RDA meets in Orange to discuss business challenges

It was the first time the chairs and chief executives from the 15 regional NSW and ACT branches met outside Sydney or Canberra.

"It's very exciting to showcase the region," RDA Central West chair Christine Weston said.

But it was also a chance to bring regional concerns to the fore.

MSM Milling director Peter MacSmith attended to outline the difficulties for his business, including having to cover an extra $100,000 a month in energy costs.

"It's more than doubled in two years," he said.

"We need certainty around policy so people feel comfortable investing in technology, whether that's gas or increasing the life of the existing coalfired power stations - we need to manage the transition to renewables better than we have been."

Jillian Kilby, who works with regional start-ups, also addressed the meeting fresh from her keynote speech at the Australian Water Association state conference on Thursday.

She said her focus had been on staged funding for projects so they could be planned better.

"It's quicker and there's less risk of big blowouts later on," she said.

South Coast RDA chair Rob Pollock, who also chaired the meeting, said the organisation had identified areas of government regulation where changes could help businesses create more skilled jobs.

"There's areas where they're perhaps out of touch with the requirements of business," he said.

"There's so many opportunities, but their expansion is hindered by the burden of regulation."

Ms Weston said mobile phone coverage remained a concern.

"We have innovative agricultural technology but we can't deliver it on farms because we don't have the connectivity," she said.

She said RDA Central West hoped to implement training programs trialled by other RDAs, which enabled students to enter the aged care and winemaking industries.