CENTRAL HIGHLANDS RESOURCES ROUNDTABLE
Members of the Central Highlands Resources Roundtable (CHRR) have formalised their collaboration by signing a Statement of Commitment.
It sets out the guiding principles the CHRR members will follow to deliver projects aimed at driving sustainable and strategic development in the region.
The Statement has been prompted by the CHRR’s CH Invest Concept Study, which identified a range of collaboration initiatives to help address shared industry and regional challenges, such as recruitment, housing and childcare.
The first of these being actioned, led by CHDC, is a workforce development program. This program has kicked off with the launch in April 2024 of the Central Highlands Workforce Development and Accommodation Strategy.
(l – r) Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) Mayor Kerry Hayes; Sojitz Head of Environment, Social and Governance Ann Houston; CHDC CEO Peter Dowling; Kestrel Coal Resources’ Jess Roberston; and CHRC Deputy Mayor Christine Rolfe.
BACKGROUND
In October 2019, Central Highlands Mayor and CHDC Board Chair Kerry Hayes invited all operating coal producers to attend the inaugural Central Highlands Resources Roundtable.
It marked the beginning of a fresh approach to collaboration and communication between the resources sector, Council and CHDC.
Outcomes of value to the group, which continues to meet on a regular basis, include:
- Building industry and Council relations
- Networking
- Information sharing
- Identifying collaborative projects
- Collective advocacy
In addition, key topics of interest are:
- Workforce (skills, FIFO, career perception)
- Liveability
- Infrastructure planning
- Local supply
- Community spend
- Air travel (routes and fares)
- Industry promotion (locally and regionally)
- Rehabilitation (cross sector opportunities)
- Regional transformation (automation)
- Post-mine futures
- Local Disaster Management Group emerging issues, such as bushfire season risks.
