November Newsletter

Message from the CEO

Regional Transport Infrastructure

The RDA Sunshine Coast Transport Survey earlier in the year identified the community’s priorities for delivery of transport infrastructure. The top three were Bruce Highway Upgrade, North Coast Rail Duplication to NAMBOUR, and Mooloolah River Interchange. The $1.6bn committed to Bruce Highway Upgrades currently underway is a fantastic start. As we have stated in the past, it is RDA’s wish that funding of all three are achieved and the Sunshine Coast Region is a major benefactor from the State Election. It is time for an infrastructure boom on the Sunshine Coast!

Techstars Sunshine Coast Startup Week
The entrepreneurial ecosystem is alive and thriving on the Sunshine Coast with particular focus in the week commencing 11th November. There are a variety of activities and information sessions designed to help and support entrepreneurs. See how you can become involved in Startup Week 2017. Congratulations to Renee Coman for leading the initiative in Startup Week.

Digital Business Workshop
Innovation and the adoption of digital technologies will be a key driver of competitiveness for Sunshine Coast businesses. How well are you adopting and adapting? Addressing digital opportunities will be fundamental in building digital capacity and sustainability in local businesses – and will help businesses establish, grow, and capture new opportunities through adoption of best practices. Register for your free Digital Business Workshop run by DSITI on 22nd, 23rd or 24th of November. Register for workshops in Kawana, Marcoola, or Noosa.

Darrell Edwards
CEO, Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast

Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) Round Two

Applications are now open for Round Two of the BBRF. The $481.6 million BBRF supports the Australian Government’s commitment to create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities into the future.

There are two streams of funding available under the program: Infrastructure Projects Stream, and Community Investments Stream.

Headlines

Sunshine Coast Council achieves excellence in public works

Council has taken out two accolades at this year’s Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, Queensland (IPWEAQ) Excellence Awards.

Council collected the awards for innovation in the design and construction of public works projects for the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Rainforest Discovery Centre and received a high commendation for the design and construction of public works projects over $10 million for its Evans Street Upgrade.

Car travel takes backseat in design for Noosa Parade overhaul

Noosa Council is unveiling a design for new pathways and on-road bike lanes aimed at improving safety and access for walkers and cyclists on Noosa Parade, a key route to Noosa’s main tourism precinct.

The $200,000 design project is jointly funded by Noosa Council in partnership with the Queensland Government’s Cycle Network Local Government Grants Program, with the State Government contributing $100,000 to the project.

Digital Business Workshops

Reaching new customers, applying real-time data analytics or running your business on the go, technology can help you improve your business in many ways. The hard part is knowing where to start. These FREE workshops will give you practical advice and digital skills to help you grow your business.
Plus, you will leave the workshop armed with your own ready-to-go digital action plan.

Caloundra Chamber of Commerce Building Better Business Breakfast

RDA Sunshine Coast attended the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce Better Business Breakfast at the Events Centre Caloundra on 26 October. Winner of the 2017 Outstanding Business Woman of the Year, Elaine Jobson (CEO of Jetts Group) shared her 5 lessons small business can learn from big business.

Darrell Edwards (CEO, RDA Sunshine Coast) and Dean Sherwell (TAFE QLD East Coast).

Images: Whisper Images

To ‘hack’ is to take something and make it ‘better’. To help make the Sunshine Coast a healthier, smarter and more creative region, council hosts an annual HackFest competition.

HackFest aims to encourage our bright sparks, big thinkers, change makers, dreamers, data enthusiasts, inventors, students, and artists to share and develop their creative ideas and find solutions to everyday community problems.

HackFest 2017 will be held at The Hive Business Space in Maroochydore, from Friday night on November 24 to Sunday November 26. Register your interest in HackFest.

Accelerate Small Business Grants Program
The Queensland Government is providing $3 million through the Accelerate Small Business Grants Program over 3 years to established Queensland-based small businesses to engage business mentors, coaches, specialist consultants or an advisory board, for a 6 to 12 month period.

Business Events Assistance Program
The Business Events Assistance Program offers support for eligible conferences, meetings or exhibitions that have the potential to be held on the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland Startup Events and Activities Fund
The Queensland Startup Events and Activities Fund builds capability within Queensland's startup community with funding of up to 50% of total activity costs.

#SCRIPT Advance Regional Innovation Program (ARIP)
The Advance Regional Innovation Program (ARIP) will provide $1 million over 3 years to develop innovation and entrepreneurial activities across the Sunshine Coast region.

Small Business Entrepreneur QLD
The Small Business Entrepreneur QLD fund provides Queensland small businesses with matched funding of up to $5,000 to access professional advice and support.

Visit our Grants & Funding page for a complete list of available grants.

Startup Week Sunshine Coast
Techstars Sunshine Coast Startup Week is a seven-day series of events celebrating, educating, and connecting Sunshine Coast’s startup community.
Sat 11 - Fri 17 Nov, 2017
Various Locations, Sunshine Coast
Learn more

El Grande Christmas Party 2017
Every year Silicon Coast holds a huge Christmas Party to celebrate the year with local entrepreneurs, creatives, technologists and innovators.
Fri 17 Nov 2017, 5:00pm - 9:30pm
Maroochy Sailing Club | Chambers Island, Maroochydore
Register now

Digital Business Workshops
The FREE Digital Business workshops will give you practical advice and digital skills to help you grow your business. Plus, you will leave the workshop armed with your own ready-to-go digital action plan.

First workshop:
Wed 22 Nov 2017, 8:30am - 1:00pm
Lake Kawana Community Centre, Bokarina
Register (by 20 November)

Second workshop:
Thu 23 Nov 2017, 8:30am - 1:00pm
Surfair Beach Hotel, Marcoola
Register (by 20 November)

Third workshop:

Fri 24 Nov 17, 8:30am - 1:00pm

Noosa Boardroom, Noosaville

Sunshine Coast Council HackFest
To ‘hack’ is to take something and make it ‘better’. HackFest aims to encourage our bright sparks, big thinkers, change makers, dreamers, data enthusiasts, inventors, students, and artists to share and develop their creative ideas and find solutions to everyday community problems.
Fri 24 - Sun 26 Nov 2017
The Hive, Maroochydore

Create Compelling Copy
Join accomplished journalist, Peter Owen has he takes you through this fun and interactive 10-week course on creating compelling copy.
20 Feb - 24 Apr 2018, Tuesdays 5.00pm – 6.30pm
Spark Bureau, Maroochydore
Register now

Have your say!

We welcome your feedback about any of our projects or news items featured in our monthly newsletter.

If you have regional news stories or economic development events, relevant for the Sunshine Coast community (or photos that show off this fantastic place we call home!) please contact us at media@rdasunshinecoast.org.au

Editorial deadline is by the 28th of each month.

Contact us

RDA Sunshine Coast
17 Ocean Street
Maroochydore Q 4558

Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast is an Australian Government initiative that works in collaboration with the Queensland Government, Sunshine Coast and Noosa Councils to support economic development within the region.

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