The City of Joondalup recently launched its economic development strategy Expanding Horizons at its second Business Forum for 2014.
A capacity audience of over 150 was in attendance at Joondalup Resort’s Lakeview Ballroom, including local politicians, government departments and agencies, key stakeholders and business leaders.
Expanding Horizons considers a number of important issues and challenges that face the City of Joondalup in realising its potential and aspiration of becoming the first primary centre within the Perth metropolitan area.
One of the most important challenges is the number of residents who travel outside the City of Joondalup to work due to the misalignment of local available jobs to local resident workers.
It is a major aim of Council to address this issue by increasing local employment opportunities, with a long-term outcome of 2000 new businesses and 20,000 new jobs being a target of the Strategy.
“There has been a lot of recent media coverage regarding traffic congestion issues facing metropolitan Perth and the costs and impact on the environment, local communities and businesses,” Joondalup Mayor Troy Pickard said.
“Creating new employment in strategic centres such as Joondalup is vital to offset this major challenge for Perth.
“Providing local jobs for local people and maintaining the local unemployment rate below the State average will not only create a better quality of life for all, but importantly it will impact local economies in a positive way and will help facilitate business growth.”
WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Deidre Willmott delivered the keynote address at the Business Forum.
Ms Willmott said growth in Joondalup is vitally important to the overall health of the Western Australian economy.
“A growing and productive community based on a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation and investment will be central to our vision for WA to be a world leading place to live and do business.”
Through Expanding Horizons, the City sets out a long-term agenda to expand opportunities for business, investment, innovation, research and education in the northern corridor.
Mayor Pickard said the ultimate aim of Expanding Horizons is to grow the local and regional economy and provide employment opportunities for all.
“This will be achieved with a particular focus on encouraging higher value economic activity, leveraging our key strengths and emerging global growth opportunities.
“This activity is poised to grow in the coming months and years as Joondalup emerges as a truly global city and the City Centre for the North West corridor of Perth.”
