Mr Marshall, a partner in Taree legal firm Paton Hooke, has resigned his previous position as chair of Manning Valley Economic Development Board to take up the new regional appointment.

He is one of six new appointees to the Regional Development Mid North Coast board, announced recently by regional Australia minister Simon Crean and NSW deputy premier Andrew Stoner.

The other new faces are:

o Andrea Calwell, a marketing specialist from Coffs Harbour

o Jacquie Houlden, a director of Janison online learning management systems, from Coffs Harbour

o Tony Rothacker, business development manager at Vertel, a wireless network provider, also from Coffs Harbour

o Jo-anne Stavely, leader of business capability at North Coast TAFE, from Port Macquarie

o Dawn Thornton, an organic primary producer from Bowraville.

They join other board members:

o Stewart Dowrick, chief executive of the Mid North Coast Local Health District

o Jim Hutcheon, state organiser for the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union on the mid north coast

o Richard O’Leary, chief executive officer of Macleay Regional Co-operative

o Jan Strom, executive officer of the Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance, and

o Richard Wilson, a retired engineer and former Greater Taree City councillor, who is acting deputy chair. One casual vacancy remains on the board, which is expected to be filled shortly.

RDA Mid North Coast is an Australian Government initiative that brings together all three levels of government to develop and strengthen our regional community. The Mid North Coast board covers the local government areas of Greater Taree, Port Macquarie Hastings, Kempsey, Nambucca, Bellingen, Coffs Harbour and Lord Howe Island. It is one of 55 RDAs across Australia, 14 of them in New South Wales.

Mr Crean, announcing the new appointments, said they would ensure RDA Mid North Coast continues as a vital connection between all three levels of government.

“RDA committees are more than the eyes and ears for Canberra,” he said. “Strong RDA committees are engaging with local communities to maximise economic growth, flexibility, diversity and resilience.

“Committee members are local leaders with diverse skills and experience, who understand the challenges, opportunities and priorities in their communities.”

Mr Stoner also welcomed the appointments, saying the RDA network helps drive policy for regional NSW and is vital for setting the agenda on regional issues.

“That is why it is important that each committee is made up of highly qualified people with a deep understanding of local issues, and the appointment of the new members of the RDA Mid North Coast certainly reflects that.”

Mr Marshall, whose appointment is for a three year term, said it presents a unique opportunity for the Manning Valley.

While his position naturally makes him mindful of the needs of the entire Mid North Coast, he points out: “We need a voice for the Manning Valley, in view of its geographical position at the southern end of the mid north coast. Most past representatives have either been from the Coffs Harbour or Port Macquarie areas.”

He recognises a high level of synergy between the Manning Valley and the Great Lakes and Gloucester regions, the latter two being however in the Hunter RDA area.

“In that regard I am interested in pursuing the incorporation of Great Lakes and Gloucester as part of the Mid North Coast development strategy and I hope to have discussions with the relevant stakeholders in the near future.

“I will do my utmost to push for their recognition,” he says. “We obviously need to get government funding into this area. We are all tired of missing out and I will be doing what I can to change that.”

Mr Marshall, 40, has a rural background, having been born and educated in Armidale. After studying at the University of New England he moved to Sydney to work with large corporate legal firm Allens Arthur Robinson for almost eight years.

In 2005 he and his wife Andrea decided to move to the Manning Valley so that their children might also benefit from the opportunities of growing up in a regional area.

Two years ago Mr Marshall became a partner in law firm Paton Hooke where he specialises in corporate commercial law.

He and Andrea live at Mitchells Island and are proud parents to Olivia, aged six, and Blake, three.

While he admits to having a passion for economic development, and for seeing the Manning Valley progress in this regard, his new appointment requires him to think regionally and “pull all the stakeholders together”, therefore he will work on convincing government that the Mid North Coast is “so strategically placed” as to be a major centre of regional development.

“The eastern seaboard is so clearly the area in Australia that has the closest proximity to metropolitan markets. Areas such as ours have the land and the utilities such as abundant water to make it attractive for population growth.

“But it needs to have the social underpinning of decentralisation of industry.

“I believe the Mid North Coast, working together as a whole, probably has more of an opportunity to stand out, rather than working at a localised level.

“We have six local government councils in our area and they need to be working together with their chambers of business and other industry-based organisations to encourage decentralisation and to consolidate and attract funding for major infrastructure.

“I see the need to encourage more more investment in industry start-ups in our region - from overseas if necessary - and I will be encouraging relocation of existing industries to underpin our regional economy and future growth.”

One of the tasks of regional development boards is to investigate and review suggestions for regionally significant projects in their areas and lodge funding submissions.

There have been two recent rounds of government funding so far for regional development projects. Mid North Coast failed to have a project approved for the first round, and the second round saw funding for the Slim Dusty centre at Kempsey, a swimming pool complex at Wauchope and a digital data project at Coffs Harbour.

A third round will most likely provide funding in the vicinity of $150 million to be spread across the 55 RDAs.

In his previous role with the Manning Valley Business Chamber, Mr Marshall led a renewed push for economic development.

“We have identified the need for a louder voice at higher political levels to try and attract funding to the Lower North Coast.

“It seems to me we continue to miss out, notwithstanding our current political situation,” he says, in reference to the key position of independent federal member Rob Oakeshott.

“There is a perception that we have been left behind. I saw an opportunity to join the regional development board and to be that voice that is needed, to try and assist in getting both funding and recognition for our area.

“This area is in dire need of assistance to stabilise the local economy and provide a solid base for sustainable growth.

“This is an opportunity for us to look at the various ways we can perhaps tighten the relationship between local business chambers and councils and to develop that stronger voice.

“It is very evident however from discussions with politicians that they are looking for regionally focused development projects, rather than one-off local projects.

“I will be trying to pull all the stakeholders together and trying to get of three levels of government to focus on the fact that the Mid North Coast is so strategically placed.

“Obviously my agenda is to represent the Mid North Coast, but I still live in the Manning Valley and the main reason I am here is to try and see investment and recognition of its potential, instead of just merely hearing that we have potential, and nothing is being done about it.”

The Regional Development Board meets every second month at a different location on the Mid North Coast, the first in the new term being at Coffs Harbour. Meetings are regularly followed by site visits to local businesses.

Mr Marshall’s appointment will see him visit Sydney four times a year and Canberra twice, as he networks with other RDAs across Australia.