Activities over the past few weeks – and an event that’s just around the corner – serve as an important reminder of the need to approach development of the Pilbara in a holistic fashion.
Karratha celebrated another very successful and enjoyable FeNaClNG Festival over the long weekend. With its sideshow rides, games, markets, live music and fireworks, FeNaClNG might not immediately spring to mind as an event that’s connected to regional development.
But activities like these bring diverse groups of people together in a family-friendly environment and help make our cities and towns more liveable. FeNaClNG thrives in part because of the support of local businesses and many of the Pilbara’s major employers, who embrace the opportunity to contribute to an event that has real community benefit.
It's a great advertisement for some of the best things about life in the Pilbara.
The Developing Northern Australia (DNA) conference is a different type of event but one we are very fortunate to have returning to Karratha in late August.
DNA also brings together people from different backgrounds - government ministers; local, state and federal government officials; key figures from industry and the private sector; community leaders, including Traditional Owners; and the local business community.
The opportunity to learn from and share learnings with talented people from around the country is invaluable and one the RDA Pilbara team is looking forward to.
A stronger Northern Australia makes for a better nation. Collaboration, cooperation and conversations between a range of stakeholders will be vital to unlocking the full potential of our northern regions and communities.
Speaking of valuable conversations, it’s been good to have two very interested touring groups through the Pilbara over the past fortnight.
RDA Pilbara CEO Tony Simpson and I caught up with Independent Senator Fatima Payman as part of a regional visit that included stops at Roebourne, Port Hedland and Karratha.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA brought a contingent of state and federal stakeholders to the Pilbara for an up-close look at some of the region’s major resources projects.
The Pilbara’s enormous opportunities can only be properly realised by finding sustainable and targeted solutions to challenges and obstacles our region is facing.
Whether it’s a shortage of affordable housing, lack of childcare services, communications and connectivity black sports, insufficient healthcare services, workforce limitations or growing cost-of-living pressures – these are issues Pilbara will need support to effectively tackle.
RDA Pilbara and other organisations raise these issues regularly as part of our advocacy efforts. But having stakeholders visit the region and hear first-hand from businesses and communities about their experiences really drives the message home.
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