Spotlight on social impacts of economic growth
Published on 16 August, 2007
Mackay Whitsunday Regional Managers Coordination Network (RMCN), in conjunction with CQU, has organised a forum at which researchers, state and local government officials, mining, tourism and building industry leaders and social welfare sector reps will meet to share experiences and look at social impacts of the boom.
The 2-day event starts on Monday August 20 at CQU Mackay. It will focus on how to build partnerships between government, businesses and the community to help respond to issues, improve coordination, and plan for an equitable spread of the future benefits.
left to right - CQU's Dr Shane Hopkinson, Lucinda Reck, Manager, Child Care Regulation Unit Mackay Whitsunday Region and Narelle Pearse CEO for Mackay Whitsunday Regional Economic Development Corporation (MWREDC) discuss the forum
CQU Mackay Sociology lecturer Dr Shane Hopkinson said the event would encourage constructive dialogue between government, business and community groups to discuss options for managing the cumulative effects of rapid economic and population growth, with a focus on solutions and future planning.
Major Forum themes will examine the effects on families and communities, futures planning and the need to the design "livable communities". Forum members will also discuss the development of a regional "report card" to capture current social and economic data and establish a base line for future progress.
The keynote speaker on day one will be John Rolfe, Professor of Regional Economics at CQU, who will address the economic impacts of the boom.
On day 2, keynote speaker Shanthi Ramanathan, researcher with the Hunter Valley Research Foundation, will speak on experiences of a similar boom in NSW and a model for a regional report card they have called: 'Wellbeing Watch - a Monitor of Health, Wealth and Happiness in the Hunter Region'.
Registration is required for the conference which will be held in the Cook Lecture Theatre, CQU Mackay, Boundary Road, Planlands.
For further information telephone Department of Communities on 4967 4420. Papers delivered at the forum will be posted after the event on the CQU website - http://www.bowenbasin.cqu.edu.au/.