RDSA

Regional Development South Australia (RDSA) is the peak body for the thirteen regional development boards situated across regional South Australia. RDSA is made up of RDB Chairs and provides leadership, support and a strong collective voice to encourage balanced regional development and employment.

RDSA has been in existence now for over 15 years and was formerly known as the South Australian Regional Development Association (SARDA) at which time the membership also included Local Government representatives from across the State. The original SARDA President was well known Local Government identity Mr Des Mundy and Des was succeeded in the role by Fleurieu representative, Malcolm Montgomery.

SARDA transitioned into Regional Development SA and was initially Chaired in that form by Mr Don Pfitzner, then Chair of the Mid North Regional Development Board with Mr Jeff Mincham (Chair, Adelaide Hills Regional Development Board) filling the role of Chair from August 2002 until August 2006. Mr Ian O'Loan (Chair, Yorke Regional Development Board) is the current Chair of RDSA after being elected to that position at the RDSA Annual General Meeting in August 2006."

The value of RDSA to regional and rural South Australia lies in its ability to respond effectively to the challenges that affect South Australia’s regional development framework and to take up any opportunity to strengthen and enhance its operations. These objectives are achieved by forming strong alliances and effective working relationships with our natural strategic partners.

RDSA provides a unique opportunity for community leaders in the form of Regional Development Board Chairs, being able to provide a collective voice on regional development in South Australia and it provides Government with a strong network back into our various regional communities.

Initiatives carried out by RDSA in recent years include:-

Regional Development Framework Review RDSA commissioned Dixon Partnership Solutions to carry out a review of the Regional Development Board Framework. The Office of Regional Affairs and the Local Government Association joined with RDSA in that review, with partnership funding and support on the Steering Committee.
The Review was a very significant achievement for RDSA, being the largest project of its kind undertaken for a decade. Its recommendations indicate that stronger strategic alliances capable of addressing the “big picture” issues of South Australia’s Strategic Plan are a priority for the Boards; however at the “grass roots” level the Boards are clearly achieving their objectives.

Quantifying the Economic Contribution of Regional South Australia,
A report initiated by the Regional Communities Consultative Council in partnership with the LGA, ORA and RDSA was delivered in July 2005. As the first serious academic analysis of the economic importance of the regions to South Australia’s economy it will provide the vital basis for further detailed analysis at the local level and so enhance the framework’s capacity to collect and interpret the data needed to formulate sound plans for future development.

Annual Conference
Each year RDSA presents a Regional Development Conference in a different area of the State, based around a topical theme. Attendees range from regional development practitioners; Local, State and Federal Government representatives and interested industry and business leaders. Over the past few years the Conference has been staged in Naracoorte, Renmark and Kangaroo Island with the 2007 Conference to be held at Port Lincoln on the 15th and 16th of November.
The main aims of the Annual Conference are to promote the work of the RDBs; address topics of critical importance to the regional economy; and also provide a vehicle for networking, interaction and sharing of regional intelligence by all those with a keen interest in regional economic development.

One of the key achievements in the early days of the Association was to negotiate and secure the Resource Agreement arrangements for the Boards. In addition a range of projects including, database creation; reporting processes for outcomes of the Boards; and funding for regional telecommunications and IT programs have been achieved through RDSA/SARDA.

IAN O’LOAN BIO

Mr O’Loan is currently Chair of the Yorke Regional Development Board and has an extensive background in Local Government, including stints as Chairman of the District Council of Mallala; Chairman of the Mid North Regional Local Government Association; and a Member of the Local Government State Executive.
With 30 years involvement as a local primary producer in Mallala, Ian also has a strong history with the livestock industry and is currently Chairman of Directors of National Saleyard Quality Assurance Ltd and President of the SA Livestock Saleyards Association. Ian’s strong commitment and dedication to the community saw him awarded an OAM in 1997 for service to the community and Local Government.

Close