Economic Development and Strategic Planning Coordinator

28 May 2014 Brie Holland Economic Development and Strategic Planning Coordinator Town of Port Hedland Title: Linking Local Economic Strategies

THE TOWN

Port Hedland in brief  Known by its original inhabitants, the Kariyarra people as Marapikurrinya  Population approx. 20,000 (including 4,000+ transient workers)  Area 11,000km2  Median personal income $1,421 per week (nearly double of WA) – high escape spend  Median age: 31  High wealth, employment and educational level divides  Median weekly rental now $1,380 (2009 figure) compared to $2,232 in Sept 2012  Australia’s largest bulk tonnage port producing 25% of world iron ore exports  Will be host to a 2.5 day music camping festival from 22 – 24 August 2014 – National + International artists  Will play host to 5 cruise ship visits within the next year

1 | P a g e THE VISION

Mayor Kelly Howlett - Foreword in the Pilbara’s Port City Growth Plan ‘…Pilbara Port City – where parents can raise their children, young people can come and make their mark, grandparents can enjoy times with their grandchildren and long term residents chose to retire and live locally…’

Pilbara Cities Vision: ‘…to build the population of Karratha and Port Hedland into cities of 50,000 people, and Newman to 15,000 people by 2035, with other Pilbara towns growing into more attractive, sustainable local communities.’

The Town of Port Hedland Vision: ‘…by 2035 Port Hedland will be Pilbara’s Port City, a nationally significant friendly City where 50,000 people want to live and are proud to call home. ‘

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC

PLANNING

Organisational Summary The Town of Port Hedland’s Economic and Strategic Planning unit is positioned within the Planning and Development Directorate. Whilst Port Hedland helps to fuel the growth of Asia, this unit seeks to enhance the future economic prosperity of the municipality by concentrating on the strategic vision of the Port City Growth Plan which highlights three keys to sustainability: housing affordability, increase in amenity and economic diversity. The unit is also responsible for the identification of opportunities, development of strategies and implementation of actions that achieve positive outcomes for the Town, which include attracting businesses to develop and operate on Council owned or vested land. The unit is committed to economic growth and acknowledges the benefits of all partnerships in order to help facilitate growth. A second office in the State’s capital city of Perth has been established in an effort to develop these partnerships further.

2 | P a g e DISCLOSURE

Economic development in the Town won’t be achieved by the Local Government alone. Many players are needed to create its future of 50,000 people – State and Federal Government support, small, medium and large business, entrepreneurs, academics, resource industry, funders etc. etc.

STEP ONE

Finalise master planning documents as a consequence of the shared Pilbara Cities Vision for Port Hedland; 1. STATE LEVEL - Pilbara’s Port City Growth Plan (adopted by Council and the WA State Planning Commission, created by the Community) 2. LOCAL LEVEL - Strategic Community Plan 2012 – 2022 (adopted by Council, implemented by Council’s Administration)

STEP TWO

Economic health check of Port Hedland – the Pilbara via the Growth Plan Top five issues facing the future development of the economy include; 1. Reliance on the Mining Sector: 70 - 80% of GRP 2. Shortage of Affordable Property: owner/ occupier rate is 26.6% compared to the State’s 67.4% 3. Cost of Living: anecdotally priced 1.65 times 4. Lack of Retail Offering: current undersupply 4,300m2 5. Lack of Innovation and Knowledge: lack of activities away from mining exportation

3 | P a g e STEP THREE - Note the issues – now focus on core themes to achieving economic development

4 | P a g e 5 | P a g e STEP FOUR

How do you create a unique capability with using little to no money, on Council owned land?

Adhere to the Local Government Act 1995 ‘3.58 . Disposing of property (1) In this section — dispose includes to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of, whether absolutely or not; property includes the whole or any part of the interest of a local government in property, but does not include money. (2) Except as stated in this section, a local government can only dispose of property to — (a) the highest bidder at public auction; or (b) the person who at public tender called by the local government makes what is, in the opinion of the local government, the most acceptable tender, whether or not it is the highest tender. ‘ Local Government Act 1995.

‘Trade in land – put the land out for a Request for Proposal (tender) and the market will tell you what it will offer’ David Westbury, Manager of Economic Development and Strategic Planning.

‘Three elements to successful economic development: Land, People (Knowledge) and Money – you have one – it is your job to attract the other two’ Herve Calmy, Calmy Planning and Design.

