Sustainable growth for our region

About RDA Greater Whitsundays

The Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions have a strong and diverse economy, including an incredible rate of growth over the last two decades. Our region offers a wide range of employment, educational, sporting and cultural opportunities.

RDA Greater Whitsundays work closely with local business, industry representatives and all levels of government to prepare for a sustainable and positive future for our region.

Learn more about the RDA network

90,000 SQ KM Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Region

$57.9 BILLION REGIONAL ECONOMIC OUTPUT PER YEAR

1.75 Million Visitors annually

Largest coal mining deposits in Australia

Beef, sugar, horticulture, grain and aquaculture production are key agricultural industries.

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Our Charter

Regional Development Australia is a national network of committees made up of local leaders who work with all levels of government, business and community groups to support the economic development of their regions.

RDA committees have an active and facilitative role in their communities with a clear focus on growing strong and confident regional economies that harness their competitive advantages, seize economic opportunities and attract investment.

Collaborating with other RDA committees, all levels of government, and the private sector, RDA committees will:

Facilitate regional economic development outcomes, investment, local procurement and jobs.
Promote greater regional awareness and engagement with Australian Government policies, grant programs and research.
Improve Commonwealth regional policy making by providing intelligence and evidence-based advice to the Australian Government on regional development issues.
Coordinate the development of a strategic regional plan, or work with suitable existing regional plans that will align with the Commonwealth’s regional priorities.

Our Priorities

Vision
Opportunity
Prosperity
Lifestyle

Sustainable economic growth to provide opportunities for all our communities

Enable industry diversification and support new and emerging industries.
Value adding to primary industries to enable sustainable and profitable rural communities.
Innovation through research and development.
Tourism product development and investment in tourism enabling infrastructure.
Capacity building through education and skilling.
Investing in clean energy and biomass opportunities.
Creating and delivering on regional economic development strategies.

Outcome:

A diversified economy looking to the future with the tools required to maximise productivity across the region.

Developing the region’s infrastructure to enable prosperity

Develop integrated transport infrastructure to connect the region physically.
Improve digital connectivity through investment in digital infrastructure.
Develop a greater understanding of the region’s ongoing water and energy requirements and plan for strategic investment in these assets.

Outcome:

A modern and effective infrastructure system that enables business growth and investment, resulting in productivity gains to our regional economy.

Generating trade and investment opportunities to enable the region to grow

Develop investment product for private enterprise, both domestically and internationally.
Capacity building of industry to take advantage of trade opportunities, including potential to export.
Development of knowledge-based industries’ export opportunities.

Outcome:

A connected region that has a significant flow of product and investment within the growing global economy, unlocking our potential to grow.

Creating a lifestyle region with strong, connected, vibrant communities

Social infrastructure to support growing communities.
Creating an identity for the region through placemaking initiatives.
Focus on ensuring affordability of the region through various industry cycles.
Enabling education infrastructure and community hubs.

Capacity building of community organisations to develop infrastructure and community service projects that make the region a more attractive place to live.