Business View Oceania | March 2020

29 30 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA MARCH 2020 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA MARCH 2020 6 Wimbridge Road, Picton WA 6229 (08) 9725 6866 www.civilcon.com.au SERVICE & EXPERTISE IN: Commercial Construction Mining & Civil Construction Industrial Construction Concrete Construction General Contracting Class 2 Demolition & Restricted Asbestos Removal Maintenance and Support Services Tilt up Construction Quality Workmanship | Detailed Safety Processes | Exceptional Results C I TY OF BUNBURY , WESTERN AUSTRAL I A development in the area.” Osborne: “A main theme of the Action Plan is attracting new business. We’ve made a commitment to identify and approach key businesses that aren’t present in Bunbury at the moment. To see what incentives they will require, or challenge them about what it would take for them to set up a branch here or relocate their people to further support economic development in our region. The Mayor has challenged the government to relocate a government department or agency to Bunbury in the next term. So that would see additional people working out of our CBD and living in the city and surrounds. There are also manufacturing areas we’re keen to talk to but one of the major sectors we’re interested in is how Bunbury can play its part in the digital economy. What opportunities there might be for start-ups in that and also in research and innovation.” refund for them. It’s another element for keeping that product out of the waste stream.” BVO: What are the key points in your Economic Development Action Plan? Barbour: “Education and innovation is a big element – attracting people who are looking for innovative solutions, particularly in the automated type of industries. A number of businesses in Bunbury use automated robots in manufacturing processes and we’re looking to expand that capability in partnership with tertiary institutions. We offer training programs through external parties for existing businesses; also fostering groups that are interested in improving economic activity in the town centre. Infrastructure is another pillar for encouraging development. Bunbury has three six-storey apartment complexes underway, a local shopping centre that’s undertaking a $40 million redevelopment, and the city has some parcels of land we’re looking at offloading to stimulate Director of Sustainable Communities, Gary Barbour