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 Colonial Stadium 14/04/2000 In 1990/91, the Western Region of Melbourne had a population of 471,6001 people. By 1998 this had risen to 539,607 people.2 Substantial population growth is a key indicator of the potential for sustained economic development in regions. The National Institute of Economic and Industry Research Pty Ltd (NIEIR) noted in the report State of the Regions: A report to the Australian Local Government Association, November 1998, and again in the State of the Regions report in 1999, that regions with significant population and employment growth since 1990 are those regions most likely to have recovered from the late 1980s early 1990s recession. The western region of Melbourne was one of the top 20 regions experiencing rapid population growth in the period 1986 to 1996 (at a rate of 15%). As we enter the year 2000 this growth rate is now closer to 20% per annum.3 Much of the findings and analysis contained in the 1998 and 1999 NIEIR reports are recognisably features of Melbourne’s West, but not all. NIEIR classifies the 57 regions in Australia according to six types.4 These are:
The Western Melbourne region is a 'production zone' as defined by NIEIR, that is, it has a strong base in manufacturing, a large industrial workforce and a high non-English speaking background (NESB) population. However, where the western region of Melbourne differs to other production zones in Australia is in its skill base and transport links into major centres of employment and activity. While unemployment rates are higher than the Victorian average, the skills base is relatively high unlike the other production zones in Australia such as North Adelaide, Westernport, Western Sydney, Northern Illawarra and the Lower Hunter. NIEIR also infers that production regions by virtue of their industrial base must be in decline and vulnerable to loss in industry competitiveness. This assumption is based primarily on the Lower Hunter (Newcastle) case study (job losses resulting from the closure of the steelworks) and on restructuring in the automotive, pharmaceutical, and TCF industry in Northern Adelaide. Manufacturing in the West of Melbourne varies dramatically in composition, geography and complexion to these other regions and is in fact growing in the region, contrary to national trends. In 1995, the Western Office of Labour Market Adjustment and Victoria University undertook a study and analysis of the economic development, trends and factors affecting the western region at that time.
Some of the key findings of this study provide an historical perspective on the development of the region since the 1990 recession. The analysis looked at four basic categories: Monitoring development in these categories can be difficult. Not all transactions and investment are recorded in publicly accessible ways and implications for economic growth and employment growth are not always clearly apparent. However, sources of information do exist and the 1995 study examined 5 groups:
1. A survey of major projects ($1 million +) The 1995 report concluded that (in 1995) "all of the major indicators and potential stimulators of growth point to a bright future for the region". These are:
Five years on these potential stimulators, most predominantly associated with infrastructure investment, have borne fruit. The challenge facing Melbourne’s Western region in 2000 to 2005 or 2010 is to effectively identify the next generation of economic stimulators. This will occur within an environment of rapid change, of increased globalisation, of continued economic restructuring and of converging information, communication and digital technologies. It will also occur during a time when the importance of networks, sectoral, business, community and social, has never been greater. As is the case with supply-chain networks in business, regions will also need to develop partnerships and strategic alliances both internally and externally. Referring again to the 1999 NIEIR report there are a number of supplementary challenges worth considering in the context of the Summit. These challenges present more like a ‘to do’ list, namely:
While we may take issue with the external analysis of the economic health of Melbourne’s West provided by bodies such as NIEIR these challenges are worth bearing in mind. In considering these ‘challenges’ we ask you to also consider wherein the opportunity lies.
References:
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