Welcome to our exclusive interview series highlighting the remarkable leaders and voices behind the success stories of the Western Trade Coast (WTC). Join us as we delve into insightful conversations with those who are driving positive outcomes and shaping the future of the WTC region.
Hello today we're sitting down with longtime director Chris Oughton from the Kwinana Industries Council. Chris has been director for over 17 years and has seen a lot of change over that time, projects being planned, created, implemented and in some cases close down.
The industrial area and close community (Rockingham/Kwinana) itself has grown from 10,000 to 200,000, with five foundation major companies to well over 50. So land development housing community even the councils themselves with each passing government, has seen many changes. Technology and innovation has been a huge change and with that the industries that come along have adapted too over time. What started out way back when with BP and Alcoa, no one would have ever seen or imagined the likes of lithium, hydrogen, battery materials, manufacturing ,construction, oil and gas that and other services exists now on the Western Trade Coast.
With 7 Prime Ministers and 4 Premiers, I am sure the political Landscape evoked a lot of change over that time too.
So we are making the most of this opportunity with Chris, because we don't think that there is anyone around that has his knowledge, network, or understanding of the Western Trade Coast.
- So Chris when did you start at Kwinana Industries Council and what was it like, the scenery, the number of companies and what was your day-to-day routine like?
I started at KIC on my first working day in February 2007. It was a pretty challenging time really, because even though I had some industry experience, I was mixing with industry people who had far more knowledge that I did. I reckon it took the good part of a year before I started finding my feet. Back then KIC only had the two staff, my EA and I. There were 9 main company members of the Association and another dozen or so associate members, the smaller companies.
There was a lot of spare land available for new heavy industry proponents to set up, and I encountered a lot of issues to resolve for the members. Amusingly, well that’s probably not the right word, but I’ll use it, some of those issues are still on the list to be fixed… yep, and one of those is to get the industrial buffer zone protected. You wouldn’t think it was that hard, but add the influence of some property developers who want it for residential housing, and sensible land use planning seems to go out the door.
You asked about what the day to day routine looked like. Well, the work that comes to mind is ‘unpredictable’. It still is today mind you. I work with a daily plan, a weekly plan, a monthly plan and a yearly plan. It has to be like this because there are so many players that getting stuff done can take ages longer than it should take. Actually, that’s what I love about the job – the planned approach going in, and the roll with the punches during. Yes this makes it hard, but it makes the victories all that much sweeter.
- So over the years there must be some major milestones either with the projects that started, the companies perhaps coming from overseas and setting up shop here or the industries that you never would have imagined back then to be set up today. What are a couple of the major milestones to you?
Major milestones, now that’s got me thinking. I have to say these have been few and far between, that’s why they’re called major I guess, and really, the stuff I deal with is probably better described as issue-based journeys. Ok, so
- The first has gotta be about stalling the erosion of the buffer zone – that was in north Rockingham, south Cockburn and in Mandogalup. The battle isn’t over, but by crikey, it nearly is, and the buffer is largely intact and stronger for my persistent and increasingly focused and at times, courageous efforts.
- Then there’s incoming companies. The industrial area tours that for years I’ve been offering to companies looking for a location to set themselves up in gave me the opportunities to spruik the comparative benefits of Kwinana. Many chose Kwinana because of what we have to offer, and today they are members of KIC.
- The new port in Kwinana – I reckon I can claim some small part in the decision to move the Fremantle port operations to Kwinana. I’ve been a strong and vocal advocate of that for the last three times the move was proposed by different governments. Still am, and loudly so. Why? Because aside from just making sense, with the new port comes the resolution of so many of the industrial area's key constraining infrastructure issues.
- Here’s a biggie – from scratch, building the idea to create our Education Development Program. Taking it from inception and over 12 years building it to what it is today – huge for industry’s supply of work-ready pre-apprentices, huge for its impact on the 200 or so year 10 kids that do our career awareness programs, and huge because of the cumulative effect over those years its had on families in our region. Long may it continue.
- You know, I do need to mention Anketell Road. This is the road that currently goes from Kwinana to the Tonkin Highway. It will be Westport’s main heavy freight artery from the new dock in and out to the Tonkin, like Leach Highway is to the Fremantle port. Can you believe Main Roads was planning for this ‘freight freeway to have 8 sets of traffic lights and 4 roundabouts. Yes, I kicked up, as I do, and now it is designed with none of either – the trucks won’t need to stop – I turned a future traffic debacle into a very sensible outcome that will serve as opposed to constrain the new port – yes, that’s a biggie.
