Regional Development Australia Fund - Round Four
Supporting Regional Infrastructure Projects
Expression of Interest Form
Advice to Applicants
1. Expressions of Interest for Round Four 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 Four (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.
ü RDA committees do not assess eligibility of EOIs against the eligibility criteria set out in the Guidelines.
ü The Department will assess the eligibility of the full application.
3. Eligible applicants are permitted to submit one EOI for one project in Round Four. Multiple EOIs will not be accepted. Where more than one EOI is lodged with the Department, only the first EOI will be accepted.
ü 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.
ü Responses to each question in Part E are limited to 350 words. Text over this limit will not be considered by RDA committees.
ü Only fully completed EOIs will be accepted and must be signed by an authorised person. Incomplete EOIs and late EOIs will not be considered.
ü EOIs received by the Department prior to the closing date can be withdrawn and replaced with an updated EOI for the same project or an EOI for a different project.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 ().
ü EOIs may be withdrawn following the closing date via email to the Department ().
5. Completed EOIs must be emailed to by 5.00pm local time on Thursday, 6 December 2012. EOIs must not be emailed direct to the RDA committee.
ü 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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PART A. DETAILS OF APPLICANT
1. / Name of ApplicantIf you are a not-for-profit organisation please provide your registered business name as listed at www.abr.business.gov.au / Australian Age of Dinosaurs Ltd
(Australian Age of Dinosaurs)
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
Please tick the correct box or delete the line which is not relevant / Not-for-profit organisation
3. / Annual Income of a Not-for-Profit Organisation
Not-for-profit organisations must have an annual income of at least $1 million, averaged over the two most recent financial years / 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
4. / Australian Business Number
Must be for the applicant named is question 1 / ABN 79 130 127 392
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
Email :
8. / Contact Details of Person with Responsibility for the Project
This is the person who will have day-to-day responsibility for delivering the project, such as the Chief Engineer or Project Manager / Name: David Elliott
Title: Executive Chairman
Phone: 07 4657-0414 (H); 04 428-573-056 (AAOD)
Email:
PART B. DETAILS OF PROJECT
9. / Project Name / Phase 1, Stage 3 - Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum development10. / Description of the Project
Describe the infrastructure that will be funded from RDAF funding. (100 word limit) / Construct innovative open-air exhibition galleries on Jump-Up, including landscaping, parking, roading, power, visitor transportation and concept design for Phase 2, Stage 3 – the AAOD Museum.
The project:
Uses the Jump-Up’s natural geological features to expand and diversify the museum experience without the construction cost of extensive galleries
Interprets the museum’s science into popular education and tourist product with reconstructed dinosaurs and environments
Employs cutting-edge technology to build world-class dinosaur models at a fraction of conventional cost
Expands museum into previously unused areas of donated land.
Brings the AAOD Museum of Natural History Project to construction stage (Phase 2, Stage 3).
11. / Is the activity for which RDAF funding is sought part of a larger project?
If yes, please describe the larger project and the relationship between the activity for which RDAF funding is requested and the larger project. (100 word limit) / Yes. Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum project has three stages:
Stage 1 (opened 2009) - Working laboratory open to public, accommodation for General Manager, custodian and volunteers preparing fossils in the laboratory.
Stage 2 (opened April 2012) - Museum Reception Centre with display of dinosaur holotype specimens, administration area and visitor amenities (shop, café, toilets).
Stage 3 is the final and largest component, being a premier Australian natural history museum of international relevance. It has two phases:
Phase 1 – Open-air galleries, services, concept planning (funded) and schematic design for Phase 2 (this application)
Phase 2 – Construction of AAOD Museum
12. / Category of Infrastructure
Select the one category which best describes your project / Economic
13. / Is the project dependent on the completion of any other activities?
If yes, please describe the activities which are to be completed and the estimated time frames / No
14. / What priority or priorities in your RDA committee’s Regional Plan does your project address? / Priorities: The 2011 RDAFCW Roadmap states that it is committed to supporting project activity across Central Queensland that recognises and strengthens the linkages across four priority areas, namely:
· Creating social value
· Strengthening the region’s economic contribution
· Optimising environmental outcomes
· Developing a culture of regional policy and innovation
The RDAFCW Roadmap includes the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum as a culturally significant asset in Central Queensland.
In addition:
· Tourism Queensland’s “Outback Gulf and Western Downs Tourism Opportunity Plan identifies the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Stage 3 as a top 23 Catalyst tourism project. Of interest is Tourism Research Australia’s “Outback Central West Visitor Profile” which revealed that 25% of visitors chose to go to QOCW to visit one or more specific attractions – no other reason reached double figures (except 11% saying the region was a convenient stopover point);
· All seven shires of the Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) are Corporate Foundation (life) members of AAOD. The 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.
