Newsroom

1 August , 2005

Media Release

Push for Greater Infrastructure Investment

The 'Champions of the Bush' Group meets in Bairnsdale at Patties Foods. Regional Australia must work together for an equitable share of investment into infrastructure, according to a group of major companies that champion economic development issues in regional Australia. 'Champions of the Bush', meeting in Bairnsdale today at the invitation of one of its members Patties Foods, is working with the major capital markets to attract more finance into regional infrastructure to maintain living standards and enhance growth potential.

The group of 10 companies, which also includes another local 'Gippsland Secured Investments', has several current initiatives working in the interests of advancing regional Australia and ensuring equitable services.

Champions Chairman John G Brown, who was recently inducted as a Member of the General Order of Australia, said that regions like Gippsland have many infrastructure opportunities that should be financed by the capital markets in Australia. "The facts are that the lions share of our invested funds and superannuation contributions are focused upon capital city projects or invested internationally" Mr Brown said. "We would like to see more regional infrastructure projects brought up to readiness for investment assessment."

According to the Champions group, projects such as water treatment plants, water storages, recycling and reuse schemes, gas reticulation pipelines, energy efficient industrial estates, waste management and recycling plants, acute care hospitals and specialist medical treatment facilities, new industry skills training facilities, information telecommunications hubs, inland ports, and freight transport modals, etc. can all be viable investment projects in regions where long term growth is targeted.
It believes that many new emerging business opportunities are also occurring due to demographic changes and a shift in reliance upon traditional primary production. "We see new industries and businesses wanting to establish in regional areas that need competitive services so that they can operate nationally and internationally. I note that the Collins Book Stores franchise now is headquartered in Gippsland, for instance" Mr Brown said.

Champions of the Bush wants better focus, coordination and communication upon long term planning for regional communities. Its members cover a broad range of business sectors, from community & investment banking, telecommunications, wine and timber production, food production and retailing, to development and marketing. "By working together across regional Australia, in concert with government, these companies have played a large role in facilitating economic development," according to Mr Brown.
"I have recently traveled around Australia, and experienced first hand the extent of our common potential when we work together for the future. We are seeking more companies to join this endeavor, to ensure that regional communities remain viable for future generations." The group is also assessing regional infrastructure projects in conjunction with the financial institutions, and seeks local input and projects.

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