New project to create long-term employment outcomes for people in the Midland region

25/5/98

An innovative new project designed to create long-term sustainable employment outcomes for people in the Midland region was launched today by Employment and Training Minister Cheryl Edwardes.

Mrs Edwardes said the aim of the new joint project between Midland Job Link and the Shire of Swan was to take a proactive role in the creation of new job opportunities through the economic development of the region.

Launching the project in Midland today, the Minister congratulated the community on its innovative and positive approach to job creation and announced State Government funding of $200,000 over two years.

"This funding has been granted under the WA Department of Training's new Enterprising Options program to establish the Swan Initiatives agency," Mrs Edwardes said.

"The Swan Initiatives agency will bring together knowledge, information and resources to enable local groups to maximise opportunities for involvement in local events and developments that could lead to job creation."

Mrs Edwardes said the project was one of six innovative proposals which received funding under the WA Department of Training's Enterprising Options Program. The program has been allocated $1.6 million SEAS funding for 1997/98 and 1998/99.

"The Midland Job Link/Shire of Swan project is an important component of the State Employment Assistance Strategy (SEAS) which was established to enhance employment opportunities and create jobs for Western Australians," Mrs Edwardes said.

She said the Shire of Swan had invested heavily in finding a way to regenerate its central business district and surrounding areas and had prepared detailed proposals and plans.

"Instead of relying on existing businesses to increase the demand for jobs, both the Swan Shire and Midland Job Link will form a proactive alliance in which a planned development approach has the potential to increase the level of jobs in the community," she said.

Midland Job Link will play an active role in this vision by expanding its services to help create jobs and to place local people in work.

A five-day Midland Revitalisation Charrette held in September last year identified the need to maximise local and sub-regional employment opportunities, especially in the post-industrial and service-based economy by attracting new businesses and commercial activities to Midland and attracting new assets to the region.

Midland's former industrial economy supported many jobs in large businesses such as the railway workshops and Midland abattoirs, many of which are now gone from the area.

Compounding this, the shire has experienced rapid population growth over the last five years, growing nearly twice the rate of the metropolitan region. This growth rate is expected to increase further over the next five years.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 9421 7777