (9)
• Celebrate our successes (5)
• Group health project (4)
• Group skill development (3)
• Audit of groups out there than we can tap into and exchange with (10)
• Cheryl- group resource provider (4)
• Skills audit within the group (7)
• Pilot/support entrepreneurial courses on EDD (4)
• Report back to community ( 4)
• Decide about role/s EDTG (functions might/does perform) (8)
• Develop process to identify test and promote new opportunities and promote the process to community (8)
• To grow new E DTG members (6)
• Clarify what EDTG can and can't do (5)
• Include someone from the Department of Natural Resources to help us with Ecological sustainability
• To use landcare groups to test what we propose (7)
• Develop a set of guidelines/criteria that define the projects we will go with (5)
• Identify and promote BEST Farming Practices (5)
• The EDTG will foster the future profit programme in our Region (5)
• Within our Mission Statement (10)
• Long Term (4)
• Short Term (7)
• Achievable within two years (5)

Blackwater Duaringa Group

Momentum is growing from last year 5 A's are a useful starting point

• Accommodation
• Activities
• Access
• Availability
• Abilities

These are a useful starting point for brainstorming.

• Never quitting
• Vision: Important to develop and keep going
• Ownership of vision who area, towns, shire us

Issues

• uniting town and country people
• Resistance to change and how to deal with this
• Looking for potential
• Don't have to be bigger to be better
• Breaking down perceptions

Capacity Building

• Collective vision
• Empower and Enlighten
• Unity

You've got to plant seeds and not enough seeds are being planted
Change doesn't take place because of fear of feedback and failure

• Patience and Time
• Grow and Improve

Vision

• To unify people to enhance the quality of life in the community
• Need to focus on the common goals
• Need a passion for what is happening

We Have

Centa care	Hotels
Life Line	Motels
Pony Club	Caravan Park
Pensioners	Dingo
Cricket Club	McKenzie Park
Dr Day	Blackdown Tableland
Podiatrist	Namoio
Women's Health	Sawmill
QARB	Ausorb Mill
SES	Golf
Bush Fire Brigade	Tennis
CWA	Races -trap throwing
Red Cross	Craft F air
Lioness	Craft Days
Landcare
Historical Society
Concern Citizens

What would we like to do?

• Encourage people to stop
• Dingo -Sign
• Duaringa
• Anzac Day
• McKenzie Park -Survey Andrea -July

Ideas

• Tours to see sunflower
• Historical Society
• Landcare
• School
• McKenziePark
• Concern Citizens
• Lioness'

Possible Name: Duaringa Development Group

10 Column planning process. A formal meeting replacement process designed to share tasks and get the job done.

Sign for McKenzie Park: Digital Phone Coverage Ends in 500 Metres

Rockhampton Workshop Group

Theme	Project Ref	Project Name	Project Objectives
1		Market workshop	To inform stakeholders of the outcomes of the outcomes community development workshop held 20/21 June 1998, to develop ownership of those outcomes and to encourage project participation
W	2	Rockhampton Development Corporation	Rockhampton To develop the framework for the Development Corporation
W	3	Community Performance Indicators	To develop a balanced suite of indicators to enable the measurement and tracking of the business vitality and well-being of the Rockhampton community
W	4	Local Government Coordination	T o develop opportunities for Rockhampton and neighbouring local authorities to share resources to increase the quality of service delivery tat the lowest possible cost to the communi
L	5	Education, Industry and Community Linking	To develop a process that enables the ongoing coordination between community and business needs and outcomes provided by the education system
L	6	Community entrepreneur chair	To develop a sharp focus on the development of community entrepreneurship through a fully funded chair at the C U
W	7	Customer service training	Raise the general standard of customer service in Rockhampton through provision of needs based skills training across the breadth of businesses operating in Rockhampton
W	8	Business Mentoring	Provide a confidential no cost mentoring program for small business through the harnessing of the skills of retired persons and communi ou s such as Rot
W	9	Business Linking	Encourage local spending by developing a system to provide easy access to contact and product information about all Rockhampton businesses
W	10	Electronic Commerce	Develop the capability of Rockhampton business in relation to electronic commerce thereby enabling wider access to their businesses
W	11	Business reception	Establish a process to enable a one stop shop a roach with infrastructure providers for substantial new business coming to Rockhampton
E	12	River Plan	Develop a management plan to increase the sustainable use of the Fitzroy River making it a focus of the city
W	13	Web Page	Establish a world wide web page that both promotes Rockhampton but also provides a conduit for the sharing of information to business with the community
L	14	Smart City	Develop a plan to provide the support to enable to establishment of the CQU within the main commercial precinct of Rockhampton
E	15	Event Coordination	Develop a comprehensive and coordinated rolling twelve month community event program
I	16	National Sporting Team	Establish a national sporting team based in Rockhampton to increase the national focus on Rockhampton as a sporting destination

Banana and Taroom Shires

Jane Parker- facilitator

To mobilise the communities of Banana and Taroom Shire to realise where they are at and where they are going by:

Writing to the above shire councils to elicit their support for the temporary employment of a community development person eg Peter Kenyon or Bruce McCollum. (This support would enable funding to be accessed.)

This person would facilitate, via individual workshops within each community, the identification of –

1. Where each community is presently at

2. How linkages can be established between each community

3. Their commonality of purpose

4. Where they should go, both as individual communities and as combined neighbouring shires

This letter to council is to be accompanied by a list of people present at the group 9 meetings. The follow up (funding + workshops) will be addressed as soon as council support is solicited.

Key persons identified:

Claire Wyland EDO for Banana Shire Council
Belinda Kropp of Taroom District Development Association
Phil Casey of DPI's Drought and Regional development