By DARBY BUTTLER-REID
BERNARD Salt, internationally renowned demographer, said that Gippsland – and Pakenham in particular – is full of endless possibilities.
Mr Salt presented the findings of his research at a Committee for Gippsland business luncheon in Traralgon to nearly 100 attendees from business, local government, and regional development areas.
“It’s a big region, it’s a growing region, and it’s a region of endless possibilities,” he said.
Mr Salt believes that Pakenham is a key hub for Gippsland, with highlighted potential as an outer suburban hub to help cope with population growth coming through.
He also believes it could host a third airport.
One of our country’s most well-known social commentators and authors, Salt presented his findings on census data in Gippsland, and what his research meant for the region’s cultural, social, economic, and industry future.
Mr Salt said that new migrant to the region have a positive influence on the cultural development of Gippsland, also highlighting the advantage of having a university campus in the region.
“You need a tertiary education campus.
“If you do not (have one), your kids leave the region.
“I’d be beefing up everything to get Federation University going in this region,” Mr Salt said.
With a population of just over 260,000, Salt observed that Gippsland was the ninth largest market in Australia, giving it a competitive advantage.
Mr Salt said that with an ageing population there were notable industry areas emerging in Gippsland to its economic advantage, like aged care, medical services, education and training, and manufacturing.
Mr Salt said that a number of key issues are prominent in Gippsland, such as having a diversity of lifestyle, from farming to sea change.
In addition, growth opportunities were also there in things like building and construction, financial services, succession planning, health care, education and lifestyle.
“Gippsland is too big to ignore, concluded Mr Salt.
CEO of the Committee for Gippsland Mary Eldred said that there were a number of take messages for the region.
“There are few better qualified people than Bernard Salt when it comes to understanding data.
“And his message out of analysing the census data for Gippsland is that we have a very bright future ahead,” said Ms Aldred.
Mr salt said that there is a combination of attributes that a region needs in order to be successful, including: a tertiary education campus, local television production, daily newspaper, radio and media ‘culture’, access to affordable housing, expandable infrastructure in water, power, sewerage, roads, connectivity to a capital city, and a galvanised community with an entrepreneurial spirit.
“Gippsland has many of these attributes in spades, and it goes to show what a great future our region has ahead of it.” said Mrs Aldred.
