PROPONENTS of big ticket economic development projects in Etheridge Shire will be brought together at a forum in Georgetown next month.
It’s the second Etheridge Economic Development Forum to be hosted by Etheridge Shire Council.
“This will be a follow on from last year to show what has changed and what we have been able to achieve,” Etheridge Shire Mayor Will Attwood said.
“We also have several large projects that are on the drawing board for the Etheridge Shire and we are asking the proponents to present their projects to the shire so the people can know what the projects are.
“It will give some forward notice about how the project will put economic wealth into our shire.”
The forum will be held on 17 and 18 February 2016 with topics to include current and proposed development in the shire, discussions on how to develop a stronger economy leveraging off the region’s advantages, strengths and opportunities and the future for primary production, tourism, resources and small to medium business in the shire.
Guest speaker will be Jim Engelke, general manager of the Kimberley Agricultural Investment.
Cr Attwood said the aim of Mr Engelke’s visit was to impart his knowledge and experiences from the Ord Irrigation Scheme.
Two of the major projects earmarked for Etheridge Shire include the Integrated Food and Energy Developments (IFED) project and Gilbert River scheme.
Cr Attwood said while the methodology between the projects were different, the impacts would be similar.
“We know that the method of getting up and getting going will be different because the Ord River scheme was a government project where this will be private enterprise,” Cr Attwood said.
“But we are looking more at the impact that that project has had on the area so we can learn from that.
“When the IFED and Gilbert River schemes go ahead we will have an injection of about 3000 people in our shire.
“That is a huge increase from what we have at the moment and there’ll be things we need to plan for.”
Cr Attwood said the council received positive feedback from last year’s forum.
Following its success, Council allocated grants to help the four industries – grazing, agriculture, mining and tourism – promote themselves.
To register, call council on 4062 1233.