The State Government is considering the establishment of a special development authority for the Kimberley region, along lines similar to the recently announced Pilbara Development Commission.
North-West Minister Ernie Bridge said a Kimberley Region Development Authority would provide a focus for developing the West Kimberley region.
"Development authorities have now been trialed in various parts of the State with excellent results," he said.
"An immediate benefit would be the capacity for greater local input into decisions which affect local people, while also encouraging better co-ordination between the many Government agencies providing services in the Kimberley."
Mr Bridge said the establishment of a Kimberley Development Authority would impact on everything from planning and tourism to economic development and Aboriginal enterprise.
The proposal has won strong support from Premier Carmen Lawrence, who discussed it with community and business groups in Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, and Broome last week.
Mr Bridge said further consultation with local communities would occur before any decisions were made on the best structure and format for a Kimberley authority. The proposal would then be taken to Cabinet for consideration.
He said many social and commercial changes had occurred in the Kimberley, and there was enormous capacity for further large and rapid advances.
"To maximise that potential, it makes good sense to establish a new, easily identifiable framework for pursuing Kimberley projects and issues at the local level," he said.