· The Hon. Simon Crean MP (Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, and Minister for the Arts) stated at the opening of the Museum’s Reception Centre in April 2012 that: “The museum is already attracting international attention and the fossil preparation is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. It is going to put Winton on the map. When you are ready to go ahead with Stage 3, come and see me, or for that matter go and see Bruce Scott if his team is in power. We have a Unity ticket with Bruce that recognises the effort of so many and the passion that will make it happen!”
When will the project commence and be completed?
When will the activity for which RDAF funding is sought commence and be completed? / Commencement Date / Completion Date
Overall Project to conclusion of Stage 3 / Ongoing / Est. 2018
This Activity / Fourth quarter of 2013 / Second quarter of 2016
PART C. LOCATION OF PROJECT
16. / Project LocationWhat is the physical address of the project? If the project is located in more than one location, list all locations / Lot 20, The Jump-Up, Dinosaur Drive
Winton 4735 Queensland
17. / If the project is located in a capital city, please describe the benefits of the project to the broader region. Describe who will benefit and how.
Response should be no more than 100 words / n/a
18. / Name of the RDA committee which has responsibility for the region where the project is primarily located.
Only one RDA committee can be nominated / Fitzroy and Central West
19. / Local Government Area or areas in which project is located / Winton Shire Council
PART D. DETAILS OF FUNDING
20. / Value of RDAF grant being requestedMust be between $500,000 and $15 million. Must be GST exclusive / $ 12,590,484
21. / Total cost of the overall project
Total cost of the activity to be supported by RDAF
Must be GST exclusive / 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 (not yet funded).
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 overall project $46,421,779
Total cost of this activity to be supported by RDAF (Phase 1, Stage 3) $13,630,984
22. / Value of your organisation’s contribution to the project
Maps to Selection Criterion 3 / Cash
$150,500 / In-kind
Project Management $120,000
Project Administration $20,000
Site preparation, landscaping, display installation, supply of machinery, labour, and work site management $350,000
23. / Value of cash 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 / Name of Contributor / Value of Cash Contribution / Status of Contribution
Winton Shire Council
Arts Queensland / $155,000
$200,000 / Confirmed
Confirmed
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 / Name of Contributor / Value of In-kind Contribution / Status of Contribution
Winton Shire Council
For overall project – not factored into budgets:
(a) 1800 ha of land, donated by Britton family
b) Transport Infrastructure Development and Roads to Recovery Scheme, via Winton Shire Council / $45,000 - supply of gravel, equipment and machinery (3 yrs @ $15k)
$145,000 for 329.71 hectares; $TBA for balance of land
$1.1m for culvert crossing on western river ($500,000 from Council) / Confirmed
Confirmed
Allocated for 2016/17
PART E. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED BY RDA COMMITTEES WHEN SELECTING PROJECTS TO PROCEED TO FULL APPLICATION
25. / How does the project deliver on the priorities in your RDA committee’s Regional Plan or Regional Roadmap?Response should be no more than 350 words
Response:
Creating social value:
The Museum’s focus is on providing a memorable experience with an emphasis on integrity and authenticity that enriches peoples lives, expands their knowledge and offers opportunities for all ages through hands-on involvement. The Museum presents education in an exciting and memorable format and celebrates the unique culture and spirit of Australians through our common love and pride of our continent and its prehistoric journey. It has developed a large band of ‘family’ members through its volunteer programs and is making a positive and lasting contribution to its local and regional communities.
Strengthening regional economic contribution:
This project is the vital next step for a major expansion of exisiting regional tourism facilities. It will create an outdoor visitor experience that has no world equivilant – the penultimate step for what will be the iconic AAOD Museum which governments, corporates and individuals have put their faith, effort and money into. It is needed to enhance tourism related commercial business activity and economic diversity for Winton, Winton’s shire partners and the RAPAD Board’s area of influence. It provides ‘critical mass’ for regional Australia and will help achieve the goals of the RDAFCW, Outback Queensland Tourism Association, Tourism Queensland, and both State and Federal Governments.
Optimising environmental outcomes:
AAOD is a living museum that connects with the surrounding landscape and immerses the visitor in the evolution of the Australian continent. It is an innovative facility that adopts ecologically sustainable design principles for maximum water, waste and energy efficiency.
The Museum uses its position atop The Jump-Up (a 70m high mesa with pre-historic geological features), to bring natural history exhibitions into a natural setting, diversifying the visitor experience while reducing building size and operating costs.