“When you start talking about new industry, you start talking about jobs, people, families, services, infrastructure, needs and lifestyle,” she said.
“We could well be entering a period of extraordinary unprecedented opportunity for Horsham and the Wimmera generally and the challenge is to make it work as well as possible for the benefit of everyone. This requires developing strategic plans and directions that provide a pathway for the needs of the future.”
Jobs
Ms Murphy said major companies were zeroing in on the municipality and the region, with the likes of mining companies WIM Resource and Iluka starting their approvals process for international-scale mines near Horsham.
“These projects alone are likely to generate significant jobs of up to 400 in a construction period in 2022-23, leading to 400 ongoing jobs for the period of each mine’s life – anticipated to be 30 years,” she said.
“Australian Plant Proteins, proposing major pulse-protein powder production in Horsham from early 2020, will also provide direct employment opportunities and critically, more opportunities for producers in securing markets.
“There is a lot happening. Much of what we’re seeing in the development landscape might fall short of being realised. But suggestions are that some have well and truly gone past concept stages or looking beyond pilot ideas. Much of this development is already happening and if and-or when it gains serious momentum we must be prepared.”
Ms Murphy said most council planning and management activity was based on meeting a need to respond to and embrace the potential of growth.
She said strategic-planning projects rarely happened in isolation and fed into a larger overall development, growth and opportunity picture.
“People would be aware that we have several programs underway that are designed to support growth and development in the municipality,” she said.
“Strategic planning around City to River, Horsham South, open space, transport, aerodrome and social infrastructure projects are progressing and will inform future decision-making around improving Horsham’s liveability.
“Planning activities to attract a workforce to the region will focus on ‘lifestyle leaders’, who in visiting the Grampians can get a taste of the region and consider relocating.
“Enhanced broadband is now available to support business in Horsham and the council is working closely with training providers such as Federation University, the TAFE sector and Longerenong College to help them with planning and future services.
“And of course advocacy to the State Government through Western Rail for the return of passenger rail to the area is also continuing and an important part of this puzzle.
“Again and importantly, none of these projects, schemes and directions are in isolation. They are all integrated.”
Ms Murphy said Horsham was also part of an even larger Wimmera regional development picture that involved neighbouring municipalities.
“The reality is that the impact of major development projects don’t recognise municipal boundaries and shires tend to benefit from collaborative connectivity,” she said.
“We might be headed for profound change. We’ll wait and see. But at the same time we can’t afford to sit on our hands. We must be prepared.”
Ms Murphy said a monthly economic report was available on the council’s website.
The entire October 23, 2019 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
