Well, what a hectic few weeks it has been. While much of the work has been focused on the promotion of the Peel Food Zone, we can also give you updates below on preparation for the Peel Business Park and the Peel Integrated Water Initiative.
What is a Food Zone and what will it mean to Peel?
There are many Food Zones around the world, providing high quality everyday produce for their domestic consumption, but also helping small growers to innovate, collaborating to achieve the economy of scale that enables them to establish strong export markets. This increased demand, means creation of jobs, not just on the farms, but in processing, packaging, distribution and marketing, and helps to build a strong regional economy.
That’s what we want for Peel, and we are focusing efforts on 28,000 hectares in the Shires of Murray and Serpentine Jarrahdale. It’s a 35 year vision to attract investment into Peel, work with farmers and landowners who wish to embrace innovation to grow their business, and to create much needed jobs. Through the Workforce Alliance, we are also developing career pathways that will include traineeships and apprenticeships. This won’t happen overnight, but every vision needs inspiration before it will become reality.
That inspiration was provided last week, at a breakfast event in Mandurah hosted by Peel Development Commission and the Department of Agriculture and Food WA, by two exceptional international speakers, experts on innovation in food production and emerging consumer trends.
Professor David Hughes, also known as Dr Food, is from the UK and an expert on emerging consumer trends. He demonstrated how Peel could maximise its export potential, building a brand that is synonymous with high quality produce that drives consumer desire and achieves a higher price.
Associate Professor Dr Chris Vas, from Murdoch University’s Singapore Centre for Research Innovation Productivity and Technology, drew on examples from Japan and Singapore to demonstrate how Peel can increase its production of high quality produce using less land, less power and less water.
The speakers were truly inspiring, and left guests discussing how to take advantage of an incredible opportunity. If we don’t, another region will, and we want the investment and jobs in Peel.
What is a MAR and how will it support the development of the Peel Food Zone?
The Department of Water and Shire of Murray are currently undertaking a feasibility study on the potential to develop a Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) capability within the area of the Peel Business Park. If successful it will demonstrate the ability to capture extensive volumes of water during the winter rains, store it within the existing aquifer and then redraw it during the summer months. This will secure a supply for water for horticulture and agriculture that enables production capacity over a 12 month growing season.
How will the Peel Business Park be unique?
To achieve strong future growth for Peel we aim to encourage clusters and business hubs that will support a unique brand for the Peel, one of collaboration and innovation, the place to do business and achieve a highly desired lifestyle. To do this we need to first understand the needs of the industry that we will attract into the region.
The eventual design and delivery of the Peel Business Park in Nambeelup will depend on the needs of the businesses planning to move into it. Therefore Landcorp has opened up Expressions of Interest and the information provided will inform the estate design and delivery to ensure the best possible outcomes for industry. If you are considering relocation and have specific needs, please register your interest now at: www.landcorp.com.au/PeelBusinessPark
How can I find out more?
Please visit our website to read about the program, projects, partners and future initiatives, and register your interest in participating in Transform Peel. You can also ‘like’ Transform Peel and Peel Development Commission on Facebook and Twitter to follow our progress and what other stakeholders are saying about us. The links are also on our websites.
Linda & David
Transform Peel Program Management Office