IN SHIRE archives – perhaps regularly read and considered, or perhaps not – is a report (a long-term planning report if I remember correctly) commissioned by the shire and carried out by American consultants.
And if I remember rightly, the aim of the work and resulting document was to report on what made up Toodyay in terms of population, demographics, the status of local business at that time and recommendations for future planning.
What impressed me in that report was reference to the imminent arrival of the NBN high-speed internet service and how this could make Toodyay a very attractive place to establish a new IT business hub.
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Well, here we are in mid-2020, the NBN is up and running and we are seeing quite dramatic workplace changes with many professionals and others now working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
For those hoping to see Toodyay at last reach its long talked about potential by being able to attract a new demographic of young professional families able to work from home, I’m hoping that the long-forgotten and perhaps costly planning report is being dusted off and reconsidered.
Just imagine – Toodyay could be sold, touted and promoted as WA’s very own Silicon Valley where the bright young tech savvy entrepreneurs – and their families – can not only develop the myriad of new digital tools we now take for granted but also benefit by living under clear, unpolluted skies while leaving congested city roads behind and giving themselves and their children a taste of wide open spaces.
Even though Toodyay is pretty bloody good in most respects, it could be so much more.
Our shire administration and councillors are the ones to bring about the changes needed in an ageing population to help secure our community’s future.
We need to recognise the potential to develop new business opportunities in our community and help create new jobs to sustain the local economy while at the same time retaining our uniqueness.
A big ask I know, but I have faith.
Barb Dadd
Toodyay
