Regional Development Australia Fund – Round Three
Expression of
Interest Form
Regional Development Australia Fund - Round Three
Supporting Small Towns
Expression of Interest Form
Advice to Applicants
1. Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for Round Three of the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF)
opened on Friday, 26 October 2012. EOIs must be lodged by 5:00pm local time on Thursday,
6 December 2012.
2. Potential applicants are advised to carefully review the Guidelines for Round Three (the Guidelines)
prior to completing this EOI form. Applicants must assess their eligibility against the Guidelines, and
confirm their eligibility in the declaration section of this EOI form. Applicants must be certain that they
can submit an eligible application prior to submitting an EOI.
 RDA committees do not assess eligibility of EOIs against the eligibility criteria set out in the
Guidelines.
 The Department will assess the eligibility of the full application.
3. Eligible applicants are permitted to submit one EOI for one project in Round Three. Multiple EOIs will
not be accepted. Where more than one EOI is lodged with the Department, only the first EOI will be
accepted.
 Eligible applicants can submit an EOI to both Round Three and Round Four for different projects.
Proponents must be sure that they can meet the different eligibility and selection criteria for each
round.
4. The EOI form cannot be changed or altered in any way. The EOI form must be completed in its entirety.
Attachments will not be accepted. Responses to questions should be short and succinct.
 Responses to each question in Part E are limited to 350 words. Text over this limit will not be
considered by RDA committees.
 Only fully completed EOIs will be accepted and must be signed by an authorised person.
Incomplete EOIs and late EOIs will not be considered.
 EOIs received by the Department prior to the closing date can be withdrawn and replaced with an
updated EOI for the same project or an EOI for a different project. Advice on the withdrawal of an
EOI must be provided in writing to the Department (rdaf@regional.gov.au).
 EOIs may be withdrawn following the closing date via email to the Department
(rdaf@regional.gov.au).
5. Completed EOIs must be emailed to rdaf@regional.gov.au by 5.00pm local time on Thursday,
6 December 2012. EOIs must not be emailed direct to the RDA committee.
 All EOIs received by the Department will be acknowledged via email within two working days. If
you do not receive an acknowledgement from the Department, please call 1800 005 494 as a
priority to confirm that your EOI has been received.
6. The Department will notify all proponents of the outcome of their EOI on Wednesday, 13 February
2013. Details of the full application process will be published on the Department’s website
www.regional.gov.au.
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Regional Development Australia Fund – Round Three
Expression of
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PART A. DETAILS OF APPLICANT
1.
Name of Applicant
Australian Age of Dinosaurs Ltd
(Australian Age of Dinosaurs)
If you are a not-for-profit organisation please
provide your registered business name as listed
at www.abr.business.gov.au
Referred to as “AAOD” or “the Museum”
The overall project is a working dinosaur museum,
education facility, research facility and tourist
attraction based on Australian evolution, in
particular the discovery, conservation and
research of Australia’s dinosaurs.
2.
Type of Applicant
Not-for-profit organisation
Please tick the correct box or delete the line
which is not relevant
3.
Annual Income of a Not-for-Profit
Organisation
Not-for-profit organisations must have an
annual income of at least $500,000 averaged
over the two most recent financial years
4.
Australian Business Number
Annual Income $1,759,204 (2011/12, year 1)
Annual Income $1,380,125 (2010/11, year 2)
Both figures include recurrent revenue and capital
revenue from grants, subsidies, contributions and
donations
ABN 79 130 127 392
Must be for the applicant named is question 1
5.
Physical Address of Applicant
Lot 20, The Jump-Up, Dinosaur Drive
Winton 4735 Queensland
6.
Postal Address of Applicant
PO Box 408
Winton 4735 Queensland
7.
Authorised Person from Applicant
Organisation
This is the person with authority to submit the
EOI, such as the Chief Executive Officer or
General Manager
Name: Maureen Power
Title: General Manager
Phone: 07 4657-0712; M 0437-008-325
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Expression of
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Email : maureen.power@aaod.com.au
8.
Contact Details of Person with
Responsibility for the Project
Name: David Elliott
Title: Executive Chairman
This is the person who will have day-to-day
responsibility for delivering the project, such as
the Chief Engineer or Project Manager
Phone: 07 4657-0414 (H); 04 428-573-056 (AAOD)
Email: david.elliott@aaod.com.au
PART B. DETAILS OF PROJECT
9.
Project Name
Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum - Staff and
Volunteers’ Amenities Project
10.
