Blueprint tips big future for region

International and interstate air travel, a passenger train linking the region’s major centres and a port rivalling Fremantle’s could be the reality for the South West by 2050.

That is the vision for the future from the South West Development Commission and Regional Development Australia — South West.

The South West Regional Blueprint, released yesterday for public comment, outlines key opportunities to take the region forward as the population grows to a possible 500,000.

Commission chairman Stuart Hicks said the blueprint took an aspirational view of the region’s development and urged people to imagine what was possible in coming decades.

“By the time 2050 rolls around, we want local residents to enjoy jobs, services and opportunities that are the envy of people living in other parts of Australia, ” he said.

“We want this to be a region of choice — a region where people choose to live and a region where there’s plenty of choices when it comes to career and lifestyle.”

Regional Development Australia — South West chairman David Trench said the blueprint represented a commitment by the two agencies to work together for the benefit of the region.

“We want to speak with one voice about what we can collectively do to grow our region, ” he said.

“The combining of Commonwealth and State government resources in the development of this document is a first in WA and promises to set the scene for a much closer alliance for the future promotion of regional development in the South West.”

Public submissions close on February 16. Copies of the blueprint can be downloaded from www.swdc.wa.gov.au or www.rdasouthwest.com.au.

“We want to build a forward-thinking South West, a region we can be proud of and that leaves an important legacy, ” Mr Trench said.

You can read an extract from the blueprint at www.infogo.com.au/go and enter the code bhb.

To read more of the South West Regional Blueprint go to www.swdc.wa.gov.au