By Kate Taylor<\/p>\n
Moorabool\u2019s CEO and Mayor have returned from a trip to China that explored investment opportunities to benefit the shire.<\/p>\n
On his return from the self-funded trip, Derek Madden (CEO) told the Moorabool News that it was an overall success.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trip was a success in that we were given the opportunity to present that Moorabool Shire is a very favourable light to large numbers of Chinese and international investors.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Mayor Mr Paul Tatchell was provided with the opportunity to speak to 700 guests about where Moorabool Shire is located and what potential exists within the shire. In addition our Mayor and guests were invited into the home of a significant investor not only in Moorabool but in Australia and globally, and as a result was able to discuss in person opportunities for different industries to locate within Moorabool to provide jobs to help reverse over 60 per cent of the shire having to leave the shire boundaries for work each day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While positive, Mr Madden noted that it is still early days.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe discussions are at very early stages and revolved around different industries potentially locating within the shire. At this stage I would say the discussions were more informal and we were just explaining the potential of Moorabool as a location for future investment,\u201d Mr Madden said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Tatchell said the potential investment could include things like increasing beef, wool and lamb exports from Moorabool \u2013 as well as the important secondary industries that come with that, such as wool scouring plants and factories. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey can accommodate a lot more than we are currently exporting,\u201d Mayor Tatchell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s not just foreign ownership, because there are ways to work around that, such as leasing, because when they\u2019re investing long-term they don\u2019t need to own the land or the factories, they just want to deal with people who can give a commitment and do business.\u201d<\/p>\n
And what future planning is being considered?<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this stage we will be working with some of the contacts made to help build a relationship that should further investment in Australia be considered, that Moorabool is presented as a viable location,\u201d Mr Madden said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Kate Taylor Moorabool\u2019s CEO and Mayor have returned from a trip to China that explored investment opportunities to benefit the shire. On his return from the self-funded trip, Derek Madden (CEO) told the Moorabool News that it was an overall success. \u201cThe trip was a success in that we were given the opportunity to […]<\/p>\n