‘Western Australia has an emerging ‘clean technology’ sector that is one of the fastest growing in Australia. The opportunity presents itself to take advantage of the significant solar resource in the Pilbara to become a leader in this sector and help diversify the local economy.’ Page 73 Pilbara’s Port City Growth Plan.

6 | P a g e Case example in Developing Unique Capabilities on Council owned Land: Development of Renewable Energy within the Town of Port Hedland

 The Town’s Council resolved on 27 November 2013 to select BeauSol /First Solar as the preferred proponent for the design, construction, operation of a 20ha solar farm, as a result of a Request for Proposal process.  On 22 July 2013 the Town held its first Perth-based pre-bid presentation at the Town of Bassendean Council Chambers for the design, construction, operation of a 20ha solar farm south east to its Kingsford Business Park. The response surpassed expectations, with 50 people representing 32 different companies attending. While the majority of the attendees were from Perth, there were 8 interstate attendees: Sydney (6), Melbourne (1), Brisbane (1). The presentation was delivered by myself, with Economic Development and Strategic Planning Manager David Westbury and Program Director Airport Redevelopment Brett Reiss completing the panel and participating in the Q & A section. This was a great example of the Town driving interest for its projects from the State’s capital and going that extra length to become more accessible to the stakeholders.  Total of 105 different companies: interstate and international formally registered their interest in the project. 5 formally handed through proposals.  Utilising the hybrid battery it is expected that the solar farm will deliver and estimated 68 – 80% total of energy requirements during 7am – 8.30pm every day.  As mentioned in the slide previous the two main outcomes of solar farming 1. clean energy generation and 2. cost effectiveness.  This project will see the Town and its leasing partners benefit greatly from an environmental consciousness and commercial variability sense over the next 20 years.  Stakeholders to date: BeauSol, First Solar, Horizon Power, Town of Port Hedland – Council and Administration – Planning, Building, Health, Airport, Redevelopment Directorate, Department of Indigenous Affairs, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Air Services Australia, Department of Environment and Regulation, ARENA,  Project status to date: pending the Australian Renewables Energy Agency – ARENA funding approval – 18 June.  The future and all-things-going-to-plan: this project is a pilot project focusing initially on 20ha. Council April 2013 resolve to set aside a few 80ha for additional solar energy production.

7 | P a g e References Pilbara’s Port City Growth Plan http://www.porthedland.wa.gov.au/CouncilInitiative/pilbaras-port- city-growth-plan Strategic Community Plan: 2012 - 2022 http://www.porthedland.wa.gov.au/council/public_documents/strategic_plans/community_plan_1 2_22.pdf/file/at_download Port Hedland Economic Profile via Pilbara Development Commissions ePilbara profile http://www.economicprofile.com.au/pilbara# Pilbara Development Commissions Housing and Land Snapshots http://www.pdc.wa.gov.au/publications/ North West Festival http://www.northwestfestival.com.au

Side note - thinking of visiting / moving to the Town? The Port Hedland Visitor Centre website www.visitporthedland.com tourism brochures 1. Discoverer’s Journal: http://www.form.net.au/files/A_Discovers_Journal.pdf 2. 2 Day Guide: http://www.form.net.au/files/2Day_guide.pdf 3. 5 Day Guide: http://www.form.net.au/files/5day_gui 4. An Insider’s Guide: http://www.form.net.au/sites/default/files/Insiders_Guide_.pdf

BIO  Completed a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Western Australia 2003.  Began career in the Local Government arena in Port Hedland in 2007 as a Senior Rates Officer and in 2010 moved to Economic Development and Strategic Planning.  Moved to Perth in November 2012 retaining her title as an Economic Development and Strategic Planning Coordinator for the Town of Port Hedland, signing a four year contract with the Town, leasing office space from the Town of Bassendean.  Main role: coordinating strategic projects…dirt to contracts.  Why I want to be involved in Pilbara Transformed 2035 – change the attitude of how people perceive a Local Government.  What I’m bringing to the Symposium – a case study showing how a Local Government can use its own land to bring out a positive economic outcome.

8 | P a g e  What I want from the Symposium – to steal all the knowledge and ideas from the people involved in the symposium; find the land and the money to turn the idea into a viable economic development projects – dirt into contracts.  Mobile: 0448 105 557

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