The Good Oil by Rod Brown*
Julia Gillard says a re-elected Labor Government would give a $200 million boost to affordable housing via a Building Better Regional Cities program.
Only cities with significant population growth will be invited to apply – with 15 winning councils to receive $13 to $15 million each for infrastructure such as roads, drains, and community facilities, to facilitate new housing. This is quite flawed.
Firstly, housing is one small part of the regional development equation – if this program is to have legs, it needs to also cover infrastructure, education, training, environmental management and social harmony.
Secondly, it’s yet another beauty contest, whereby cities are pushed to compete rather than collaborate.
Thirdly, there is an arbitrary minimum of 30,000 population – but some smaller coastal towns are swelling.
And why omit the second tier regional cities?
This program will not happen, at least in the current format, assuming of course Labor wins.
The major omissions from the list of 46 cities are: Armidale, Griffith, Kempsey, Taree, Mount Isa, Moe, Morwell, Wangaratta, Horsham, Seymour, Swan Hill, Albany, the booming Pilbara towns, Murray Bridge, Victor Harbor, the Spencer Gulf cities and Alice Springs. Councils interested in lobbying for a better deal should contact us.
Now THIS is a regional policy!
The major parties have been struggling to cobble together a regional policy. And as for the Greens, I shudder to think.
Anyway one Party asked my advice, so in the interests of an even handed approach, I circulated a draft to some Cockatoo members, and the following is our conclusion.
“Best practice regional development involves enhancing the competitive advantage of regions, opening them out to the world, and value adding their resources. This will be achieved by the following steps.
- Dispensing with the current
maze of competitive
programs and grants, which
only set one town or region
against others. Dispense
with handouts to marginal
electorates. - The identification of broad
areas of international
competitive advantage held
by regions and cities, towns
and localities within them. - The development of
specific regional trade and
investment proposals
that align with these areas of
competitive advantage. These
proposals will be bundled,
where possible, into
commercially attractive
packages, and presented
to the international and local
investment community; that
is foreign companies, foreign
government agencies, local
super funds and institutional
investors. - The introduction of a program
of trade and investment
missions (both inwards and
outwards), to introduce
regions and specific regional
proposals to the world.
This will be complemented
by regional brand
development where
appropriate. These will be
joint exercises with the States,
Regional Development
Australia Committees, and
industry groups. - Reinvigoration of the
TradeStart program,
including restoration of the
regional positions that were
cut in the May 2010 Budget. - The preparation of
infrastructure audits to
improve the coordination of
infrastructure expenditure
and enhance regions’
competitive advantages. This
will be done in collaboration
with the States and local
development agencies.• A strong focus on ‘people’
issues – skills audits,
workforce planning, links
to immigration and settlement
strategies and community
development (important in
attracting skilled people). - The development of a
system of regional budgeting
to help councils and regional
stakeholders plan their
future. - The funding of industry
cluster programs to
enhance trade, investment
and infrastructure initiatives
arising from the above.”
King Island pushes the envelope
Each month we feature a region with potential to build on particular competitive advantages. This month we focus on King Island.
This island in Bass Strait is a fascinating case study for regional development practitioners. King Island cheese and beef is now an international brand.
Locals explained to me a few years back that the triggers were strong collaboration between its farmers, their uptake of quality assurance systems, their attention to the whole supply chain, and the vision of the Gilbertson family when it ran the abattoir.
However the competitive disadvantage of the island remains the cost of airfares to the mainland, which restricts tourists arriving to enjoy firsthand the food, the marvellous nine hole golf course, the scenery, walking trails and so forth.
I figure that if that if the island’s population could recover to around 3,000 (currently 1,700) and if Greg Norman or similar further developed the golf course, more competitive airfares might ensue, and thus strengthen its tourism and accommodation revenues. But I digress.
Last month the prospect emerged of King Island becoming a home to new settlers and displaced families from overseas. King Island Council sees it as a safe and beautiful place with a welcoming population, and many displaced families are looking for such locations.
Mayor Charles Arnold explained that they are not looking for a detention centre, or secure accommodation.
“What we offer on King Island is a place families can live and be part of a warm community,” he said. “We are also unique in that we have over 100 jobs that are presently filled by international students on working visas. While these students fit in very well, we really do want people to move here permanently.”
Gee, I reckon King Island Council deserves the highest praise for thinking outside the square and trying to solve the refugee problem in a more humanitarian and cost effective manner than some of the other efforts to date.
As Charles emphasised, it’s about new settlers who might come from Burma, Iraq, Afghanistan or wherever, to work in the abattoir, the cheese factory, the various farms or shops.
It follows the example of the Cobram area in Victoria, which has assimilated Iraqi refugees into the rural lifestyle and job market.
Charles indicated that his proposal is receiving serious consideration by the Department of Immigration.
It seems that King Island would be best suited for families already assessed and given residency in Australia.
In any case, while immigration policy is the big upfront issue, it surely needs some cross silo consideration to include employment, training, workplace relations, small business assistance, family and community development and so forth.
Leaving it solely to the Department of Immigration risks a ‘thanks for your suggestion’ response.
I hope I’m wrong, because it’s a great test case for Federal and State agencies to work with the King Island community to develop a best practice model.
In doing so, it would help other councils looking to push the envelope.
*Rod Brown is a Canberra-based consultant specialising in industry/regional development, investment attraction, clusters and accessing Federal grants. He also runs the Cockatoo Network. He can be contacted at apdcockatoo@iprimus.com.au or phone
(02) 6231 7261.
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