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Annual Reports |
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Annual Report 2007 - 2008
Since 1986 MACROC has acted as an advocacy body for the Councils of Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly. It provides a voice on regional issues and works towards encouraging regional economic growth. It also works to protect the environment and to promote better business practices within businesses in the region. Our brief at MACROC is to look at regional issues that impact on Macarthur and to work collaboratively with our Member Councils to benefit the region as a whole. The MACROC Member Councils are united in their vision of a strong and vibrant Macarthur and their commitment is mirrored in the work being undertaken by MACROC. Macarthur is increasingly being identified as a distinct region of Sydney, one that offers great potential for investment, business and employment opportunities, as well as an excellent quality of life. It is also a region that is about to experience significant growth. The South West Growth Centre development, together with the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Strategy and the Draft South West Sydney Sub-Regional Plan identify the South West Corridor, comprising of Liverpool and the MACROC Member Councils, as one of substantial targeted growth over the next 25 years. This population growth will bring with it opportunities as well as challenges. MACROC has been active in lobbying for adequate and timely infrastructure provision to meet the needs of current as well as future residents. Adequate transport infrastructure is particularly important and MACROC has convened a working group to identify key regional transport infrastructure priorities. Of equal importance is provision of employment opportunities for residents, past and future. MACROC commissioned 'Employment Prospects for South West Sydney' to provide an overview and update of the economic geography of the South West (the MACROC Member Councils and Liverpool) including the labour market and identify critical factors that facilitate employment growth. I believe this document will prove a powerful tool for long-term economic development planning for the region! The period also saw a continued focus on economic development and MACROC either initiated or participated in a number of events designed to promote the region and encourage economic growth. These included the Macarthur Business Hall of Fame, designed to highlight business entrepreneurs and the MACROC CEO Breakfast Forums, which provide an opportunity for business networking. MACROC also coordinated an ambitious marketing campaign taking the 'Make it in Macarthur' message to New South Wales with the Make it In Macarthur Regional Drive. Reflecting a heightened level of concern worldwide about the environment, MACROC took the lead on a number of projects relating to the environment and to all aspect of sustainability within the Macarthur region. MACROC continues to act as one of the key supporters of the Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living and was successful in a bid for Intensive Sustainability Training for the MACROC Member Councils as well as Liverpool City Council. Sustainability is a concept that all three MACROC Member Councils have adopted and MACROC has also been active in this area. In 2007 MACROC won an AusIndustry Grant under the Small Business Enterprise Program and the result is the MACROC designed and coordinated Symmetry Sustainable Business program. This unique program is designed to improve the environmental practices of small business. Since its launch in February 2008, 33 small businesses have participated in Symmetry and graduated with Bronze Accreditation. I would like to acknowledge the ongoing commitment of the staff of the MACROC Member Councils who have participated in working parties to enhance and progress regional issues. These working parties play an important role in the success of the region and MACROC will continue to coordinate such groups to enhance and maximise achievements for the region. I offer special thanks to my fellow Executive Members who take time from their demanding work schedules to attend Executive Meetings as well as Board Meetings and who are all strong advocates of regional cooperation. To MACROC Board Members, thank you for your commitment to MACROC. I look forward to continuing to work with you for the remainder of my term as President of MACROC. In June 2008 MACROC lost a valuable member of its team. Mr Barry Daley, the Deputy General Manager of Campbelltown City Council and MACROC Secretary, retired at the end of July 2008. Barry held the position of MACROC Secretary for many years and apart from his astute financial acumen, Barry was an invaluable source of MACROC corporate history. I would like to personally thank Barry for the direction, support and encouragement that he has provided to MACROC. On behalf of the MACROC Board, as well as the staff of MACROC, I wish him well in his retirement. Finally I would like to thank the team at MACROC, Christine Winning, Executive Officer, Imam Ali, Economic Development Officer and Pamela Corscadden, Administration. They have worked hard during the year to continue to promote the Macarthur region. Operating within a tight financial framework they continue to look at ways to improve MACROC's operation and in doing so also improve the outcomes that they can achieve for Macarthur. It has been my pleasure to work with such a committed group of people. Councillor Rob Elliott The Annual Report is available for download below: File: Annual Report 2007 - 2008 Note: If you are on a slow connection or would like to download the catalogue for offline viewing, "right click" your mouse button and select "Save target as". This will allow to to choose a location on your computer for the download. This document requires Adobe Acrobate Reader version 5 or greater. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free product from Adobe Systems Inc. and can be downloaded here.
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MACROC Members
Project Partners |
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It gives me great pleasure to present this report on the activities undertaken by MACROC during the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008.