Transforming Illawarra

The Third Annual Regional Leaders Summit, turned the attention toward opportunities and the ongoing transformation of the region.

This year Summit, titled 'Transforming Illawarra, Infrastructure, Technolgy, People' provided an opportunity for both NSW and Australian Governments to make some important announcements regarding the future of the region.

The Minister for the Illawarra announced a $50,000 grant to assist with the implementation of Start Pad (a business incubator for budding ICT entrepreneurs) as well as a commitment to provide land for the Green Jobs Illawarra, Green Street project. "We are convinced that a key to the revitalisation of the region's prosperity, self-respect and pride is local leadership": Greg Pearce, Minister for the Illawarra said.

The Summit also provided a platform for the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to announce a $25.5 Million pledge for the next  phase in the completion of the long-awaited Maldon to Dombarton rail link. The Prime Minister also announced that more than  10,000 Illawarra premises would be hooked up to the National Broadband Network (NBN) as the NBN was extended from  Kiama to Dapto and Wollongong.

Dr Howard Armitage of the Conrad Centre for Business Entrepreneurship and Technology, told the regions leaders how Waterloo Canada (a region he believes has several similarities to the Illawarra) had transformed its economy through technology based businesses. RDA Illawarra Chairman Eddy De Gabriele said; "Transformation doesn't start on Monday and get delivered over the weekend, it's generational, it's cultural, it's a number of things. Most importantly it's united.