Aboriginal Enterprises The Pilbara is committed to Aboriginal empowerment. Much of this has been achieved through the requirement to gain a social licence for the many resources projects that power the regional economy. The initial phase of establishing trusts and financial resources is increasingly transitioning to investments and capacity development in support of Aboriginal enterprises. There is a significant opportunity for investors to partner in Aboriginal controlled joint ventures across a diversity of industries, including agriculture, construction, tourism and energy to provide ready vehicles for social licence investments by future industry and infrastructure projects – public and private. Tourism WA’s Camping with Custodians program is a good example of generating economic development on country based on Aboriginal culture and knowledge. Visitors can stay on Aboriginal lands and meet and mix with Aboriginal people, with the fees they pay for their accommodation staying in the community generating income, employment, training opportunities and the chance to live and work on Country. The campgrounds support complementary tourism experiences and provide the opportunity for the community to showcase local culture for tourists. The following campgrounds have been developed in the Pilbara: • The program was extended to the Pilbara in 2018, with a nature-based campground at the 220,000ha Aboriginal-owned pastoral Peedamulla Station, 70km outside of Onslow. •
The Djarindjin community is the location for the newest and largest campground in the network, 190km north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula. The campground is located on the fully sealed Cape Leveque Road, and offers 37 powered and 10 unpowered sites. Visitors to the campground can also experience authentic Aboriginal cultural tours, which are operated by local Bardi and Jawi tour guides. Resources Aboriginal businesses are encouraged to register their business on the following registers: Aboriginal Business Directory WA – www.abdwa.com.au
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Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct – www.supplynation.org.au Industry registers e.g. Project Connect – www.projectconnect.com.au Camping with Custodians – https://bit.ly/3yVv8Z9
Accommodation The Pilbara has a cyclical regional economy strongly affected by resource industry investment cycles. This creates rapid growth in demand and property prices during the construction phase of these cycles followed by equally rapid reductions in demand and property price collapses. This, along with high construction costs, destabilises local housing markets, leaves investors holding assets with negative equity until the next growth phase and limits the provision of tourism accommodation as well as making it expensive. The challenge is to meet this demand for key worker rental and tourism accommodation without undermining local residential property market conditions. Other challenges include the provision of remote and small-town accommodation solutions for both markets. Investors and government can realise long term stable returns through supporting innovative regionally constructed modular and flat-pack housing solutions. These solutions enable small workforces to deliver volume housing solutions in the short timeframes needed to address rapid increases in demand experienced across the Pilbara as resources projects begin construction, while leaving a legacy of quality housing and amenities that would otherwise be unavailable to regional communities. Pilbara housing hotspots identified include: • Tom Price with a current 30 week wait for accommodation
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