Community forum aims to provide a road map for the future

What is driving Coffs Harbour’s economy and what impact will national and global economic and social change have on the city’s future?

These are some of the questions to be addressed at the first of three Coffs Harbour Community Forums, being hosted by Southern Cross University, the Coffs Harbour City Council and the Coffs Coast Advocate to facilitate public discussion and ultimately provide a road map for the future.

The first forum, at the Coffs Harbour campus on Wednesday, August 17, will include presentations from Professor Ian Eddie and Professor Richard Smith.

Professor Eddie, from the Southern Cross Business School, will outline the nature of the Coffs Harbour economy and how this fits into what is happening at a national and global level.

“Coffs Harbour is not an island – it is connected in its economy to the rest of Australia and globally through interest rates and through prices, among other factors,” Professor Eddie said.

“We have seen recently how Australia’s economy can be pushed around by what happens globally. The key question is how do we develop an economy that can be responsive to the global changes, to take advantage of the things that will bring benefit and to minimise the harm from the things that will be detrimental?

“In order to build a responsive regional economy we need people who are adaptable and skilled, educated and flexible.

“We want to be responsive to the rise of China and India and other global pressures such as climate change.”

Professor Eddie said the key for success was creating something unique, to differentiate Coffs Harbour from other regional economies.

“If those characteristics can be sustained, the economy will thrive and prosper,” he said.

Professor Eddie and Professor Smith, whose talk will focus on building a better community, will be joined by a panel of industry and community leaders for the forum, which will include a question and answer session.

Members of the community are invited to attend the forum, in the D block lecture theatre, from 5.30pm. For information and to RSVP contact Deborah Hoiles on 6659 3341 or deborah.hoiles@scu.edu.au

Photo: Professor Ian Eddie is one of the presenters at a Commmunity Forum, on Wednesday, August 17 at Southern Cross University's Coffs Harbour campus.