By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A CASEY councillor has called on the council to attract more scientific and communications jobs in the municipality.
Most of the 47,649 local jobs are in retail trade, health care and social assistance, education and training, construction and manufacturing, states the council’s latest quarterly jobs and investment report.
According to REMPLAN employment data in March, ‘information, media and telecommunications’ was the lowest employing sector – aside from mining – supplying about 500 jobs.
The ‘professional, scientific and technical services’ employs just less than 2000.
Cr Sam Aziz said job numbers in those categories were “dwindling quite substantially” but could provide markets and opportunities.
“We still have some work to do, due to the changing nature of the Australian economy.
“I’d like to see more focussed reporting in that area.”
He spoke on the imminent digitalising access to the council – so that planning permits, dog registrations and other council processes could be done on residents’ smartphones and tablets rather than in-person.
“We’ve got to drive ourselves as hard as possible to keep that winning edge of distinguishment … to make our city a city of choice to live, work and raise a family.”
Cr Aziz told Star News that the project, in its early stages, would be implemented in 18 months.
“We are going to be able to offer everything in modern era technology to our residents.”
Cr Aziz praised the $9.8 million of commercial planning approvals – the Selandra Rise activity centre, Cranbourne Park expansion, Coles Berwick Southside and Casey Central expansion – in Casey during the June quarter.
The projects created 810 jobs – 330 of them during the construction phase, according to the council report.
