Mandurah and the Peel region is suffering an acute hang-over in the wake of the state’s mining boom, with new research showing 40 per cent of locals had been made redundant or had their careers disrupted by the slow-down.
The research, which was commissioned by the Committee for Perth policy think-tank, also found Peel residents are more pessimistic about their economic futures than people in Perth.
Committee for Perth chief executive Marion Fulker said 64 per cent of Peel residents said they would struggle to meet a 5 per cent increase in living expenses.
In the Peel region, 59 per cent of residents did not expect their quality of life to improve and only 19 per cent of people expected growth in household income or real wages.
“The mining, energy and construction boom lasted over a decade and as a community we have forgotten what it is like to live in what would be described as a normal economy,” Ms Fulker said.
“Many people expected and were given wage rises every year and saw the value of their assets like a home and shares constantly increase.
“Post-boom, this just isn’t the case anymore which has made life painful for many.”
Ms Fulker was concerned there was no economic development strategy for Perth and Peel region, which led the Committee for Perth to commission the research into the post-boom economy, and she said Mandurah in particular was struggling in the wake of economic slow-down.
“In the Peel region, particularly once the rail went there, you’ve kind of got this dormant suburb where you’ve got people who are unemployed and retirees who are staying during the day and a huge proportion of the population leaving during the day to go to work elsewhere,” she said.
“So how do you create the jobs of the future for that region?”
The lesson for policy makers was that Peel household incomes were fragile and couldn’t take any shocks.
“If interest rates went up, fuel prices went up and electricity and utility prices went up, we would have a lot of people in our community under threat and particularly in the Peel region,” Ms Fulker said.
“We have to give careful consideration to the things that government can control because otherwise we would be a community that will be incredibly disaffected post-boom.”
But the news was not all bleak, with the research showing many of Mandurah’s retirees were still looking to work part-time, mentor younger workers or volunteer.
“A fair proportion of retirees felt forced out of the workforce and still have something left to contribute,” she said.
“They still want to give something to the community rather than just retiring and pursuing hobbies.”
Committee of Perth survey of Peel residents
- 64 per cent would struggle to meet a 5 per cent increase in expenses
- 59 per cent don’t expect their quality of life to improve over time
- 19 per cent expect household income growth
- 19 per cent expect real wages growth
- 47 per cent were working in the industry they want to be in
- 44 per cent were working in the career they want to be in
- 41 per cent believe they’ll be working in the same industry in five years
- 54 per cent think they’ll end up working multiple jobs
- 61 per cent think career opportunities would be better elsewhere
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
