The Launceston City Council recently hosted an economic forum aimed at finding strategies for boosting the retail and industry sectors in Northern Tasmania, and enhancing employment opportunities.
Nearly 100 business owners, entrepreneurs, investors, developers and industry took part in the forum, which featured a panel of guest speakers including JMC Managing Director Errol Stewart, University of Tasmania Senior Research Fellow Dr Tony McCall, Pacific Aluminium General Manager of Operations Ray Mostogl, Woollen Park and Rosemount farmer Rob Bradley, and Leaning Church Vineyard owner Sarah Hirst.
Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said the forum had been created to seek views on Launceston’s ten-year future and ideas from the private sector on how to boost
short-term job creation, and had attempted to identify positive projects and initiatives to benefit the region.
“The forum was very successful, which was fantastic,” Mayor van Zetten said. “We were aiming to debunk some of the negativity on the region’s future and replace it with greater optimism, built on the enthusiasm and skills from our successful private sector investors.
Council General Manager Robert Dobrzynski said the forum had allowed an opportunity to inject some creativity into the challenges facing Northern Tasmania.
“At the forum we were looking for a range of ideas about how Launceston moves forward, to allow us to set some priorities for Northern Tasmania,” Mr Dobrzynski said.
“These key priorities may be used to influence federal, state and local government policy and future plans.”
