Unlocking economic prosperity in the Pilbara
In September, the Regional Australia Institute and the Business Council of Australia visited Port Hedland to host an open forum on unlocking economic prosperity in the Pilbara.
The open forum was the first in a series of community conversations being held across Australia, working with regions to identify their competitive advantages and future pathways to success. By merging with work of the RAI and the BCA with local knowledge and experience, these forums are also creating a platform for regional voices to be heard at a federal level.
The Port Hedland consultation bought together representatives from business, community, research and government sectors. It focused on what makes Port Hedland work well at present, what has made it work well in the past, and what needs to be in place for the region to be at its very best in the future. Participants pointed to the unique landscape, culture and history of the region, as well as the strong sense of community spirit, its multi-cultural and diverse population with a can-do attitude.
They also spoke of the strengths in infrastructure and market opportunities in the Pilbara, and how to leverage this to create better business opportunities within the region, Australia and overseas. Some of the key future actions identified by participants were promoting the region as a tourist destination, building on existing infrastructure, creating better support for small businesses and planning strategically for the future.
The RAI and the BCA would like to thank all those who made the open forum such a positive experience. The input gained will be invaluable to developing the future agenda of the RAI and the BCA, to reflect regional knowledge, concerns and aspirations. s part of our ongoing commitment to the Port Hedland community, we have developed a report of the outcomes of the open forum. We hope that this resource becomes a useful asset in the pathways forward for the Pilbara.
To download a full copy of the report, click here.
To check out the photos from the forum, visit our facebook page.
