Preliminary analysis on the development of a cluster within the mining and engineering sector in the

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Preliminary analysis on the development of a
cluster within the mining and engineering sector
in the Orange, Cabonne, and Blayney region.Mr.
Mark Frost, Dr. Judith Crockett, Professor
Kevin PartonRural Management Research
InstituteCharles Sturt University / University
of Sydney
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Overview

• The Orange, Cabonne, Blayney (OCB) Region
• Background to the Pilot Project
• The Pilot Project
• The story so far..

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The OCB Region

• Consists of Orange, Cabonne, and Blayney local
  government regions
• 3 hours west Sydney, 3 hours NW Canberra
• Western and inland highway and rail access
• Population 2001 53,549, workforce 23,238
• Main industries mining, manufacturing,
  agriculture, Govt administration, and education

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Key Industries

• Historically manufacturing, processing and
  agriculture (orchards)
• Since 1990 downsizing in electrical metal
  manufacturing and food processing, abattoir and
  wool processing closures
• NSW DPI decentralized to Orange, mining, move
  from orchards to vineyards, education
• 1996 2001 OCB employment in line with State
  trends (20 29 and 40 49 down 4)

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Project Evolution

• Evolved from two sources Enterprise Development
  Brief and Skills Industry Project.
• Enterprise Development Brief OCB looking to
  facilitate rather than drive regional development
  as industry understands and responds best.
• Examined mining engineering, transport
  logistics, and viticulture.
• Recommended three potential cluster models
  skills incubator, network, training brokers

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Project Evolution

• Skills and Industry Project
• Funded by NSW SRDC, focus on training and
  retention of staff in engineering and fabrication
  sector in OCB
• Project team approached to conduct a pilot study
  within this latter sector with view to three
  recommendations of previous research
• University sought given independence, view of
  anti local government
• Seed funding provided by University of Sydney

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Project Evolution

• Two stages
• Stage 1 Survey of participants
• Establish Appetite for network
• Stage 2 Face-to-face Interviews
• Assist development

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Stage 1 - Project

• Survey 40 participants in the sector
• Three themes business outlook for the sector,
  views of network / cluster, barriers to both
• Key headings business overview, workforce,
  existing networks, future plans, future networks
• Database provided by Skills Project
• Seeking good, bad, and the ugly

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Stage 2 Face-to-Face

• Selected responses will be interviewed in more
  detail
• Uncertain as to final structure dependent on
  types and flavours of responses to survey
• Cross section of all responses
• Assist establishment and facilitation of network
  formation, role and function TBA

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Preliminary Results

• 40 surveys 8 returned, 3 processing, 16
  returned, 13 outstanding
• Mine is included but not received
• Larger operators not local but dominant
• Smaller operators have existing intra-sector
  network
• Staffing not a significant problem (small bias)
• Structured network defined goals outcomes,
  WIIFM, education on benefits, cluster?

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Key Questions

• Moving forward follow up 13
• Face to face interviews to include
• Are we in the right sector?
• Is there a quantum mass? Does this matter?
• Role of LGAs, University, TAFE, other groups
• Identify common goals, outcomes, barriers
• Local Government role
• Piggy back Skills Group of 11 participants