Agenda 2

Economic Development and Jobs

The number of jobs in Melbourne's west is lagging further and further behind population growth. We must reduce our high level of unemployment, broaden the range of jobs especially in the advanced knowledge sectors, and become less dependent on Inner Melbourne for jobs.

Creating jobs and growing the region’s economy is vital in order to:

• Redress the imbalance with population growth.
• Reduce escape expenditure.
• Reduce dependence (and therefore travel demand) on the Melbourne CBD for jobs.
• Increase peoples’ sense of self worth, reduce poverty, crime and social dysfunction.
• Reduce dependence on welfare and community support services, with less cost to government.
• Reduce the need for travel to inner Melbourne and other regions, thereby reducing road and rail congestion.
• Underpin investment in new infrastructure.

Accordingly, from 2008 to 2011, LeadWest and its members will advocate for and facilitate implementation of the following priority actions:

1. Implement key aspects of the Western Region Employment and Industrial Development Strategy (WREIDS) to attract new types of businesses to the region. The key objectives are broadening the economic base (and range of jobs) in the region, increasing the number of jobs to keep pace with population growth; and reducing the region’s dependence on the inner Melbourne job market.
   
2. Further develop and promote the concept of an internationally significant logistics cluster and rail-focussed inland port.
   
3. Installation of high-speed broadband infrastructure.
   
4. Increase the supply of industrial land.

LeadWest has organised various events focused on economic development issues, including a highly successful Telecommunications Forum.

As part of its commitment to support local jobs growth, LeadWest joined with its Council Members to provide sponsorship for the 2010 Conference of Victoria State Practitioner Network of Economic Development Australia (EDA).

LeadWest also joined Bendigo Bank and Council Members in sponsoring the highly successful ‘Business Now’ Expo.

If you would like to discuss the Econnomic Development and Jobs Agenda with LeadWest, please contact us.