Australian Maritime clusters - Experiences and Perspectives

AUSTRALIAN MARITIME CLUSTERS - EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES

Cluster representatives:		Steve Arnott, Department of Industry and Resources, Western Australia Tracy Scott-Rimington, Cairns Region Economic Development Corporation, Queensland Richard Walker, Shire Consults, New South Wales
Facilitator:		Peter Heydebreck, Inno Group (to be confirmed)
Documentation:		Petter Jönsson, Linköping University
Key issues: Cluster development in Australia is vibrant and supported by State, Regional and Local Governments across a range of industries. There are biotechnology clusters in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide linked to local research organisations and universities. In the Hunter Valley there is a horsebreeding cluster. Presenters at this workshop will discuss two established maritime clusters in Western Australia and Northern Queensland, and a new cluster being developed in Sydney. In Western Australia the unlikely combination of Discovery of extensive Petroleum Resources, The development of a major crayfish export Industry, the America’s cup competition and Australia’s new two Ocean Defence Policy led to the formation of the Australian Maritime Complex at Cockburn Sound south of Perth. The Cairns [Queensland] Region Economic Development Corporation has encouraged the development twelve industry clusters in the region. The presentation will describe the Tourism, Super Yachts and Seafood/Marine Clusters in Cairns. In Sydney, the alienation of harbourside land by housing and recreation reserves developments has led to a scarcity of land for marine activities such as boatbuilding and boat storage. The Sutherland Shire Council’s Economic Development Committee is encouraging the development of a marine industry cluster at Taren Point. This involves mostly SMEs employing less than 20 persons per enterprise.

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