- And on a personal note, getting my PhD thesis in to the examiners. Basically, its about how you get an industrial precinct to hum, to be conducive to business. And yes, there is a trick to it.
- So back then I think time had a different meaning for example a project might take three years or five years to implement and today maybe it only takes a year. Do you think that the process has improved?
For industry, time has always had the same meaning. Time means money. You asked if I thought the process had improved. Well, industry will take as little time as it can and is sensibly to do all the pre-planning for its projects. That’s not where the issue is. The issue is in the time it takes to get through the third party approvals – environmental, regulatory, planning conditions, and on it goes. So, the short answer to your question is no. The long answer is no, not in a fit. To be honest, in my 17 years with KIC, I have never known the regulatory approvals process to be so bad as it is now. I’m not alone in saying this, and I know that for sure. There has to be a better way to do this, because it is suppressing WA’s opportunities for growth.
- Where do you see the future of industry because with technology these days, everyday things are changing so fast?
Well, my observation is that industry as a collective is always reinventing itself. It responds to technological changes, market conditions, and societal trends. Taken individually, a company bursts through the next round of advancements so that it can continue to operate efficiently, and so that it has a market to sell into. Those that don’t or can’t, fade away. Robotics isn’t as uncommon as you might think it is in industry – for example robotic technology is used to accurately assess the condition of the insides of existing pipelines, and much more. Digitisation to run complex advanced manufacturing processes has replaced the need to swing sledgehammers at valves to open them – it’s basically the press of a button now. Modernisation is, as it always has been, a continuous journey of forward-facing steps, and this will never stop.
- Renewable energy and Net Zero plays a huge part with industry on the western trade coast what are your thoughts on that?
There ain’t no doubt about that. I think it has become KIC’s number one strategic issue to resolve. Of the major industrials, I don’t know one that hasn’t allocated serious resources to solving their decarbonisation journey. There are major new business opportunities to be exploited within this this phenomenon, and many are pursuing these. You know the interesting thing though? The Net Zero policy movement is not the driver for industry like you might think.
The driver is decarbonise or eventually you won’t have customers for your products. It’s about a company’s financial sustainability. To achieve decarbonisation goals, we need to see a massive increase, 400-500% in fact, in the energy supplied to industry. It’s got to be green, base load and cost competitive. And certainly the governmental policy makers don’t seem to understand this. The current trajectory to 2030 emission reduction targets is target missed – and by a long way.
So, here’s the rub. If the State’s energy mover hasn’t got the transmission infrastructure in place to get to Kwinana, industry there can’t decarbonise. All the wind and solar energy production that Kwinana needs has to actually get to where it is used. The poles and wires, and the government’s reluctance to let third party private transmission lines be built, owned, and operated, is actually the problem. Industry can decarbonise if it has the green electricity and hydrogen needed to power their processes.
- And to wrap up what are some words of wisdom that you can leave us with?
For industry in Kwinana – keep the voice of your Association focused on the issues that you need resolved, and don’t back away from where you have progressed to. Keep the faith.
To the government and its departments. Move from command and control, a leadership style that is clearly failing on so many fronts, to become facilitators of the progress that industry is trying desperately to make. You do not have the answers, industry does, it knows what it needs to do, just help them to achieve your policy and statutory targets that you set for them to achieve. You need to understand thus, you are standing in the way of progress.
And what does the future look like for Chris?
Well, it’s not sitting on an ever-expanding posterior watching Judge Judy or Dr. Phil. I will actually stay connected to my beloved industrial area and its people where I can. I’ll be around to give my knowledge when asked and I’m going to assist organisers of industrial precincts in other jurisdictions (including internationally) to get their industrial precincts humming along – so much to do and so little time….
I have two of my three children and six grandies between them, living in London and New Zealand, so travel for Carol and I is on the agenda. The red dirt up through the Centre – that’s turn right somewhere north east of Kal beckons us, and I’ve said “yes ‘ to a couple of local small industry boards. My ominponic existing and somewhat neglected (permaculture/aquaponics/hydroponics, fruit trees and vege gardens, eggs and honey) 'existing and somewhat neglected' production departments at home, await some attention, and of course my home brew (best in the country) production facility awaits expansion…I might even have time to read the Fin Review.
We thank Chris Oughton for his time for such an in-depth interview, and to share so much knowledge.
We wish him well on his future travels and no doubt – our paths will cross many times along the Western Trade Coast.
Interview with Chris Oughton (ex-Director pf the Kwinana Industries Council) and Esther Anderson (Western Trade Coast Business Network) April 2024
Esther Anderson interviewing Chris Oughton - April 2024