Learning Regions in Australia - The Case for Collaborative Infrastructure Outside Metropolitan Centres - The Pilbara Region as a Possible Case Study

Abstract

There are many areas in Australia where access to services and economic activities are limited by the sheer geography of the country. Delivery of basic services such as health, education, welfare is constrained by the distances involved. Economic activity is limited by low population density, distance from major urban areas and policy frameworks that favor metropolitan outcomes. The usual informal information and knowledge networks that link industry, government and communities together in urban areas are absent or fragmented. Such regions are hampered in their development by generations of decisions that always create sub-optimal solutions for the region — expectations are lowered, and this starts a vicious cycle of decline and neglect. People ‘make do’ rather than ‘think big’.However, there are examples around the world of regional strategies that have supported local networks to enhance regional development, job creation and industry growth. They are regions created through high levels of innovative thinking, and are not limited by established views on how to do things. They are also highly successful.It is possible to envisage similar learning regions in Australia. It requires four integrated approaches to policy and planning: adoption of a regional innovation policy framework that is quite different to the traditional policy frameworks applied by government agencies; creation of ‘knowledge policies’ that gain synergy from government service agencies, workforce development, community activities, and industry development and innovation strategies; adoption of an ‘action learning’ framework for policy development that engages communities, companies and government agencies; and, application of governance principles that reflect ‘collaborative planning’ values between all the key stakeholders in the region.The Pilbara Region in Western Australia provides us with a current case study in this regard. The WA Government under its Pilbara Cities initiative has invested significant time and effort in developing strategies for regional economic and social development. Using contemporary material, the Paper examines the direction and purpose of the initiative, and maps it against the idea of a ‘learning region’.