Published at Leongatha for South Gippsland
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PAGES 19-23
The Great Southern
Star
INSIDE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2009
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Page 3
Insurance blow
PUBLISHED TUESDAY 64 PAGES
Page 24
Seniors week
Sport
Running strong
Redheads light up ball Roving performers Hayman Kent of Inverloch, Kiana Liddle, Wonthaggi and Charlotte Durant added a touch of class to the 6th annual Bass Coast Shire Mayoral Charity Ball on Friday night in Wonthaggi. Members of the Wonthaggi Theatrical Group, the girls performed on the night along with fellow thespians who staged a cabaret performance. See page 13
Ripple effect Local economy to boom on back of metro growth By Jane Ross SOUTH Gippsland’s economy is on the cusp of huge growth, with housing, business and population all expected to boom. The development of a massive employment corridor between Cardinia and Casey offering up to 75,000 jobs is the major reason behind the potential growth in the local economy.
The engineering demands of the Wonthaggi desalination plant, the growth in Latrobe, Baw Baw, Wellington and Bass Coast municipalities and a ripple effect from Melbourne’s surging population are other factors creating a bright outlook for South Gippsland. South Gippsland Shire’s director of sustainability Andrew McEwen said there has been renewed interest from businesses wanting to set up in the towns of Korumburra and Leongatha.
“We are quite impressed with the potential activity in the pipeline.” He could not give details, citing commercial in confidence, but added there have also been inquiries about more subdivisions in the shire’s two major towns. Most significantly, he said, the Cardinia/Casey employment corridor in Melbourne’s outer east would deepen the desire of people to live within commuting distance. And, people find rural
living very attractive. Nationals Leader and Shadow Regional Development Minister Peter Ryan, said that increasingly, South Gippsland is seen by the eastern suburbs as “a magnificent location for people to come to and be part of”. “More and more people are buying accommodation in the region and that is why Nyora, Poowong, Loch and Bena are becoming more popular and why we are seeing growth along
the beaches.” Mr McEwen said the formal forecast for South Gippsland Shire is a population of 34,000 in 20 years’ time. That’s about 7000 more than now. “Our belief is that that is a massive underestimate,” he said. “There will be major growth in Baw Baw, Latrobe, Wellington and Bass Coast, so those figures for South Gippsland Shire don’t gel.” Continued on page 7.