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Writer's picturePeter Long

From the RDA Pilbara Deputy Chair - September 2024

The Developing Northern Australia (DNA) Conference in Karratha last week was another reminder of the importance of regions like the Pilbara to our country’s future.

With well over 30 individual speakers on the main program and a wide range of breakout events, it was certainly a busy, rewarding and thought-provoking few days.

It’s very clear that northern communities will be at the forefront of development of Australia’s mining and resources and tourism industries. We will be central to the Australian decarbonisation story, growth of our nation’s defence capabilities and continued advancement in agriculture.

There is also enormous potential for Northern Australia to lead the nation when it comes to increasing participation of First Nations people, who make up 16% of the population. The development of our regions should be underpinned by genuine partnerships with Traditional Owners.

The opportunities are clear but realising them will require overcoming – or, perhaps more realistically, managing – some significant challenges. While the individual regions of Northern Australia are unique, the DNA Conference showed that many of these challenges are common ones.

I had the privilege of presenting at DNA as part of the Northern RDA Alliance, alongside Jackie Brooks (RDA Midwest & Gascoyne) and Professor Hurriyet Babacan (RDA Tropical North).

I very much appreciated the opportunity to provide an update on the work RDA Pilbara is undertaking to advocate for our region and enhance the liveability of our communities.

This included a case study update on the Pilbara Designated Area Migration Agreement, which has seen 890 skilled workers nominated to meet critical labour shortages in the City of Karratha, Town of Port Hedland and Shire of East Pilbara. The most nominated occupation has been childcare work – an area of dire need in the Pilbara – and we are awaiting approval of a variation request that would add 20 more occupations to the DAMA list and expand the program into the Shire of Ashburton.

I spoke about the urgent need for more housing in the Pilbara (while there is no quick fix, there is an obvious case for concerted and collaborative action), the importance of bringing telecommunications connectivity in line with the standard enjoyed by metropolitan areas, development of a West Pilbara Tourism Plan and the importance of establishing major flight networks to destinations beyond Perth.

RDA Pilbara’s recent expansion into Settlement Services for migrants and the ongoing success of the West Pilbara Communities for Children program also featured in my presentation.

Running through it all, I was reminded again of the all-encompassing nature of regional development: it's about advancing our businesses and industries, growing our towns and communities and, most of all, providing opportunities and the best standards of life for our people.

DNA was an excellent forum to engage with other development organisations (including RDAs) and talk about best practice, along with shared challenges and opportunities across Northern Australia. There are many issues around which a collaborative approach can be effective.

DNA also drew key external stakeholders, whose influence will be highly important to Northern Australia’s future.  Again, their wide range of backgrounds – Ministers and other senior Federal Politicians, high-ranking staff from State and Federal government departments, Traditional Owners, industry represenatives and leading academics – points to the diversity nature of regional development.

I certainly left DNA with some new connections and fresh ideas about how RDA Pilbara can contribute to the development of our amazing region.

Open and pragmatic discussions about the future are an important part of that.

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