LOCAL Federal and State MPs have lashed out at economic denouncements of Mandurah.
But Mandurah Mayor Rhys William acknowledges there are difficulties and says there will be no quick fix to the structural economic challenges faced by the City.
In a You Tube video the Economic Massacre of Mandurah – viewed nearly 25,000 times since being uploaded last week – our City is described as an economic “traffic accident”.
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READ NOWMANDURAH’S ECONOMIC ‘TRAFFIC ACCIDENT’
A group of economic commentators described a “perfect storm” of economic conditions eroding the local economy, with the flow-on effect of social upheaval and disharmony.
Responding to the a video, Mr Williams said Mandurah had challenges.
“Mandurah experienced obscene population growth over the past decade,” he said. “We are one of the fastest-growing cities in Australia and yet we are a region of the country with no key industries.
“People moved here because it is beautiful and a great place to live.
“However, as a result of this rapid growth, we continue to see challenges with unemployment and underemployment.”
Canning MHR Andrew Hastie said the video was designed to grab headlines.
“Like any other community across Australia, Mandurah has its own unique challenges,” he said.
“But exaggerated videos claiming ‘Armageddon has occurred’ in Mandurah is over-the-top,” he said.
“It helps no one except the producers of the video.
“The overblown rhetoric undermines the residents, community organisations and leaders who strive to build a better Mandurah.
“I know them well because I work alongside them every day.”
Local MLA David Templeman – who is also Minister for Local Government, Culture and the Arts, and Heritage – questioned the analysis of the economist’s depiction of Mandurah.
“Across Australia there are various centres, like Mandurah, which have experienced unemployment downturns, decline in housing values and mortgage stress,” he said.
“But recent statistics don’t support the findings that this is unique to Mandurah.
“In fact, we are better placed than many similar regional centres and suburbs because of our waterways’ natural attraction and proximity to Perth.”
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