The newly formed Pilbara Development Commission would have a crucial role to play in `adding value' to the Pilbara's economic and social development into the next century, Premier Carmen Lawrence said today.
Opening the Port Hedland office of the commission prior to inaugural meeting of its board, Dr Lawrence said Western Australia was about to enter a new era of regional development.
"The Government does not just pay lip service to regionalisation. In the last decade Western Australia has been the national leader in regional development," Dr Lawrence said.
The Premier said the work of the new commission would fit comfortably into the Government's `Adding Value' plan which aimed to transform the State's economy and produce a better quality of life for all Western Australians.
"The plan is about developing our major regional centres and putting in place the facilities that communities need, where they need them.
"Western Australia has built an enviable economic performance in a relatively short time but we have to do better. We have to add value to our resources.
"We have to set a new direction in our economic activity and basic structures so that our resources produce jobs here, not overseas.
"My Government has prepared the first comprehensive and co-ordinated program to transform Western Australia from being a supplier of raw materials to the world to a producer of manufactured goods of a standard which would attract international buyers.
"An essential element of the plan is the work to be done by authorities such as the Pilbara Development Commission in supporting regional development."
The commission would:
· implement the strategies and recommendations of the Pilbara 21 report;
· market and promote the region;
· encourage investment and identify export potential and downstream processing opportunities for regional products;
· co-operate and co-ordinate with other government agencies in service provision; and,
· act as an advocate for the region.
Dr Lawrence said the Government fully recognised the need to work in partnership with local government to achieve the best results.
"Local people usually have the best solutions to local problems," she said.
The Premier said that because of the resource-rich nature of the region, the work of the Pilbara Development Commission would be of significant importance to the State as a whole.
