FLASHBACK: Paul Francis (RDA Wide Bay Burnett), then-South Burnett mayor David Carter and RDA WBB chairman Grant Maclean at a forum in Kingaroy in 2010 to discuss the first draft of the regional Roadmap

September 18, 2013

Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett (RDA WBB) has released an updated version of it draft regional “Roadmap” for feedback from stakeholders and the community.

Roadmap v2.1 includes an overview of the region, identifying employment, education and health as a primary focus and sets action plans for the next 12 months.

It also notes the relatively low socio-economic status of the region.

More than 81.6 per cent of the Wide Bay Burnett population resides in high disadvantage categories, in comparison with 31.8 per cent in Greater Brisbane. The equivalent Queensland and Australian figures are both around 40 per cent.

RDA WBB encourages stakeholder and community feedback on the draft, which must be emailed by October 25.

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RBA WBB is a joint State-Federal body established after the old Area Consultative Committee network was dissolved.

RDA Wide Bay Burnett is a strategic advisory body to government rather than a funding body. It was established in late 2009 as one of 12 RDAs in Queensland.