<![CDATA[Fleurieu Regional Development - Media Release Feed]]> <![CDATA[FRD RSS Logo]]> <![CDATA["The Benefits of Working Together Regionally"]]> Fleurieu Regional Development is putting the spotlight on “working together as a region”, as part of this year’s Small Business Month. This State Government initiative, promoted through the Department of Trade and Economic Development, will be held in October.

As part of this program, the Fleurieu Regional Development team is presenting a Regional Business Network Dinner, on Thursday 25th October, 6.30 pm for 7.00 pm.

A key focus is to help businesses improve their productivity, practices and profitability through innovation and regional thinking. Our event aims to assist businesses to learn, grow and prosper by espousing the benefits of working together regionally.

We are inviting Business Associations, Industry groups Executive and our Local Government representatives from across the Fleurieu Region to join us at the South Lakes Golf Club in Goolwa to discuss the theme, The Benefits of Working Together Regionally.

Link to program: Single Program Fleurieu Regional Network Dinner.pdf

Link: www.southaustralia.biz/sbm07

Thursday 25th October, 6.30pm for 7.00pm

South Lakes Golf Club

Billabong Road, Goolwa SA 5214

]]> ]]> <![CDATA[NEW CHAIR FOR FRD]]>
Mr Crompton replaces Malcolm Schlein as Chair, who has held this role for four years. The Board formally expressed their appreciation to Mr. Schlein for his leadership and signification contribution during this period. Mr Schlein will be continuing as an FRD Board member for another year.

Peter Hocking, a Strathalbyn businessman was appointed as Deputy Chair. Mr Hocking is actively involved in business and community activities in the Eastern Fleurieu and is currently the President of the Strathalbyn District Commerce Association.

Mr Crompton complimented FRD’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Karen Kaak on becoming a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He says “This course is highly regarded and having a CEO with this level of expertise will provide further benefit to the Board”.

The Annual Report tabled at the meeting again illustrated the wide range of initiatives that FRD has undertaken during the year to assist business and development in the region.

]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Biotechnology 2020 – A futuristic forum at the pub]]> “Science in the Pub” has been successfully run in the eastern states of Australia, and now its Fleurieu’s turn to debut this public forum that’s never before been held in Adelaide or adjacent regional areas.
The forum will involve discussions of the visions of biotechnology in the year 2020. It will be held at the Victor Hotel on 22nd August 2005 from 6pm - 8pm. It is already shaping up to be an outstanding event with significant media attendance along with local leaders of industry and Government and members of the general public all participating in this public forum.
A panel of speakers, which will include members of Co-operative Research Centres, the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and experts from the health and medical field, will discuss issues relevant to the key topics. Members of the audience will then have the opportunity to participate using electronic voting equipment available on the night to register their views on a range of topics.
AusIndustry have invited twenty Fleurieu innovators to display their goods and services at the event.

As this event is strictly limited to 130 places, we recommend you reserve your place by calling or emailing your details to Hugh McIntosh, FRD: 8536 4848 or bso@frd.org.au by Monday the 15th of August.

]]> ]]> <![CDATA[NEW APPOINTMENTS TO FRD BOARD]]>
The newly appointed members were chosen from a large number of applicants across the Fleurieu Peninsula region. They have wide experience in business, education and regional issues.

The new Board members are Belinda Billing, Jennifer Dowding, Peter Hocking and Berni Morrison.

“We are very excited to have these new members join our board,” said Malcolm Schlein, FRD Chairman. "We have a great mix of experience and perspective, with the incoming Board members complementing an already impressive group of individuals".

Mr Schlein thanked outgoing members, Barry Webb and Lawrie Mortimer for their support and the valuable contributions they have made.

The appointment of new members to the Board is timely as FRD is currently finalising its Strategic Plan for 2005 – 2008.
]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Broadband - affordable option for the Fleurieu]]>
At present, high-speed Internet access outside of the limited coverage areas has been very expensive due to significant costs involved, such as satellite connections. Only central Victor Harbor, Goolwa, Port Elliot, Strathalbyn, Yankalilla and Normanville have telephone exchanges capable of supplying broadband within a 4km radius. The Fleurieu Regional Broadband demand aggregation project will significantly expand coverage by first establishing local demand and then approaching Internet service providers to bid for the right to serve this demand. Funding will also be provided to cover any gaps between the costs of the service offered when compared with metropolitan prices.

To put it simply, broadband is fast. It offers Internet speeds at least five times faster than the existing dial-up forms over your current phone line. Unlike dial-up, broadband is constantly connected and ready to go. It also doesn’t block your incoming phone calls while you're online, negating the need for a second phone line.

Those interested in gaining access to broadband, for either your home or business, are encouraged to complete the registration form detailed below. Tony Klemm is currently in the process of contacting homes and businesses in the Fleurieu to gather interest in the project. The cut-off date for expressions of interest is the 20th of July and it is anticipated that broadband services will begin to be available by December 2005.