Description of the Project
The project delivers vital amenities and support
for people working at the Museum and for visitor
catering.
1. 21m x 10m complex comprising
staff/volunteer room with cooking and cold
storage facilities to support café and
event/tour catering, meeting room/office,
shop/café merchandise storage facilities,
auxiliary power plant for Reception Centre,
staff/volunteer parking, services connection
and fit out.
2. 10m x 9m car port for visiting researchers and
fossil preparation participants’ parking
adjacent to visitor/participants
accommodation, with rear workshop area for
tools, cleaning equipment and storage
3. 3m x 3m building for Fossil Laboratory
auxiliary power plant
Describe the infrastructure that will be funded
from RDAF funding. (100 word limit)
11.
Is the activity for which RDAF funding
is sought part of a larger project?
Yes. Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum project
has three stages:
Stage 1 (opened 2009) - Working laboratory open
to the public, accommodation for staff and
museum visitors preparing fossils in the
Laboratory.
If yes, please describe the larger project and
the relationship between the activity for which
RDAF funding is requested and the larger
Stage 2 (opened April 2012) - Museum Reception
Centre with display of holotype specimens of
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Regional Development Australia Fund – Round Three
project. (100 word limit)
Expression of
Interest Form
Australian dinosaurs, administration area and
visitor amenities (shop, café, toilets, parking).
Stage 3 – (at concept design stage) is the final and
largest component, being a premier Australian
natural history museum of international
relevance.
This project/activity provides much needed staff
and volunteers’ amenities to support the visitororiented aspects of Stages 1 and 2.
12.
Category of Infrastructure
Economic
Select the one category which best describes
your project
13.
Is the project dependent on the
completion of any other activities?
No
If yes, please describe the activities which are
to be completed and the estimated time
frames
14.
What local government priority or
priorities does your project address?
Please list the documents which
describe these priorities.
Priorities: This plan aims to maximise the benefits
to the Winton community from sustainable
tourism. Strategies and actions include:
1. Work with AAOD to develop educational
visitation
2. Facilitate increased paleo/geo- tourism
visitation including facilitating development of
the AAOD Museum
Source document: Winton Shire Council,
Strategic Tourism Plan
***
Priorities: This plan includes reference to the
Central West’s significant employment and
growth potential in existing and new industries
such as … ecotourism, palaeo-tourism,
education/study tourism and heritage and
cultural tourism … “Embracing these
opportunities will ensure that the region will
grow … The major challenges include: …
attracting and retaining skilled workers, providing
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opportunities to halt outward youth migration …”
Source document: Central West Regional Plan
(Sept 2009) which incorporates Winton Shire
Council
***
Priorities: The Corporate & Economic
Development Program has an objective “to
maximise the potential of our shire and secure
appropriate economic development within an
environmentally sustainable setting” to be
delivered through Tourism Facilities with the
outcome met “to maintain and improve existing
facilities to enhance the Winton experience”.
Source document: Winton Shire Council,
Corporate Plan 2011/2012 to 2016/2017
***
Priorities: The Remote Area Planning and
Development Board has stated that the Museum
is important to its overall objective of regional
development as it offers a wide range of unique
attributes. A letter of support will be available
from the RAPAD Board should this EOI progress
to the application stage.
15.
When will the project commence and
be completed?
When will the activity for which
RDAF funding is sought commence
and be completed?
Commencement Completion
Date
Date
Overall Project
to conclusion
of Stage 3
Ongoing
Est. 2018
This Activity
Quarter 4 of
2013
Quarter 4 of
2014
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Expression of
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PART C. LOCATION OF PROJECT
16. Project Location
What is the physical address of the project? If
the project is located in more than one
location, list all locations
17.
Confirmation that the project is
located in a town with a population of
30,000 people or less.
Lot 20, The Jump-Up, Dinosaur Drive
Winton 4735 Queensland
www.censusdata.abs.govt.au shows the local
government area of Winton as having an “All
people – usual residents” population of 1,336
(2011 Census)
Please list evidence to demonstrate population
size
18. Name of the RDA committee which
has responsibility for the region where
the project is primarily located.
