National Economic Development Conference coming to Mackay
200+ economic development leaders are coming to Mackay for a conference that could unlock a circular biofutures economy with big profits
Mackay
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Mackay has won the hosting rights for a flagship economic development conference attracting more than 200 professionals from across Australia.
Economic Development Australia chief executive officer Jacqueline Brinkman was in Mackay recently in preparation for the three-day October event.
Ms Brinkman, who helped make Cairns a superyacht hotspot, said the National Economic Development Conference would focus on "regional transformation and evolution of the circular economy".
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said he was "exceptionally excited" for the event which could finally unlock the region's biofuture potential.
"As a council, we recognise that economic development and social development go hand-in-hand," Cr Williamson said.
"It sounds like a bit of a buzz word, doesn't it, the circular economy? But we are ideally placed in our region to capitalise on the future."
Cr Williamson said Wilmar Sugar in Sarina, which had produced ethanol since 1928, was at the "cusp" of expanding but needed infrastructure to make it a profitable venture.
"Why should they expand in ethanol? You think about the fact there's 1.7m tonnes of fuel (that) comes into the Mackay Harbour every year," Cr Williamson said.
"Most of it goes over the hill as diesel - if we can convert that into biodiesel which has a 90 per cent less carbon footprint than petrodiesel … we couldn't grow enough sugar."
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Ms Brinkman said Mackay was poised to "reap the benefits" of having economic development professionals across the public and private sector come together to share their knowledge and expertise.
"Economic development can have a transformative effect on a local community," Ms Brinkman said.
"(Our practitioners are) in the perfect position to unlock those levers for community-wealth building at a local level.
"It's not about just attracting a huge anchor business into a city or a region.
"It really is about working collaboratively with your community, being the glue between business and the government and helping transform those economic policies into practice on the ground."
The NEDC runs from October 13 to 15 at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre.
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Originally published as National Economic Development Conference coming to Mackay
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