Z6G7A
PRESS RELhEASEL 18 November 1974
REGIONAL E1. PLOYvL1, NT DEVE~ LOPM4ENT SCHEME ( REDS)
The Prime Minister today released a list of Gold Coast
projects approved by the REYDS Committee of ministers at their
last meeting in Canberra on 13SNoiember. Mr Whitlam was
holding a press conference at Suri ers Paradise.
The Regional Employment Development Scheme is designed
to improve employment opportunities in areas of high unemployment
by encouraging local initiative in these areas to develop
suitable work programs.
Projects with a high proportion of funds allotted for
wages are generally preferred. Recruitment of labour for
projects under the Scheme will be administered by the localin
this case, SIouthport office of the Commonwealth Employment
Service. . excluding supervisory and specialist personnel, all
labour requirements will be drawn from persons eligible for
unemployment benefits.
In selecting the labour required, preference will be
given to persons with dependents who have been unemployed the
longest. Married persons working part-time or on short time
will not necessarily be disqualified from employment on projects.
All persons employed under the scheme will be " worktested"
for suitable employment at not less than monthly
intervals and their continued employment on a project at
Australian Government expense will be conditional on there being
no such alternative employment.
This will ensure that projects do not compete for labour
with regular employers.
Proposals for projects that may receive assistance
may emanate from such bodies as local government authorities,
community groups, special purpose groups, business enterprises,
or State Departments. They should receive the endorsement of
the appropriate local government authority.
The approved Gold Coast Projects, which will be
administered through the Southport District Employment Office
are:
-2-
Project Proposed
REDS Grant
Gold Coast City Council Project
1 Sea Wall Construction Stone
pitched Batters, Makina and Imperial
Parade 5,240
Gold Coast City Council Project
2 Sea Wall Construction Stone
pitching, Salerno Street Bridge 5,240
Gold Coast City Council Project
3 Keebra Park Tree Planting
and Stone Steps U 2,010
Gold Coast City Council Project
4 Croquet Lawn, Mallawa Drive,
Soil Fill and Drainage Grass
Sprigging 1,625
Gold Coast City Council Project
MacIntosh Park Stone Wall,
Rock Wall around Lake S15,820
Gold Coast City Council Project
6 Evandale Site Construction
of Stone Wall around Site and drainage 6,215
Gold Coast City Council Project
7 Olympic Pool Stone Pitch Wall 6,100
Gold Coast City Council Project
8 Lookout, Rock Wall Burleigh
Heads 1,550
Gold Coast City Council Project
9 Goodwin Park Pathway 1,975
TOTAL $ 45,775