E-Newsletter Issue 02: September 2009
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CEO REPORT
Welcome to the second edition of the Pilbara Development Commission's electronic newsletter. The Commission received terrific feedback on the first edition and our subscription base has increased substantially, no doubt assisted by you forwarding the first edition to your contacts, so thank you…
Since our last update the Commission has been busy facilitating and participating in a number of highly success events including the Pilbara Women's Forum, the launch of the Spotlight on the Pilbara website, the latest Pilbara Dialogue meeting and the national launch of Desert Knowledge's "Outback Business Network" Project.
I also had the pleasure of presenting at the Midwest Education and Training Forum held in Geraldton, hosting the Ambassador of the European Commission to Australia on his official visit to the Pilbara and attending a combined meeting of the Regional Development Council in Kununurra with the PDC Chairman. The European Commission Ambassador Mr David Daly was particularly impressed with his visit to the Pilbara and I would like to thank two of our Board members for the assistance they provided. Veronica Rodenberg gave the Ambassador an extensive tour of Roebourne, while Brad Snell organized a visit to St Luke's College and a chance to meet the Year 12 History students.
Other highlights of the month include the inaugural meeting of the Royalties for Region's Pilbara Underground Power Program Steering Committee, WA Community Foundation's annual Summit, the Desert Mob Symposium in Alice Springs, Warlu Way Indigenous Tourism Conference and the Hedland Arts Awards.
I hope you enjoy this second edition and look forward to seeing you out and about in the community..
PILBARA INDIGENOUS BUSINESS SUPPORT GUIDE LAUNCHED
The Commission recently launched the Indigenous Pilbara Business Support Guide as an "easy to use" one page reference on business support organisations available to assist new and existing Aboriginal businesses. The Guide will also be used by these organisations to better coordinate their approach in providing advice and support to Aboriginal people already in business, developing a business or exploring their business idea.
The need for the Guide was identified by the delegates to the Pilbara Indigenous Contractor Workshop that was hosted by the Commission in 2008. It was developed in consultation with Indigenous individuals, organisations and business people with the support of the Small Business Centres for the East and West Pilbara, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Indigenous Business Australia. A local Indigenous graphic designer was engaged to finalise the visual design for the guide.
The development of the Pilbara Indigenous Support Guide has been a coordinated effort between the Commission, Indigenous people and supporting organisations and agencies. The Commission thanks everyone involved for their input and contribution to ensure that the guide is a valuable tool for Indigenous business in the region.The Pilbara Development Commission is one of nine Commissions to share in $40 million of State Government funding in the 08/09 financial year through the Regional Grants Scheme, an initiative of Royalties for Regions.
PILBARA DIALOGUE UPDATE
The most recent Dialogue meeting held on the 18 September 2009 in Karratha focused on upcoming major projects in the Pilbara funded through Royalties for Regions. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Regional Development; Lands, the Hon Wendy Duncan MLC opened the meeting with a brief overview of the Royalties for Regions program. This was followed by presentations on the Pilbara Revitalisation Plan, the Pilbara Underground Power Program and a Landcorp update.
Peter Harper from the Australian Bureau of Statistics presented on the upcoming 2011 census and assisted with the Pilbara launch and sneak preview of the "Spotlight on the Pilbara" website along with Parliamentary Secretary the Hon Wendy Duncan and the Commission's Deputy Chairman Andre Bush. Presentations from the Dialogue are available to download from the Dialogue's project page.
ROYALTIES FOR REGIONS PILBARA WATER FORUM
The Pilbara Dialogue meeting was used as a platform for the first Pilbara Water Forum, facilitated by the Pilbara Development Commission and the Department of Regional Development and Lands.
The Forum was an opportunity for delegates to hear firsthand the outcomes from the State Government's Pilbara Integrated Water Supply Prefeasibility Study that was released in May 2009. Delegates also contributed to the discussions on the potential opportunities and benefits arising from the Study as the Government moves into the next stage of development for this project. Presentations from the Water Forum will be available to download from the Pilbara Dialogue's project page.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE PILBARA
The new "Spotlight on the Pilbara" website was officially launched by the Minister for Regional Development, the Hon Brendon Grylls in Perth on Wednesday 23 September 2009. Over 50 high profile delegates from Federal, State and Local Government agencies, Industry, Business and Education institutes attended the launch which also included presentations by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Regional Director, Mr Michael Tindall, the Australian Deputy Statistician with ABS, Mr Ian Ewing and the Chairman of the Commission, Mr Tim Shanahan.
The "Spotlight" project was initiated in 2006 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to create a series of web based reports to assist in the planning and delivery of services in the nine regional areas of Western Australia. Each "Spotlight" will provide the most up to date data on issues such as population, health, education and training, community and the environment, local government areas and information particular to each region.
Minister Grylls said that because of its unique status, the Pilbara region was selected as the pilot for the series. "Certainly with the growth of the Pilbara and the future development in the region it was an obvious choice for the pilot program," he said.
"The Pilbara Development Commission has been working with the ABS to finalise the Pilbara website and the Commission had a sneak preview of the site and how it works in Karratha last week. The Spotlight on the Pilbara contains triple bottom line measures which were identified by the people living and working there as those that are crucial for building a sustainable future for regional WA. The Spotlight on the Pilbara website offers a unique model in statistical data and commentary that will be of tremendous value in supporting good planning to secure the future of the region." Mr Grylls said
The Minister advised the attendees that this was the first of a series of "Spotlight" websites planned for regional Western Australia. "The ABS will work in partnership with other Development Commissions and the Department of Regional Development and Lands to create spotlights that will eventually cover the entire State. Armed with the information in this Spotlight and the others to come, governments and the community alike will be able to plan for a vibrant future and measure the success or otherwise of the journey along the way." Mr Grylls said.
