UPDATES FROM GADPL
Gladstone Observer
Saturday December 5, 2009
By Glen Churchill, GADPL Chief Executive
Cast your mind back 30 years and envisage what the Gladstone Region looked like, now imagine what the Gladstone Region will look like in 30 years time.
GADPL are pleased to announce a partnership with the Gladstone Region's economic development agencies and representative industry, business and community organisations. This project team will embark on the preparation and delivery of the Gladstone Region Economic Development Strategy (GREDS), the plan for the future. This strategy is being prepared by consultancy firm SGS Economics and Planning on behalf of the project team and will be a high level strategic document, which will deliver an over-arching economic development strategy and plan. Through co-ordination of the efforts of various agencies in delivering economic development outcomes for Gladstone Region this plan will build prosperity, sustainable growth and livability for the Gladstone Region.
The GREDS will be prepared over the following three months and a final strategy release is planned for March 2010. SGS Economics and Planning have already begun preliminary research and consultation to collect, collate, compile all information required to develop the strategy. In early December a number of forums will be held between key industry, government, community and institutional representatives, this will be an opportunity for the consultants to report on their early findings. This strategy will remain a live active document, with an annual report card findings and an annual review, to ensure the strategy becomes reality.
These forums will also pose an opportunity for stakeholders to provide their own perspectives and thoughts regarding possible opportunities, priorities and strategies and their vision of the Gladstone Region's economic development future. Topics suspected to be raised are; what is the economic development ‘vision' for the Gladstone Region?" What are the key issues facing local business and industry? What should be the nature of economic development in the Gladstone Region? Where do we want to be and look like in 30 years time? How do we get there?
This is an exciting project for the Gladstone Region. The strategy will provide a clear direction and plan for forward planning in the Gladstone Region.