Our Future - Put Up or Shut Up Now
Business News 27 March 1996The local press has been spluttering about the WA 2029 Study, Stage 2 Reports from the WA Dept of Commerce and Trade (DOCAT) which are now out for our scrutiny.
Please be very clear that you understand Stage 2 of this humungous project presents the DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS for WA over the next 35 years.
The State Government has to make decisions now about what development policies and principles it should put into effect over the next 3 decades.
The recommendations to the State Government are contained in the rather daunting number of 12 booklets, well titled as :
- Overview of Study
- State Demographics
- Modelling the WA Economy to the Year 2029
- Environmental Implications
- Social & Community Issues
- Technology and Telecommunications
- Metropolitan and Regional Growth Issues
- Western Australia: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
- The Changing Role of Government
- Strategic Infrastructure
- Development in the Regions
- Education and Training Implications.
We are all frantically busy working people and few of us will have time to read all twelve, let alone think about and send our comments to Bruce Sutherland, the CEO of DOCAT.
But this is our future being decided in these documents. Also our kids' future - remember, it's for 35 years. Heck, that even includes our grandkids' future!
As a professional futurologist I am very concerned that you have a real say about what happens in WA, now and in the future. I have been thinking about what options you have for easily finding out what's being said and for just as easily saying "that sounds OK" or " wait a minute, that's definitely not OK."
While it is all very iidealistic to have massive citizen feedback with heaps of detailed comment, the bottom line really is making sure the Government (mostly through DOCAT) hears that you basically like the picture they are painting for our future, or you are not happy with some or all of it.
Yup, sounds sort of okay. Nope, don't like the sound of it. If 100 real people (not professional planners) got their message of concern across, the decision makers would have to do a bit more research into what you and I really want and then amend their thinking accordingly.
The project consortium of mostly-academics are all very intelligent, honourable, diligent, well-read, clear-thinking citizens of Australia. They want recommendations that will successfully plan a great future for WA.
They have offered their expert opinions about where it is heading. It is now up to you and I to let them know we like their opinions or not.
Do not be intimidated by "expertiseness."
Who cares how many experts these experts have asked about, for example, the likely number of people taking over the Margaret River area in the next 3 decades? Do you want the area to change that way? If so, say okay. Your single voice can count.
If not, say, I don't like that iidea. (See: Metropolitan and Regional Growth Issues; Development in the Regions; and, State Demographics booklets for the population projections and likely changes in life styles there.) Your single voice can count.
Decisions will be made to allow the major growth to happen or, and this is the important bit, decisions can be made to control the growth to be less than currently predicted.
As my clients are so accustomed to hearing me say : The future does not just happen. It happens because people make decisions to make it happen a particular way.
If you want WA to change in the way the reports from WA2029 are describing, then say nothing and the changes will probably become government policy.
If you have any worries about any bits of the picture being painted, say: I am worried. Then, hopefully, the government planners and policy makers will have a re-think about what the reports are suggesting.
You do not have to be a smooth talking, statistically knowledgeable, full bottle big thinker to have an opinion. You do have to know some of what is being reported in the 12 booklets. You do have to think about what is being reported. You do have to somehow tell the Study people or government officers the bits you like or do not like.
That's all you have to say. You do not have to say why. You do not have to suggest alternatives. You do not have to defend your opinion to anyone. They may ask why you think that. So what? Just confidently say: "I do not have any clear iidea why I believe this, I just do." Any professional planner worth their salt will know your opinion is good enough to count.
But it cannot be counted if you do not express it.
While I am writing this I am thinking that yet again I am haranguing busy people to get off their over worked butts and take an interest in the quality of their future.
There is no fast easy way to do this.
I am studying the documents in detail and will happily discuss what I am reading with you at any time.
If you have a particular interest, and who lives here that doesn't, then call and I will say what I understand the reports to be saying about that issue.
For example, you might wonder what will happen in the mining industry in WA? or, what about employment rates in the regions? or, what about Perth being a Global City with huge rates, expensive rentals, more traffic, etc. ?
Please feel free to phone/fax and I will happily share what I know from the Study.
I won't even ask your name. I will encourage you to get your opinion into the system, though. Your single voice can count.
If you care about your future, speak out now: it is put up or shut up time in WA.
printer friendly version | Tell a Friend