Orana RDA is supporting Outback Arts with the development of the Outback Arts Creative Hub, to be located at the Coonamble Plaza Theatre, through grant applications.
In 2023, Outback Arts purchased the historic Plaza Theatre in Coonamble. The acquisition, restoration, and activation of the Plaza Theatre in Coonamble, will transform it into a thriving cultural hub that enriches the community and the Outback Arts region.
By purchasing the theatre, Outback Arts ambitiously aims to restore, renovate and share the space with the community for performance, celebration, recreation and more. Their goal is to prepare this one-of-a-kind community facility for its next chapter by replacing or restoring the necessary roofing and plasterwork , adding sound and lighting, adapting the structure to meet current accessibility and safety requirements. This will provide the theatre with modern facilities needed to make this beautiful, historic venue accessible and affordable for everyone to use.
RDA Orana achieved a significant milestone with a successful grant of more than $665,000 from the Regional NSW – Business Case and Strategy Development Fund to produce the Orana Hunter Connections and Beyond – Golden Highway Transport Study.
The project is crucial to ensuring the Golden Highway remains a reliable and efficient transport link. The project is anticipated to provide broad benefits to the resources, energy, manufacturing, education and tourism industries, as well as the many companies in the Orana and Hunter regions that trade across NSW and globally.
As part of the study two business cases have been developed focusing on Rail and Road transport:
The Inland NSW Growth Alliance Innovation Hub is designed to support critical industry and business development in the Orana and Central West regions of NSW aligned to priority industries.
There is significant public and private investment occurring driving the growth of clean energy across the region underpinned by the Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
The INGA Innovation Hub will compliment the activity and opportunity in the region and state for renewable energy, critical minerals and high-tech metal development, circular economy and infrastructure, and to drive climate smart innovation, solutions and technologies that will contribute to lower-emission outcomes, transparency and assurance to industrial processes and downstream supply chains.
By fulfilling this mission, The INGA Innovation Hub will be a key lever to job creation, export growth and economic prosperity for the Orana and Central West regions of NSW. It will provide new and emerging resources and clean technology businesses with a unique physical environment to support their likelihood of commercial success in a net zero industrial future.
(Link to Innovation Hub flyer in this folder as pdf) - Penny
RDA Orana is the lead organisation for the Future Drought Fund’s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Community Impact Program.
There are 9 initiatives that form part of the Central West and Orana region’s project:
The initiatives target different demographics within the local communities of the region, allowing a broader impact on more people. Initiatives focus on many different segmentsfrom migrant communities to women. The programs are taking place across many different parts of the region, from Cobar in the west to the more easterly Weddin Shire to ensure each of the LGA’s within the region have the opportunity to prepare for drought and strengthen resilience for future dry periods. By using local delivery partners who know their communities well, the initiatives have been developed based on the community’s direct needs and will drive local action.
What is INGA? The RDA Orana's role within INGA. Please include URLs linked to REIIF and the Innovation Hub, both of which fall under INGA.