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| In Progress - Economic |
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Business Development - Peel Economic Development Unit (PEDU) The Peel Economic Development Unit The Peel Economic Development Unit (PEDU) is a partnership between Peel Development Commission, the Region’s five local governments - City of Mandurah, Shire of Murray, Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, Shire of Waroona and Shire of Boddington - the Small Business Centre Peel and the Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry. During the past financial year, PEDU continued to support the employment of a full-time Business Development Manager (BDM) whose role includes providing strategic support to key regional infrastructure projects such as industrial land and transport systems, attracting increased business investment and partnerships, as well as improving employment, education and training opportunities in Peel. During 2006-07 the Regional Business Development Manager continued to work with major Regional industry to increase the use of local businesses in their supply contracts. This strategy was supported by the management of the Peel Business Capabilities Register which helped to promote local content in major regional projects. To date there are over 100 businesses registered and using the service. It is estimated that $45 million worth of new business was supported and attracted to the Peel during the 2006-07 financial year. Opportunities for local export industries were also enhanced by the Business Development Manager supporting the formation and functioning of cluster groups in the food and wine industries, discussions to restart the abattoir on Lakes Road and the sale of locally developed medical supplies to meet demand from China as well as other national and international markets. Pinjarra Brunswick Sustainability Strategy In 2004 the State Government released the Pinjarra-Brunswick Sustainability Strategy to identify issues faced by the district and to offer solutions for the future. In 2006 $2.64 million of new funds was allocated for major projects. The Peel Development Commission is involved in the following projects: Local Jobs for Local People The Pinjarra Brunswick Sustainability Strategy (PBSS) - Local Jobs For Local People has attracted $610,000 State government funding over three years to help local people and businesses access contracts, jobs and training flowing from major projects including Alcoa’s Wagerup 3 expansion and the Boddington Gold Mine. In 2008 the Peel Development Commission and the South West Development Commission in partnership with the Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Small Business Centre Peel and Challenger TAFE will continue to develop initiatives including:
One of the outcomes from this partnership approach has been the showcasing of local industry organisations such as Alcoa, Iluka Resources, Worsley Alumina, Southern Gateway Alliance and Peel Local Government Authorities to small and medium sized businesses at the November 2007 “Doing Business with Big Business Industry Forum”. The Forum provided a platform for local industry to explain to over 80 businesses the types of opportunities currently available and arising in the next few years, key contacts, as well as an overview of the requirements that business need to meet in order to be considered for contracts. Waroona Town Centre Redevelopment In April 2007, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Shire of Waroona and Peel Development Commission to formalise the $1 million PBSS funding provided by the State Government towards the Waroona Town Centre Redevelopment. Funding for the project has been provided to the Shire in three stages. Stage 1 included improvements to pedestrian and vehicular access and the refurbishment of amenities within Drakesbrook Place. Stage 2 is to include an upgrade of Fouracre Street Park including public amenities, parking, surface treatment, landscaping and development of an educational eco-trail. Stage 3 will include an upgrade of the road surface and pedestrian footpath along the main street, community artwork, street furniture, landscaping and the completion of underground power along South West Highway. Key objectives for the redevelopment include the employment of more than 20 persons during the construction phase, an increase in commercial occupancy along South West Highway and an increase in the level of community pride as a result of the creation of a town centre. To date the Shire has completed Stage 1 and is working steadily at completion of the remaining stages over the next two years. Escape for a While The Peel and South West Development Commissions will manage $730,000 for two projects that will result in the wholesale packaging and marketing of tourism product in the region in combination with a media campaign for the inland highway. Agriculture Futures The Peel and South West Development Commissions will manage $100,000 for a one-year extension program to help farmers in the Pinjarra-Brunswick district grow new high value farm product, improving and diversifying land use.
Peel Workforce Development Strategy
The Peel Workforce Development Strategy is the result of recommendations made at the 2005 Regional Skills Shortages Forum. The strategy, jointly funding by the Department of Education and Training, Challenger TAFE and the Peel Development Commission, was launched in November 2006 and encompasses an in-depth analysis of existing and expected skills shortages, existing levels of employability in the Regional workforce, and gaps in employment and training for the next ten years.
The report identified that an additional 13,600 jobs will be created between 2006 and 2016 in the Peel Region with major growth streams including the mining, construction, retail, health and community service areas. In 2008 the Commission, in partnership with relevant government agencies and industry, will continue to implement recommendations made within the strategy.
Peel Careers and Employment Week
The Peel Careers and Employment Week 2007, held during the last week of June, was the third such event as a result of recommendations from the Peel Regional Skills Shortage Forum and Peel Workforce Development Strategy. The aim of the week was to provide high school students and the wider community with access to information and advice on training, employment, education, apprenticeships, traineeships and career opportunities within the greater Peel Region.
The week comprised several events which involved extensive partnerships across all levels of government, business, industry and the community sector.
The first event, the Peel Careers and Employment Expo attracted in excess of 800 high school students and 200 community members throughout the day to receive information, advice and opportunities from 34 stallholders from ten industry sectors.
The ‘Peel Careers Roadshow – Test Drive Your Career’ enabled over 200 high school students to examine first hand the day to day functioning of eight local businesses, while the Parents as Career Partners program was heard by over 40 parents across two evenings in the Mandurah and Pinjarra areas, hosted by the Employment Directions Network.
A lead up careers and employment event was held in February 2007. Over 200 people accessed information from ten stallholders along the Mandurah Foreshore. Government, training, industry and business sectors partnered in the planning of this event.
This year, the Peel Summer Careers Expo was held on Sunday February 10 at the Mandurah Eastern Foreshore, and the Peel Careers and Employment Expo and Roadshow events will be held in late June 2008.
Skilled Migration Attraction
The Peel Development Commission is gazetted by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to act as a Regional Certifying Body to assist with skilled migration to the Peel Region.
During 2007 the Commission partnered the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in promotional activities and attended national employment expos in Melbourne and Sydney. In 2007 the Commission certified 56 skilled migration visa applications, researched 147 Skilled Independent Regional visa applications and answered 359 enquiries from local businesses and potential skilled migrants.
Peel Region Tourist Railway
In partnership with the Rail Heritage Foundation of WA, Shire of Murray and Shire of Boddington, the Peel Development Commission continues to provide funds management services for the development of the Peel Region Tourist Railway. The project has been re-scoped in response to changes in the environment, including cost escalation resulting from the construction boom and buoyant economy.
Works will also commence in Boddington with the refurbishment of the historic Tullis Bridge and the creation of a picnic area along with the clearing of the rail reserve to develop a walk trail.
$2.1 million has been made available under management by the Commission to Hotham Valley Tourist Railway to undertake the project management to restore the damaged infrastructure. Forest Heritage Centre The Peel Development Commission has worked closely with the Forest Heritage Centre to help secure $5.9 million of State Government funds and over $300,000 of Federal Government Funds to redevelop the Centre. The financial support will increase the Centre's capacity to deliver high quality training in fine wood production, as well as provide interpretation of the forest industry and to help further develop the Centre's tourism potential. |
