Taskforce to transform Western Trade Coast into global advanced industries hub

A new ministerial taskforce has been established in a bid to transform Perth’s southern industrial precinct into an international advanced industries hub.

Headed by State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister and Kwinana MLA Roger Cook, the Global Advanced Industries Hub Ministerial Taskforce met on Thursday to discuss the development of an economic framework for the hub.

The framework will focus on industry development and attraction, land and infrastructure, and skills and workforce development, among other opportunities.

The taskforce will be supported by an Industry Reference Group including Alcoa, Woodside, BHP Nickel West and Kwinana Industries Council.

Kwinana Industries Council director Chris Oughton said priorities for the taskforce should be assisting the industrial precinct in transforming to a renewable energy base, addressing existing constraints that were holding industry back from being as internationally competitive as it could be, and making governmental processes efficient for existing and new industries to navigate.

“The process has great potential to hear about what industry needs. We have had a great deal to contribute over many years and I do so hope this new forum will provide a platform for us to more formally express our views,” he said.

The southern industrial precinct, or Western Trade Coast, covers 3900 hectares between Munster and Rockingham and includes the Kwinana Industrial Area, Rockingham Industry Zone, Australian Marine Complex and Latitude 32.

“As Australia’s industrial land gateway to global industry and trade with the economies of China and South East Asia, it is essential that we plan for the future of the Western Trade Coast,” Mr Cook said.

He said transforming the Western Trade Coast “will support WA’s sustained economic growth”.

The Kwinana and Rockingham areas combined have contributed a whopping $20 billion to WA’s total gross output and has supported more than 13,000 jobs.