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Region looks to the future

Talitha WolfeAlbany Advertiser
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Renewable energy and energy security, infrastructure, industrial development and broadband were identified as the biggest issues facing the region at the Future of the Great Southern conference in Albany on Tuesday.

The sold-out Committee for Economic Development of Australia event engaged 180 local stakeholders about the challenges and opportunities the Great Southern will face in the long term.

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said unlocking the potential of the region was vital to the future, with economic growth and diversity, infrastructure and services, innovation and community the four regional imperatives.

"People in the region want to create a Great Southern with more opportunity and more global connection, while retaining the unique advantages of this select area of Western Australia," he said.

"The region also needs to embrace its environmental sustainability, associated with climate change, clean water and energy."

CEDA acting State director Alana Joske said she was grateful for the support of the event and said the Great Southern already had "amazing" examples of companies and businesses capitalising on the region's unique opportunities.

"There are companies already that have capitalised on the amazing location and pristine environment and using it as a brand tool," she said. "But there probably needs to be more done by the government at all levels to help facilitate, remove red tape and make it so that businesses can really grow and innovate themselves.

"I think there is the interest there in the region, it is just about everyone having a united voice in the region to call on the people who have the power to change things."

Ms Joske also said Asia's developing middle class created a market the region could access.

"There is a lot more that can be done, I think the growth has only just started," she said.

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