The Greater Brisbane Area Consultative Committee (GBACC) is a non-profit organisation supporting regional growth in Brisbane, Logan and Redlands . It is part of the national network of Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) , which has been an important link between the Australian Government and rural and metropolitan Australia.
The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP announced on 20 March 2008 that as foreshadowed in the Government ' s key regional election commitments, Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) would provide the basis for the creation of Regional Development Australia (RDA).
Therefore ACCs will transition to become local Regional Development Australia committees. Recently forums have been held in both Logan and the Scenic Rim.
GBACC is providing via its website an opportunity for the local community to have a say in the transformation or transitioning process. Look here for the survey and details for sending. Also available there is the earlier submission to the ferderal government.
Both the GBACC's website and www.acc.gov.au will be updated frequently until the transition to RDA is complete.
Residents in the Scenic Rim are able to complete an online survey from this page for your views on regional development on the Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim.
Where the Scenic Rim fits is confusing to me. On its website, the Ipswich & Regional Area Consultative Committee Inc (I&RACC) states that it represents a diverse region, each with its own characteristics and very different demographics including Ipswich City, the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Brisbane Valley. Covering an area of 9,502 square km's, this region has a population of approx. 189,000. (ABS Data June 2004)
With significant population growth currently facing South East Qld (SEQ), the SEQ Strategic Plan has now been developed to provide some clear direction for planning into the future for this region. The plan has clearly identified the Western Corridor including the Ipswich region as a significant growth area. The projected population for the I&RACC region is expected to grow from 189,000 to approx. 300,000 by 2016 and 392,000 by 2026. The impacts of this growth will have significant bearing on available infrastructure, transport, water, technology and employment to service the population.
The I&RACC region has identified that this can be achieved by continuing to work towards developing sustainable communities within our regional centres that provide jobs in close proximity to residential areas and available amenities.