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Cooperation the key to growth and prosperity

"There are exciting, emerging opportunities in wine, information technology, environmental services and marine engineering," said Lord Mayor John Tate. "During 1999, some 300 people found work in the region's new call centres, and we are even promoting the Hunter as the 'Australian Hollywood'. We have been successful in attracting new industries including British Aerospace's facility to assemble jet fighters, the CSIRO's new research facility and Energy Australia's call centre."

Speaking at the 'Newcastle Goes National Day' in Canberra last October, the Lord Mayor was one of several Hunter region ambassadors talking to Federal Government representatives about the challenges and opportunities facing this area. He pointed out that with over half a million people, in population terms, the Hunter is Australia's largest region.

However, he made it clear that it was not all good news. With a short term predicted unemployment rate of 10.3 percent, well above the national average of seven percent, the future for young people and workers who have known only manufacturing for generations is bleak.

"Against the backdrop of BHP's closure, jobs have also been lost in coal, aluminium, textiles, meat handling and train manufacture," the Lord Mayor said. "Behind these figures is a terrible human cost, and these figures are unacceptable to the Newcastle/Hunter region, and to the nation.

"Wherever our ambit of influence, at Local, State or Federal Government, in industry or the community, we need to be doing everything possible to change all this. "We are focusing on attracting new job generating industries, ensuring our local companies have the skills to compete globally, encouraging exports, reskilling our workforce and developing our transport and technology infrastructure."

The Hunter is very much a model of what can be achieved through the cooperation of all key stakeholders. Gillian Summers, Executive Officer of the Hunter Economic Development Corporation (HEDC), firmly believes that the secret to the region is how well it works together.

"With all stakeholders, the Councils, Chamber of Commerce, HEDC and the community, coming together we have greater muscle to attract investment, develop an export/global focus and build up our infrastructure including information technology," she said.

"Newcastle is the centre or the hub of the region but it does not stand alone. We are all interdependent. There is a strong sense of identity, strong business and strong Local Government. We are very much seen as a model for cooperation by other areas of Australia."

Gillian Summers also believes that the Hunter is being viewed as a litmus test by the rest of Australia. "There is a feeling that if things go well in the Hunter, then Australia will be okay," she said. "Just as the closure of BHP came as a shock to the region, so it did for the rest of the country. Newcastle has gone through so much change, it had to get smarter and try a bit harder. Council works with all stakeholders, it is very much part of the community and outwardly focused."

She pointed to a recent proposal to attract a company to the region with the potential to generate 400 jobs. Working with this company and the State Government, Council came up with the planks that would make its shift to Newcastle easy.

Though a final decision is still pending, the company's evaluation team has stated that the Newcastle proposal is very strong. With up to 100 staff needing to be relocated to Newcastle, Council has developed a 'Go Newcastle' campaign.

Designed to interest staff to come to Newcastle, this showcases what the City and region has to offer, and makes it easy to settle in. Organised tours of the City for staff, which have been very successful when other companies have relocated, are also part of this package.

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