Fitzroy-Central West Region
Only one RDA committee can be nominated
19. Local Government Area in which
project is located
Winton Shire Council
PART D. DETAILS OF FUNDING
20. Value of RDAF grant being requested
$ 218,832
Must be between $50,000 and $500,000. Must
be GST exclusive
21. Total cost of the overall project
Stages 1 and 2 - $2,790,795
Includes: Reception centre, fossil laboratory and
accommodation buildings, property
improvements, plant and equipment, furniture
and fittings, water and power infrastructure at 30
June 2012 - $2,248,887; work in progress (audio
visuals and solar power) $252,576 (fully funded
for completion March 2013); and staff and
volunteers’ amenities $289,332 (this project, not
yet funded).
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Regional Development Australia Fund – Round Three
Note: The value of the donated land has not been
factored into budgets.
Phase 1, Stage 3 - $13,630,984
Phase 1 – Open-air galleries and services, and
concept planning and schematic design for Phase
2, Stage 3 (concept planning funded; due for
completion in June 2013)
Phase 2, Stage 3 - Est. $30m
Museum Complex
Total cost of the activity (this project)
to be supported by RDAF
Must be GST exclusive
22. Value of your organisation’s
contribution to the project (this
activity)
Maps to Selection Criterion 3
23. Value of cash contributions from
partners
Total cost of overall project $46,421,779
Total cost of this activity/project (Staff &
Volunteers’ Amenities) $289,332
Cash
In-kind
$5,000
$20,000
(fit out)
(being project
management $12,000;
project administration
$3,000; landscaping
$5,000)
Name of
Contributor
Status of
Value of Cash
Contribution Contribution
Name of
Contributor
Value of Inkind
Contribution
Status of
Contribution
$10,000
Not
confirmed
List whether each contribution is confirmed, or
requested but not confirmed in the Status of
Contribution column. Maps to Selection
Criterion 3
24. Value of in-kind contributions from
partners
List whether each contribution is confirmed, or
requested but not confirmed in the Status of
Contribution column. Maps to Selection
Criterion 3
Port of Townsville
(40’ container)
Winton Shire
$ 15,000
Confirmed
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Expression of
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Council (gravel
pads for buildings)
Qld Airports
Limited (generator
supply and
installation)
$20,000
Not
confirmed
PART E. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED BY RDA COMMITTEES WHEN SELECTING
PROJECTS TO PROCEED TO FULL APPLICATION
25. How is the project aligned to local government priorities as expressed in a strategic or
community plan or other published document?
Response should be no more than 350 words
Response:
Stage 3 of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum has been identified as one of the top 23
catalyst tourism projects across Queensland’s Outback, Gulf & Western Downs region that
will drive ongoing growth and development in tourism. Stages 1 and 2 of the Museum have
focussed on developing infrastructure, facilities and activities for tour and education visitors
and visiting fossil preparators.
In the relatively short time since Stage 1 opened in 2009, the Museum has already built a
national and international reputation for delivering new science, a ground-breaking and
unique museum experience and innovative tourism products, such as dinosaur digs and
dinosaur fossil preparation.
In order for the Museum to fulfil the goals and outcomes expressed in the Winton Shire
Council plans and other regional and state strategies, and to be a strong partner in “Winton,
Dinosaur Capital of Australia” and “Australia’s Dinosaur Trail” (with Hughenden and
Richmond Shires) it must be able to attract and retain a range of high quality staff for all
levels and activities of the business. Due to western Queensland’s extreme weather
conditions, the Museum must be able to offer at least basic facilities for staff and their
vehicles. It must also be able to provide appropriate living, working and parking facilities for
visiting fossil preparators, scientists, researchers and other people visiting on a professional
basis.
Indications are that the Museum’s early evening and night-time tour and dining tourist
product has significant potential, for which additional kitchen support is required, especially
for food storage in a remote, hot location.
This remoteness is also a factor in dealing with power outages which are common. Power
blackouts result in a sub-standard visitor experience with no lighting, no operational café, no
operational reception desk equipment, and café and catering stock lost due to freezers
defrosting and fridges not working.
The project outlined will alleviate or resolve all of these issues and ensure that the Museum
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is able to operate efficiently and effectively for the benefit of everyone involved.
26. How does the project address needs in the town and neighbouring towns? Describe the
benefits of the project for local communities? (Maps to Selection Criterion 1)
Response should be no more than 350 words
Response:
The Museum is on target to exceed 18,000 visitors in 2012 (up from 9368 in 2009/10),
including education groups. In addition, the Museum runs dinosaur digs and hosts visitors
from industry, scientific and government departments.
