Spotlight on the Pilbara

Business owners and economists will gather in Karratha today to look at the future of the Pilbara and how private investment will shape the region’s development.

The Karratha and Districts Chamber of Commerce and Industry will launch its second Pilbara Pulse economic summit today.

Chief executive John Lally said the event would bring together high-level international speakers to discuss what would be the legacy of the Pilbara.

“Because of constrained budgets, government can’t deliver on all infrastructure projects, so more private investment is needed,” he said.

“The Pilbara and Australian economy are closely linked; the Pilbara has to perform if Australia’s economy is to perform.

” The summit will be held over two days, with a conference today featuring speakers such as foreign and international affairs expert Keith Suter and Australia China business Council president Frank Tudor.

Mr Suter will speak about the significance of Karratha to Asia, not only due to the resource wealth of the region, but also for the location of the town.

Western Australian Regional Development Trust chairman Andrew Murray is also set to give a talk focusing on the transformation of Karratha from a mining town to a major Australian city.

There will be speeches from “local success stories”; McLaren’s Raw Hire company director Sean Clarke and Dan Tenardi, from Ngarda Civil and Mining.

The crowd will have the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with the local businesses.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls, who is opening today’s conference, said the fact that the event was being held when the nation was looking at the Pilbara was timely.

“Hopefully before too long the Pilbara won’t be as remote to the rest of Australia as it feels now,” he said.

Mr Grylls said the Pilbara was currently the news item across Australia.

“I think events like the Pilbara Pulse start to enable more of the mainstream commentators to get a feel for what’s actually happening,” he said.

“You know what’s going on in the Pilbara, I know what’s going on in the Pilbara, but the people we’re wishing to attract, in the Eastern States and overseas, still actually think the Pilbara’s like it was 20 years ago.” Tomorrow will see a range of business workshops held, with topics including setting up sustainable home businesses and using financial statements to improve business performance.

Shire of Roebourne president Fiona White-Hartig said the summit was a means for businesses to keep abreast of the development of the region and share in part of the growth.