THE Limestone Coast could become a designated skilled migration hotspot amid a push to stimulate the region’s sluggish population growth.
Figures show Mount Gambier – which is the listed 48th in the nation’s 50 largest cities ranking – has a population of around 29,400 people.
The city’s “stagnant” population has only grown by 3pc over the past five years.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Limestone Coast chief executive officer David Wheaton has flagged the region could become a “designated” area for skilled migration.
The news comes as a parliamentary public hearing will be held in region in late March to canvass the issue of migration.
Mr Wheaton said the region needed to maintain and grow its population to maintain health services and schools.
“The region’s population has been stagnate for quite a while … we need to make this an attractive place for skilled migrants to come and settle and share their skills with the local population,” Mr Wheaton told a recent local government forum.
He revealed the economic development body had been in discussions with State and Federal Governments to secure a “designated” agreement for a migration area.
“This would provide specific advantages to our region, as well as other parts of Australia, in terms of attracting skilled migration,” Mr Wheaton added.
He argued skilled migrants had the opportunity to bring new skills into the region and could “train up” locals in their area of speciality.
“Watch this space, we are hopeful in coming months there will be some important announcements,” Mr Wheaton said.
“Attracting skilled people to our region is going to be really important to us.”
The executive said the RDA- long with the Limestone Coast Local Government Association – had a regional growth plan that had identified key priorities.
He said population growth was a major plank in these priorities for all seven regional councils.
Mr Wheaton contributed the skills shortage in the region to the “chronic” under-funding of TAFE SA.
Hawkins Medical Clinic manager Dale Beatty said skilled migration was an important avenue to attract and retain medical professionals in the region.
Explaining the clinic was a medical training facility, he said registrars often did not commit to staying in Mount Gambier in the long term.
He said the clinic had found securing highly qualified health professionals from overseas was a key strategy to boost the clinic’s medical workforce.
Mr Beatty said internationally trained doctors were more likely to settle with their families in the city in the longer term.
The clinic has recently welcomed skilled migrant Dr Shivani Gulati who has accepted a four year contract with the clinic.
State Parliament’s Economic and Finance Committee presiding member Sam Duluk – who is the Member for Waite – said the hearings would inform the committee’s current inquiry into the impact of migration and population growth on the state’s productivity and economic performance.
“Migrants have made a tremendous contribution to South Australia and our economy for generations,” Mr Duluk said.
He said the committee understood the importance of skilled migration to regional areas.
“In late March, the committee will travel to the Limestone Coast to hear from councils, community groups, businesses and other interested parties in the area,” the MP said.
“The committee welcomes the opportunity to discuss the impact of migration on South Australia’s economic performance and assess the programs currently in place to attract and retain migrants.
“The committee looks forward to discussing the options and opportunities available to encourage skilled migrants to settle in South Australia going forward, supporting population growth in our State.”
