The City of Launceston and Launceston Chamber of Commerce have cautiously welcomed the state government’s announcement of a $100 million investment package.
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On Thursday treasurer Peter Gutwein said the government would bring forward a targeted economic stimulus package in an effort to create much-needed jobs for the region.
Launceston Chamber of Commerce executive Jan Davis said it was important to understand that government generally did not create jobs, business did.
“That means the business community needs to be involved in designing programs that will address these trends, not presented with programs that are set in concrete,” she said.
Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said the city’s water and sewerage arrangements should be an important part of the discussion.
“The health of the river is a primary consideration which we think at the moment is stifling further tourism investment that could be focused on our waterfront,” he said. Alderman van Zetten said the stimulus package presented an opportunity to develop long-term solutions to issues like the Tamar river.
“(It would be done) in association with authorities like TasWater who have got a large component of their future capital program focused on resolving issues with the sewerage treatment plants,” Alderman van Zetten said.
“We are very keen to explore ways we can maximise the leverage of the University of Tasmania development, the North Bank redevelopment and the Launceston City Heart Project and to secure additional funding which enables us to do that.”
The treasurer's announcement was on the same day the region saw a 1.1 per cent rise in the unemployment rate over a month.
“That’s 900 more people who have lost their jobs in the past month in Northern Tasmania and every one of the jobs lost masks a story of hardship for families, and also contributes to a softening of the local economy,” said Ms Davis. She said the most concerning issue is the very low participation rate and there were clear systemic issues that need to be addressed.
“There are many opportunities to improve the outlook for communities in the northern region … if we stop looking for silver bullets and start thinking about how we can get businesses in the North to think about employing one extra person, we’ve almost solved your problem,” she said.
Holly Monery
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
