Gathering generates confidence
Horsham district business leaders are exploring ways of optimising a potential surge in economic growth after hearing details about major projects developing in the region.
Explanations about mining and renewable-energy production projects, and what a green light for a breakthrough value-adding agricultural industry in the region meant, generated discussion at an Industry Meets Business gathering.
About 50 business owners and representatives met at Horsham Golf Club for the event.
Business Horsham organised the information night to generate awareness about business and economic opportunities based on major industrial developments in the region.
Horsham Rural City Council economic development manager Stephen
Pykett said the event created a positive atmosphere of collaboration and engagement.
“It was overwhelmingly positive and after presentations from industry representatives there was a sense of healthy optimism. It just hit the mark,” he said.
“It was also timely and provided great insight into industry needs and expectations, in particular about opportunities that might arise and where there might be expected shortfalls in supply.
“It was highly collaborative and great to hear from industries about where they saw opportunities arising in the future.
“We’re talking about industries that have credible experience – they know where businesses can meet supply needs. And this is development expected to unfold further in the near future.”
Speakers included EAT Group founder and director Phil Mcfarlane, who spoke about a $35-million Australian Plant Proteins processing project, WIM Resource’s Avonbank Mineral Sand Mine project manager Michael Winternitz and Murra Warra Windfarm communications and stakeholder engagement officer Susan Findley-tickner.
Theo Williams from Localised, which launched a new Wimmera Business Directory online platform with Wimmera Development Association and the Horsham council, also spoke.
Benefit
Mr Pykett said business leaders used the occasion to gain an understanding about how industry was committed to the area and that it was keen to source regional resources.
“Businesses also asked strong, pertinent questions with a view to ‘how can we do this and how can we get maximum benefit?’” he said.
“The impression was that while representatives were obviously looking for how their own businesses could benefit, there was a strong element where they were looking at it from a perspective of Horsham and Wimmera overall.”
Business Horsham chairman Graham Keay described the gathering as an enlightening evening.
“Businesses were able to discover what opportunities might be available and learn about where Horsham sits in a much larger market environment. It really put things into perspective,” he said.
He said business representatives absorbed information about projected employment, timelines, tender requirements and estimated dollar investment into the district community.
Some of the challenges discussed included accommodation, natural resources such as gas, drug and alcohol abuse, opportunities needed for district education institutions to provide courses in science and geology fields, and hire-vehicle availability.
Business Horsham’s delighted executive assistant and event organiser Sarah Kelm agreed the evening was ‘very’ positive.
She encouraged Wimmera businesses to get on board the Localised platform, which is free to register with and is also a place of opportunity, marketing and networking. Businesses can register at www.wimmera.localised.com.au.
The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM and Horsham Rural City Council sponsored the event.
Business Horsham’s next event is a networking coffee club gathering with a guest speaker on June 6.