Further details on the Federal Government’s funding scheme are available at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/tel/higher_bandwidth_incentive_scheme_hibis

For further information or assistance, please contact Tony, FRD via 0429 675 965 or email at broadband@frd.org.au as soon as possible.


]]> ]]> <![CDATA[FRD SECURES FUNDING FOR BROADBAND]]>
FRD CEO, Karen Kaak says “there are many areas in our region outside the larger township boundaries that currently cannot get access to ADSL or other forms of Broadband technology. This initiative will address this imbalance”.

FRD is being supported by the City of Victor Harbor, Alexandrina Council and District Council of Yankalilla, to ensure that all efforts are made to ensure a coordinated approach to making this service available to all residents in our region.

Mr Tony Klemm of Haack Klemm Enterprises (HKE) PTY LTD has been appointed as Project Manager. He has over 20 years experience in the Information and Communications Technology field and was the former IT Manager for Onkaparinga Institute of TAFE.

The process will involve council representatives, FRD and the Project Manager developing an implementation plan; working with local community identities and groups to increase the awareness and demand for Broadband; gaining registrations of interest and mapping these; analysing the information in order to prepare a brief for service provider tenders and the selection of the service provider.

Mr Klemm says “he is looking forward to working closely with businesses and local community groups and encourages them to register with the project”.

To register your interest in obtaining Broadband services or for further information, please contact Tony Klemm on 0429 675 965.
]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Changes to FRD Board]]>
John Crompton has been appointed as Mr Windsor’s successor. Mr Crompton is a current member of the Board and is well versed with regional issues having previously been Mayor of Victor Harbor for a period of ten years.

Mr Windsor was reluctant to resign from the Board saying “I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement with Board members and staff of FRD. FRD has increased its involvement in key regional issues over the last four years and I am sure FRD will continue to play an active role in the region.”

The FRD Board is seeking to appoint new members from community and industry leaders in the region.

Meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis around the region and members are appointed for a two year term. Interested persons need to have skills and experience that will support and enhance the organisation’s performance and management.

FRD Chairman, Malcolm Schlein says “The Board is keen to encourage a variety of expertise from our diversity of industry sectors. The Board is committed to supporting the growth and development of the region and it’s economy.”

]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Fleurieu Olive Industry set to lift production]]>
This is one of the key findings of the “SA Olives: Cooperating to Compete” report, which is the culmination of a twelve month project undertaken by Fleurieu Regional Development.

The project was developed to assist the Fleurieu Peninsula Olive Industry to identify market opportunities and deliver training to the sector.

The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to an estimated half a million plantings of olive trees currently generating an income of about $5 million per year to the region and has the potential to treble within the next five years.

Chief Executive Officer of FRD Karen Kaak says collaborative marketing of the Fleurieu Peninsula as a premium olive growing region underpins many of the recommendations in this report.

It is therefore important for the industry to continue to work together on a range of initiatives including marketing, distribution, training and production, Ms Kaak says.

“Working with the Olive Industry helps FRD maintain one of our goals which is to stimulate sustainable economic development in our region.”

The report was prepared by FRD Project Officer, Robyn Millar who is now working on a proposal for funding to ensure that olive growers continue to develop this co-operative approach.

This proposal will be presented to interested Fleurieu Peninsula olive producers on 1 February 2005 at McLaren Vale.

The Report is available at www.frd.org.au or from Fleurieu Regional Development at Strathalbyn.

The “SA Olive Cooperating to Compete Project” is a partnership with the Commonwealth and State Governments, FRD and Olive Growers.

For further information contact FRD Media Adviser, Sonia Lewis on 8536 4848 or Project Officer, Robyn Millar on 0417 820 292.
]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Tourism Business Growth Initiative from 12th April]]>
The fifteen month program is designed to provide training in small business management, develop new tourism products and increase profitability.

Participants will work together in complimentary groups to develop their skills and tourism packages for marketing. The program will consist of workshops on business and tourism topics and will also provide individual and group mentoring.

Rob Maynard, an experienced tourism business consultant with a background in both private and public sectors has been appointed to manage this project.

Mr Maynard says “Tourism throughout the Fleurieu Peninsula & Murraylands regions has experienced enormous growth over recent years and now is the time to take advantage of this growth with the introduction of industry best practices in small business management”.

The project is a joint initiative between Fleurieu Regional Development Inc., Murraylands Regional Development Board and SA Tourism Commission. FRD CEO Karen Kaak says “This program will assist tourism businesses in the region looking to take the next step in their development. The tourism industry is already a major driver of our economy and this initiative will help it to grow further”.

To find out more about participating in the program, please contact Rob Maynard on 0417 823 519.


This project is supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government under the Small Business Enterprise Culture Program.

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