Mr Tim Shanahan, Pilbara Development Commission Chairman, said "The "Spotlight on the Pilbara" website is an exciting development for the region and the Commission is pleased to have been involved in the project. The website includes information on a range of indicators such as community, education and training, health, law and order, recreation and arts and will be a valuable tool for anyone involved in planning for the region".
The official launch followed a sneak preview for over 60 delegates who attended the Pilbara Dialogue meeting on Friday 18 September. The Pilbara "reveal" was officiated by the Hon Wendy Duncan MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Regional Development and Mr Peter Harper, Australian Deputy Statistician with the ABS.
Access the Spotlight website via WWW.REGIONALSPOTLIGHTS.COM.AU
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENT FOR PILBARA WOMEN
The Pilbara Development Commission hosted over 100 women at the latest Pilbara Women's Forum at the Icon Restaurant in Karratha on Wednesday 16 September 2009. The day's program showcased the depth of character and experience in the region by including three local women as guest speakers.
Colette McEntee, Manager of the Walkington Theatre, kicked off proceedings with an entertaining presentation on her travels from the UK to the Pilbara. Collette had the audience in fits of laughter as she told her stories from running theatres in Britain to some of her more interesting experiences since arriving in Karratha.
Gabby Millgate, from ABC Northwest Radio enthralled the delegates with a glimpse of the movie star world and capped off her presentation with a couple of songs including her tribute to the Logies and an Andrews Sisters medley with Tangorai Hinaki also from ABC Northwest Radio, and member of the newly formed trio BeeGeesLouise.
Julie Pope, President of the Karratha and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, inspired the audience with her honesty and sharing of her high times, low times and achievements, of which there have been many. There were a few tears shed and also a lot of hilarity as Julie recalled the struggles of managing a longed for career in the Australian Defense Force whilst raising her child single handedly.
The Karratha Women's Forum was a resounding success and the audience feedback has been extremely positive. The Commission looks forward to hosting another similar event in the future.
NATIONAL LAUNCH OF DKA OUTBACK BUSINESS NETWORK PROJECT
The $10m Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA) Outback Business Network Project was launched nationally on 14 September 2009 in Canberra by the Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and the Chair of DKA, the Hon Fred Chaney AO, with links to multiple sites across Australia, including the Pilbara.
The aim of the Project is to form cross border industry networks to enable business owners and managers to explore and develop collaborative business opportunities and gain other benefits from business networking. The Commission is one of nine organisations across outback Australia to partner with DKA to deliver the Project.
Minister Carr said that there are more than 41,000 sme's located across desert Australia and tourism, local produce, mining services, sustainable building and creative industries are among the industries that will benefit from the new Project.
The nine regions connected through the Network are Pilbara, Midwest/Gascoyne and Kalgoorlie/Boulder in WA, Central Australia and Barkly in NT, Far North SA, Far West NSW and Central West and North West Qld.
For further information on the Outback Business Network contact Lee Sweeney on (08) 9173 8410 or John Verbeek on (08) 9185 0603 or go to http://www.desertknowledge.com.au.
PILBARA REGIONAL GRANTS SCHEME FUNDING IN ACTION
With the assistance of funding from the Royalties for Region's Pilbara Regional Grant Scheme, 19 students and 4 supervising adults from Roebourne District High School's Leadership Group set off to Canberra on the 25 July 2009 for a trip of a life time. Many of the students, whose ages ranged from 12 to 17 years, had never previously been away from home without family or travelled on a plane.
While in Canberra, the Group visited both new and old Parliament Houses where they participated in role plays and created their own 'parliamentary bill'. They also visited the Telstra telecommunications tower, the Australian War Memorial, the National Art Gallery, Tidbinbilla Deep Space Tracking Station and the Questacon Science and Technology Centre.
The Group went ten pin bowling, experienced a laser game and experienced classes at a Gold Creek School that has a student population equal to that of the township of Roebourne. The students were also fortunate enough to meet Adam Goodes and Michael O'Laughlan of the Sydney Swans after the Swans defeat of Melbourne in Canberra on 26th July.
Ms Sandra Ellson from Roebourne High School said that whilst the students enjoyed the hands on experiences at the War Memorial and the Questacon Science and Technology Centre, the highlight of the trip was definitely the day at Perisher Valley and tobogganing in the snow.
The Roebourne District High School thanked the Commission and all of the organisations that contributed to making the leadership trip to Canberra a worthwhile and memorable occasion for the students.
PDC PROFILE - CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
The Commission welcomed its new Chairman, Mr Tim Shanahan in July this year. Tim graduated in Law at the University of Western Australia and is currently the Director of the Energy and Minerals Initiative at the University. Tim brings with him considerable experience in the resources sector and local government as well as a very strong knowledge and understanding of regional WA.
Between 1989 and 2000, Tim was the Executive Director of the Western Australian Municipal Association, the representative organisation for local government in Western Australia and from June 2001, was Chief Executive of the Western Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy. In 2004 Tim was appointed as an independent Director of the WA Local Government Superannuation Plan and is current Chairman of the Compliance Audit and Risk Management Committee for the group.
Tim is also a Trustee of the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), a member of the CEDA WA Advisory Committee, a member of the Australia Day Council, Western Australia Management Committee and has been past Chairman of the Council. He was elected to the Council of the RAC WA in 2001 and is currently the Senior Vice President. Tim has recently been appointed to the Boards of the Planning and Transport Research Centre (PATREC) and the WA Energy Research Alliance (WA:ERA).
In January 2001, Tim was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding service to local government and in April 2003, he was awarded a Centenary Medal for service to local government in Western Australia. Tim was also the recipient of the 2007 WA Gas Industry Development Award.
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