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Crows Nest celebrates opening of its Rural Transaction Centre - More communities are on track

The Queensland community of Crows Nest and surrounding districts will enjoy easier access to a range of much-needed basic services, following the opening of a Rural Transaction Centre (RTC) in the town.

Senator Ian Macdonald, Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, officially opened the Crows Nest RTC on 20 May.

Crows Nest's RTC is a real joint venture - all spheres of Government, the Heritage Building Society and the Crows Nest community are involved.

The Federal Government added $38,000 to the $110,000 contributed by the Crows Nest Shire Council to buy the premises for the RTC and the community raised $100,000 to get it going.

Senator Macdonald, who has responsibility for RTCs, said that this new RTC was another example where community leadership has come to the fore.

"This community is a prime example of a 'can do' community. They are not willing to just sit back and complain about what is happening.

"This is a community that has taken the challenge and said "we're not going to be left behind, we are going to get up and do it ourselves".

"The underlying principle of the $70 million, five year RTC Programme, is that it is entirely community driven. The community decides what it wants and where.

"It is important that we work with State Governments and Local Governments across Australia to combine our efforts to get these services up and running for everyone's benefit", Senator Macdonald said.

In acknowledging the determination and entrepreneurial spirit of the Crows Nest people, Senator Macdonald said that without their enthusiasm and without the community spirit of the people of Crows Nest, none of this would have happened.

"It is always great to see a community that is enthusiastic and prepared to get up and do what needs to be done" Senator Macdonald said.

The new Crows Nest RTC includes Centrelink services, co-location of the QGAP Information Service, support facilities, a tourist promotion and information service, community information services and PC and Internet access.

The centre will also solve a difficult problem that many of Crows Nest's elderly have had to endure &endash; the lack of adequate public transport to Toowoomba for government services that were unavailable close to home.

The new RTC will give them access to Commonwealth social security services on their doorstep through Centrelink.

Crows Nest is the second RTC to be opened in Queensland with a further two, Wallumbilla and Yuleba, scheduled to open in August.

"In excess of 250 communities are now involved with the RTC Programme, with eleven centres already up and running. As communities see the benefits of the RTCs we will see many more of these centres coming on-line right across the country" Senator Macdonald said.

For communities seeking information about the RTC Programme, the RTC Secretariat can be contacted toll free on 1800 038 160.

Further information is available on the Programme's website www.dotrs.gov.au/rtc.

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