The state government is considering developing a technology park at Mandurah if results from a business survey of the region justify one.
All businesses in Mandurah and Peel will be mailed a survey within the next 14 days, with an emphasis on detailing business structure, plans for future growth and factors that limit that growth.
The initiative, by the City of Mandurah and the Peel Development Commission, aims to present an up-to-date and detailed picture of business and commerce in the region and allow industry and government to identify capacity constraints and growth opportunities.
Council has budgeted $60,000 and engaged Patterson Market Research to undertake the study.
Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan said the survey would identify whether the region had the potential to become the home of a technology park or hub specialising in biotechnology, ICT, renewable energies or marine and defence.
“Technology parks draw together technology-based industry, research and academia in one dynamic environment that allows businesses of all stages to share knowledge, leverage skills and strengthen capabilities,” he said.
City of Mandurah manager economic opportunities Scott Mills said the idea for a technology park was at an early stage, but council’s preferred site would be north of the new Mandurah train station next to the Peel Education Campus.
“There’s not a lot of documented research about what types of business and industry we have here,” he said.
“While we’ve got industrial land, there are no synergies between business and no official precinct for research and development. It seems people are just doing their own thing.”
Mr Mills said the technology park could also be located close to the city centre, along Gordon Road.
Western Australia has just one technology park, located at Bentley, which specialises in ICT industry.
The government is building a second technology precinct at Henderson as part of the Australian Marine Complex.