Small, remote towns benefit from new interests, activities, foci and opportunities in all
spheres of community engagement and concern. AAOD’s contributions increase in line with
its on-going development, including:
- opening a natural wilderness area (previously private land) for locals to use;
- offering a venue for important local social occasions (eg dinners, weddings);
- providing the community with free entry to a unique Australian attraction that they can
proudly bring their visitors to;
- adding to the region’s existing activities, eg Easter in the Outback, Outback Festival
celebrations;
- offering character-building employment opportunities to local youth;
- developing new education product and market benefitting regional school children and
attracting increasing school visitation to the region;
- bringing flow-on effects such as promoting excellent customer service at businesses in
town and presenting the district to its best advantage.
AAOD brings activity and employment to Winton and broader region via increased critical
mass using service industries and retail businesses, including:
-
additional residency (Winton’s third largest employer excluding Government)
-
additional visitation including: contractors and professionals involved with Museum
building projects; Australian and international journalists and film crews (news stories,
documentaries); research scientists involved with dinosaur digs and museum collection;
artists and writers; members of the public staying for periods up to three months
preparing fossil bones; frequent visits by national and State politicians and industry
leaders.
One unusual example of involvement in the community was that fossil preparation became
an important therapy for a local resident recovering from cancer.
Several members of the local community are on the Museum Board and there are 65 local
and regional Foundation Members.
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27. Describe the community support for the project, including the extent of support and
nature of supporting organisations.
Response should be no more than 350 words
Response:
The Museum’s development has received local support (* = free of charge) from:
-
Winton Shire Council ($850,000) - 11km of new gravel road; equipment and
machinery for annual digs and Reception Centre fit-out
-
Desert Channels Queensland ($54,000) – 12km fencing to exclude feral and domestic
animals, chemicals for noxious weeds, constructing walking trails, safety rails and
natural heritage interpretive signage
-
Britton Family - donated 1,800 hectares of The Jump-Up mesa for Museum site
-
Hoffmann Surveying - mapped new boundaries, prepared documents to amalgamate
land into one lot and surveyed the Reception Centre site*
-
O’Regan Accounting – accounting requirements since 2008*
-
Numerous earthmoving, transport, goods and services at reduced cost
Enormous support has also come from corporations and individuals with strong connections
to the local community including:
-
Port of Brisbane – four insulated containers for fossil storage*
-
Ergon Energy – electricity supply to Reception Centre*
-
Qantas Link –Brisbane/Longreach flights for supporters*
-
Cox Rayner Architects – all architecture for Reception Centre*
-
Queensland Museum – in-kind museum development
-
Norton Rose Australia and DLA Phillips Fox – provision of legal requirements*
-
Grant Thornton – business plans at reduced cost
-
Queensland X-Ray (MacKay Hospital) – scanning fossil bones*
-
Mac Services Group - 2 demountable buildings as accommodation for fossil
preparators and large shipping container for equipment storage.
-
JLM Transport - relocated demountable buildings from Nebo to The Jump-Up*
All seven shires of the RAPAD Board are Foundation Members of AAOD.
AAOD’s Patron is Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, Governor General of the Commonwealth
of Australia.
The Australian Government provided $1m in funding, through the Better Regions Funding
Program, for Stage 2 with $60,000 allocated for preparation by Grant Thornton of a
Feasibility Study and Business Plan. This document identifies AAOD’s critical success
factors, maps its strategic foci (science, tourism, education and community), and
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provides a clear path for achieving a world-class Museum that will showcase Australian
natural history and give Queensland an innovative, inspirational and self-sustaining
facility of global significance.
Over $400, 000 in cash contributions have been made by AAOD members since 2008.
28. Confirm that project (or element being funded by RDAF) will be completed by
31 December 2016. Please refer to approvals that have to be obtained, including the status
of those approvals, and project delivery arrangements.
Response should be no more than 350 words
Response:
A development application for this project is pending. The Winton Shire Council Mayor,
Chief Executive Officer and senior management staff have indicated that approval will be
granted in due course.
All cultural heritage clearances have already been obtained for this project and research and
enquiries for previous projects has identified that there are no native flora or fauna species
that are listed as being of concern.
This is a relatively small activity compared with the construction projects already completed.
Due to an urgent need for the facilities that this project provides the Museum is keen to
begin and complete the work as quickly as possible. It will aim for completion prior to the
end of 2014 so that the full complement of staff and fossil preparators on site over the 2015
tourist season can benefit from the improved amenities. As with prior AAOD projects,
considerable in-kind contributions and volunteer labour will swing into action behind this
work once the main funding is in place.
