The manager of Tourism and Economic Development, Charles Liggett, and I last week travelled to Nyngan to meet with representatives of the other six councils with whom we have been grouped for the Regional Economic Development Strategy Program.

The program is funded by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC).

The Centre for Economic and Regional Development is a part of DPC and has identified 32 Functional Economic Regions (FER) across NSW that will receive funding support.

The Western Plains region, which includes Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Coonamble, Walgett and Warren Shire councils, has been identified as an FER for the purposes of the project.

The group has been named the Western Plains Group of Councils.

The program will be based on a uniform economic development methodology that is evidence based, formed on a defensible statistical foundation and will be tailored to each FER as it is recognised each region will have unique characteristics.

 The program objectives are to:

1. Build on existing strengths in the region and enhance those strengths;

2. Identify new opportunities to enhance the development, performance and competitiveness of the region;

3. Assist the region on the path towards its sustainable economic development;

4. Help prepare councils to access the unprecedented investment the NSW Government is making in regional NSW.

Given the size of the proposed region the potential for subsets being established has been raised and is something that should be pursued as it may be much easier for smaller groups to achieve positive outcomes rather than try to cover the large geographic area.

Warrumbungle and Gilgandra for example are one functional area as is Dubbo Regional Council and Narromine and it is much easier to identify the synergies in these smaller areas.

Council will work with consultants to ensure that it gets the best outcomes for our region.