NTDC taskforce to form with councils

The Northern Tasmanian Development Corporation is consulting with the seven Northern Tasmanian councils to attract more working age people to the state. 

The corporation has been tasked by the councils to increase gross regional product by 50 per cent, create 8000 net new jobs and increase average take home pay by $100 over the next 10 years.

Corporation chief executive Maree Tetlow said Tasmania’s aging population meant the state must attract more young workers to hit these targets.

“Official population projections show that if nothing changes, Northern Tasmania’s working age population will drop by 3700 over 10 years, whilst the total population will increase by over 5000,” she said.

“The background report indicates [our] targets can be achieved if we focus on attracting at least 6000 skilled workers or entrepreneurs of working age over the 10 year period.”

The taskforce will identify which industries to target in the population push to create new businesses and further expand on current industries.

“The trends identified in the report suggest these sectors will include agriculture and food processing, tourism and competitive manufacturing,” corporation acting chair Sue Kilpatrick said. 

“We have a digital advantage with Australia’s first gigabit NBN city that should be an attraction to entrepreneurs and drive the kinds of new economy jobs that will improve the productivity of our traditional industries.”