The Great South Coast stamped its presence in Canberra this week in an Australian first.

A Great South Coast delegation yesterday returned from the capital having met with around 20 senior Commonwealth officials for a round table discussion.

The collaborative approach is a first not only for the region, but for the nation.

Glenelg Shire CEO Sharon Kelsey, Corangamite CEO Andrew Mason, Warrnambool CEO Bruce Anson and Great South Coast Executive Officer Karen met with nine Federal departments and agencies to tell the Great South Coast “story”.

Andrew Mason said the visit had been instigated by the Great South Coast Group in a bid to open lines of communication with the Federal Government.

“The Great South Coast has a unique story to tell in that our challenges are primarily about how we cope with growth and expansion,” he said.

Fuelled by alternative energy projects and the growth of the timber and dairy industries, Mr Mason said the anticipated growth was having a cumulative impact across the region.

“For us this means we need to look at how we find the people with the right skills to work in these industries, how we house them and how we can provide them with the health and education options they need.”

Mr Mason said the buoyant times were having other impacts upon the region, and upon its roads in particular.

“Extra activity around the timber harvest, the construction of wind farms and more milk trucks are all going to have a devastating effect on roads that are already in really bad shape.”

Mr Mason said the Canberra visit had been “really positive”, with a number of concrete outcomes.

Chief among them was the promise to ensure the Commonwealth is available to speak with the region and work collaboratively on regional projects, including roads and workforce issues.

“We were able to meet with the people who are shaping national policy that will impact all of us.

“But I think one of the most positive outcomes from our visit this week was the opening of communication channels and ensuring that the Great South Coast is on the radar.

“The Government advisors who were in that room seemed genuinely interested in what we had to say and they wanted to know how they could help.”

Media information:

Great South Coast Executive Officer
Karen Foster
Phone: 0407 312 836
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