29. How will the project contribute to or support the local economy? (Maps to Selection
Criterion 2)
Response should be no more than 350 words
Response:
AAOD is positioned at the epicentre of Australia’s most significant dinosaur resource. In
partnership with Regional Shire Councils, and with support from State and Federal
Government departments, it leads the way in Qld geo-tourism, discovering, preparing and
presenting new Australian dinosaurs nationally and internationally.
The Museum’s high media profile and open and inclusive culture has captured the public’s
interest and imagination. It has provided the critical mass to take tourism and education
visitation in Winton and surrounding shires to another level. The increased activity leads
directly to economic growth across the board, and specifically there are 46 businesses in
Winton alone which benefit directly from tourism.
The Museum and Winton Shire Council have joined forces to market the Museum and the
Dinosaur Stampede National Monument at Lark Quarry under the banner Winton, Dinosaur
Capital of Australia. The distance between these two major attractions enables the Winton
Visitor Information Centre to encourage people to visit both venues, thus staying overnight
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or an extra night.
Winton Shire Council has upgraded facilities at the Diamantina Dormitory to enable school
groups visiting the Museum to overnight in town.
The AAOD Museum joined Winton, Richmond and Hughenden Shire Councils’ marketing
partnership of Australia’s Dinosaur Trail, strengthening the established product and
providing another point at which the Trail attractions are promoted and sold to visitors.
New tour product has been created by businesses, eg Kinnon & Co and Aussie Outback Tours
in Longreach and Matilda Country Tourist Park in Winton, specifically to include the Museum.
Museum’s visitor numbers have increased yearly (2009/10 – 9,368; 2010/11 – 13,066;
2011/12 – 16,488). This will continue as word spreads of the organisation’s activities and
visitors recommend it to friends, family and colleagues. Expanding education programs,
including video conferencing to schools around Australia, is a priority for the Museum. This
will lead to increased family visits in the longer term.
Staff who move to Winton to work at the Museum bring additional business to town, as do
visiting preparators and scientists who often stay for several weeks. Staff numbers will at
least double post-opening of Stage 3.
30. If you are seeking funding for a project which is the normal responsibility of local, state or
territory governments, please describe why RDAF funding is needed. (Maps to Selection
Criterion 4)
Response should be no more than 350 words
Response: n/a
PART F. DECLARATION OF ELIGIBILITY
I, David Anthon Elliott, confirm that my organisation has reviewed the Guidelines for Round
Three of the Regional Development Australia Fund.
I confirm that my organisation can meet all eligibility and selection criteria as detailed in the
Guidelines for Round Three. If selected to proceed to full application, I confirm that my
organisation can provide a completed application, including supporting documents, by 5.00pm
local time on Wednesday, 27 March 2013.
I confirm that:



My project is located in a small town which has a population of less than 30,000.
I represent a local government organisation or an eligible Not-For-Profit organisation.
My project is ‘investment ready’ and, if it receives funding from Round Three, my
organisation will commence construction within 12 months of signing the Funding
Agreement with the Commonwealth.
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Expression of
Interest Form
The component of the project for which RDAF funding from Round Three is requested will
be completed by 31 December 2016.
My project is predominantly infrastructure in nature.
My organisation is requesting between $50,000 and $500,000 (GST exclusive).
My project has community support which can be evidenced by supporting documentation.
My organisation can implement the project and can sustain it in the longer term.
My organisation has, or will have at the time of applying, the following required documents
to support our application:
 letters to confirm the provision of partnership funding from the funding providers;
 letters of support and evidence of community consultation;
 audited financial statements for the most recent two consecutive financial years;
 evidence to demonstrate that we have delivered projects of a similar size or scope on
time and on budget;
 evidence to confirm that my organisation can sustain the project for at least five years;
and
 supporting documentation that includes details of the scope and outputs of the project,
sets out how the project will be delivered and identifies any risks.
My organisation can present a strong, well supported case against the selection criteria:
 the extent to which the project will support the local economy; AND/OR
 the extent to which the project will benefit the local community; AND/OR
 the extent to which the applicant leverages additional funding from a variety of sources;
AND
 the extent to which the applicant is unable to otherwise fund the project (for projects
which are normally the responsibility of local government or state and territory
governments only).
My organisation is willing to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Department.
I am a person authorised to make this declaration on behalf of my organisation.
I confirm that all of the information provided in this Expression of Interest form is true, correct
and accurate.
Name David Anthon Elliott
Position Executive Chairman
Date 3 December 2012
Signature
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