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Cherbourg goes to work to provide great future by Marcus Priaulx 23 August 2013
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herbourg has moved towards having people own their businesses in town. Twenty employers, council and government officials met on August 15 to discuss how to make this a reality. It will involve Cherbourg people being involved in the development of enterprises. Should they prove their capabilities they will be given a chance to take the reigns as ownermanagers. “It will be a hand up, not a hand out,” Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council economic development manager Sean Nicholson said. “It will take a while but we want the school kids to graduate into employment where they can succeed. “We don’t want CDEP (work for the dole) to be a destination job. We want it to be a transition to a career or a job people love to do.” The first project is scheduled to be handed over in October. This will allow a local man to be promoted to the ownership of a cutting edge agricultural project. It will involve planting vegetables in charcoal and the control of their seedling temperatures so produce comes to market earlier and fetches top dollar. While the land and equipment will always be Cherbourg council’s the business will effectively become the current worker’s, who has earned his stripes for the past three years. The Yurri Muntha Café, cattle farm, joinery and other council
Building people, building a future: Qld Government’s Indigenous employment and training program coordinator, Petrina Villaflor, and Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council’s economic development manager, Sean Nicholson, are working with local business to provide a happier working future for Cherbourg’s people.
businesses may be operated in the same manner at a later date. It’s hoped success will bring other projects to the fore. “It’s a 20-year plan,” Mr Nicholson said.
“There are some great opportunities being developed. “At the moment we’re in the people building stage but laying the platform for a great future.”
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