Founding director of the largest and most integrated sheep meat processor in Australia, Dubbo’s Roger Fletcher, has thrown his support behind a summit that may help find workers for more than $7.9 billion worth of projects earmarked for the Orana region across the next five years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The man who built Dubbo’s largest private employer, Fletcher International Exports, is among six speakers lined up for the January 31 event at Lazy River Estate.
They include former federal deputy leader of The Nationals and minister for regional development, Fiona Nash, now strategic adviser for regional development at Charles Sturt University, and Dubbo-based civil engineer Jillian Kilby, an “expert in strategic planning for local government”.
The CSIRO’s Dr Tom Measham will speak about “what it could be like to live, work and invest” in regional Australia in the next 30 years.
Regional Development Australia Orana director Megan Dixon has named the speakers as it puts the finishing touches to the first Inland Growth Summit.
“The event aims to spotlight the real need for a regional policy and plan to support growth centres within Inland Australia,” she said.
“The focus will be on the desperate need for population growth to service the upcoming project pipeline, supporting sustainable growth and highlighting the role of inland regions as viable economic centres.”
The focus will be on the desperate need for population growth to service the upcoming project pipeline, supporting sustainable growth and highlighting the role of inland regions as viable economic centres.
- Regional Development Australia Orana director Megan Dixon
Mrs Dixon said the projects would generate about 5000 direct and indirect jobs but current population growth “will not be able to sustain this project pipeline”.
The projects include the Bylong coal project near Mudgee, the Scadia mine in Bogan Shire and Dubbo’s new bridge.
“Roger Fletcher is talking about another expansion which would create 30 jobs if he moves forward with the project,” Mrs Dixon said.
READ ALSO: Rail maintenance facility jobs are assured
The remaining two speakers are founder of the Astrolabe Group, Michael Comninos, and general manager strategy and partnerships for the Regional Australia Institute, Liz Richie.
Summit tickets can be found at https://www.rdaorana.org.au/spotlight/.
