Wanneroo, the State's fastest growing residential area, will be the centre of a comprehensive business and jobs creation program announced by Premier Carmen Lawrence today.
Dr Lawrence said an economic development unit for the north-west corridor had been established to direct a 'Wanneroo Goes for Jobs' campaign. The campaign aimed to almost treble the percentage of residents employed in the area during the next decade.
The unit was a joint venture of LandCorp and the Department of State Development.
The 'Wanneroo Goes for Jobs' campaign would include a community-based taskforce being set up, with the president of the Wanneroo Chamber of Commerce, Bob Fawcett, as chairman.
"Currently, the employment self-sufficiency rate in the north-west corridor is only about 18 per cent," the Premier said.
"In the south-west metropolitan region, 53 per cent of residents work in their area.
"By the end of the decade we aim to have at least 50 per cent of those living in the north-west corridor working there, containing transport demands and contributing to the economic viability of the area."
Member for Wanneroo Jackie Watkins said a shared workspace (business incubator) complex would be established after the success of a similar venture, the Midland Enterprise Centre.
"It has fostered the creation of 45 new jobs in the Midland area," Mrs Watkins said.
"Planning of the proposed technology park will be co-ordinated by the Economic Development Unit, which will ensure that local wishes are taken into account."
The Premier said there would be no political representation on the community taskforce.
"The bi-partisan approach to solving employment problems at a local level is essential - this is not about 'Fightback' or 'One Nation'," she said.
