Regional Development
The landscape, culture and people of regional Australia are highly representative of the country's values and sense of identity.
In addition, the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government estimates that around two thirds of Australia's export earnings come from regional industries such as agriculture, tourism, retail, services and manufacturing.
However, many Australian regional communities have struggled as they attempt to maintain the best features of their communities in the face of population decline, cutbacks in services and ageing populations.
Social, environmental and economic development are therefore important responses to what are often declining regional economies.
Sustainable regional development is not only about economic prosperity. It also must focus on both the pace and the quality of job creation and plan thoughtfully for regionally focused approaches to housing, transportation, skill development, the environment, technology and land use policies that protect and promote communities. It should also focus on social participation and understanding the unique aspects of the individual region or town.
Successful regional development requires the active engagement of local stakeholders and it demands strong partnerships among the community, government and regional government agencies.
When considering regional development Capire can help clients answer question such as:
- Are there key characteristics of community sustainability and resilience that can help with understanding warning signs about potential problems for regional communities?
- How can small communities gather the resources and expertise to understand how external changes are impacting on their community infrastructure?
- Why so some regional areas thriving while others struggle?
