ReportWire

Tag: regional development

  • Long Island Association adds seven new board members | Long Island Business News

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    THE BLUEPRINT:

    • LIA elects seven new board members from major Long Island institutions.

    • New members represent , research, defense and accounting.

    • Leaders elected to help bolster economic growth and competitiveness.

    • LIA says new voices will support innovation and small-business success.

    The recently elected seven new members to its . The new board members serve in higher education, accounting services, scientific research and defense manufacturing, bringing expertise in their fields.

    These members, all from organizations that were already represented on the board, were elected to support the LIA’s mission to advance regional economic and business development.

    “We are excited to welcome these accomplished and knowledgeable leaders to the LIA Board of Directors,” Lawrence Waldman, chairman of the LIA, said in a news release about the board members.

    “Their leadership and industry expertise will bring fresh perspectives and help guide our mission to strengthen Long Island’s competitiveness and economic resilience,” he added.

    The board members include Dr. Jerry Balentine, president of New York Institute of Technology, with a campus in Old Westbury; Damon Brady, product line director of , with locations in Greenlawn; Andrea Goldsmith, president of ; John Hill, interim director of ; Craig Savell, managing principal of the New York metro region of , which includes offices in Uniondale and Melville; Christopher Storm, interim president of president of , whose main campus is in Garden City; and Jerry Ward, office managing partner of , with a location in Jericho.

    The LIA’s Board of Directors comprises “a cross-section of our region’s leading industries and institutions, and these new voices will contribute to the LIA’s efforts to ensure a thriving economy,” Matt Cohen, president and chief executive of the LIA, said in the news release.

    “The work of the new board members at their respective companies and organizations is critical to both the growth of our innovation economy and success of small businesses, and we look forward to having their input as we advocate for a prosperous Long Island,” he said.


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    Adina Genn

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  • City’s ‘bold’ new plan for rough sleepers after Wiggles blunder

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    WA’s biggest regional city has unveiled a “bold” plan to transform its city centre and relocate a local music shell used by rough sleepers as an unofficial homeless shelter.

    The City of Bunbury’s masterplan focuses on the area around the Graham Bricknell Music shell — a venue that gained notoriety after the council’s “brazen” approach of playing the Wiggles on repeat to deter antisocial behaviour.

    The plan, which the city expects to cost “hundreds of millions of dollars” would also result in the bus station being moved, the city’s heritage buildings revived and the surrounding area — known as Bicentennial Square — made into a “go-to” destination for tourists.

    The proposed transformation has been met with mixed reactions.

    The City of Bunbury says the plan is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. (Supplied: City of Bunbury)

    Andy Mcwhirter, who lives in Australind, north of Bunbury, said it was “about time” more was done to attract visitors.

    “Anything that [the city] can do for tourists is good,” he said.

    “When I was a kid everyone used to come to Bunbury for holiday, now they don’t. They bypass Bunbury.“

    A man stands in a dark street

    Andy Mcwhirter says anything that can be done to bring tourists to Bunbury is a good thing. (ABC South West WA: Jacqueline Lynch)

    The Bunbury Outer Ring Road was opened last year to take traffic around the city.

    Calls have recently ramped up to make Bunbury CBD “cool again” after many retailers shut up shop.

    The council has described the redevelopment as a “bold” plan, which Mayor Jaysen Miguel said would shape the next generation of Bunbury’s history.

    “[This is] the direct link between that waterfront and our city,” he said.

    “How can we make it more accessible to bring people and potentially beautify it in some ways?”

    He said the project would take some time and would need millions of dollars of government and private investment.

    ‘Where are they going to go?’

    Rough sleepers have slept at the sound shell for years — even setting up what CBD worker Kylie Collins said was a “camp”.

    Ms Collins said while the plan to revitalise parts of Bunbury sounded “great”, she worried for the homeless people sleeping at the shell.

    “Where are they going to go?” she said.

    “We want our town to be thriving and successful and we want shops full and businesses full, but lives need to matter more.“

    A woman stands talking in front of a bus station

    Kylie Collins wants more to done to help the homeless people living at the shell. (ABC South West WA: Jacqueline Lynch)

    “I have friends that are camped down there and they’re really struggling … maybe we can look at building something for them?

    “I think that should really be the priority rather than nice, big, green lawns.“

    April Hill, who has been sleeping in the area with up to a dozen others, said the planned changes had come as a shock.

    “It actually feels home to those who actually stay here,” she said.

    “A big change is going to make it all awkward, certain people are going to feel out of place, ” she said.

    “[And] You’re taking away people’s old memories, you’re destroying what they had here.”

    Graham Bricknell shell homeless camp

    The Graham Bricknell Music Shell will be moved. (ABC South West ABC: Jacqueline Lynch)

    Cr Miguel said he understood the significance of the music shell as the grandson of former deputy mayor Graham Bricknell — who the venue was named after.

    Mr Miguel said he was committed to relocating it.

    “It’s sort of strapped for room right now when we have big events,” he said.

    “It’s obviously very much important to maintain it, absolutely, and maintain it in my grandfather’s memory, but what’s the best use out of it going forward as well?

    “And how can we fully utilise that and the area?”

    Bunbury bus station with the sound shell in the background

    The bus station will be moved to another location in the city centre. (ABC South West WA: Jacqueline Lynch)

    He said he would work with rough sleepers and agencies on a way forward for the people living there.

    Investment into helping homeless

    The state government has since promised to expand homelessness services in the regional city.

    A day after the city’s plan was released, a further $3 million was promised to expand Anglicare’s Housing First Service in Bunbury, which links homeless people with health, financial, social and employment services.

    WA Homeless Minister Matthew Swinbourn said the services would be crucial in helping people into homes.

    “We know that these types of services transform lives and provide serious, long-term solutions for people who are experiencing homelessness,” he said.

    The Bicentennial Square plan is open for public comment.

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