Vision for 'first city in the Kimberley'

Broome is expected to become the "first city in the Kimberley" with a lifestyle to be envied, a powerful parliamentary committee examining the development of northern Australia has heard.

More than a dozen parties made submissions to MPs sitting on the Joint Select Committee in the town last week as part of its first public inquiry investigating development in the Kimberley.

The committee is due to deliver its final report and recommendations to Parliament on July 6, once information from a series of community hearings is considered.

The Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Shire of Broome, Broome Port Authority, Broome Airport, Australia's North West Tourism and Kimberley pastoralist Jack Burton were among those who made submissions.

BCCI president Tony Proctor said that as the region's largest town, Broome had been supported initially by the pastoral industry and subsequently by pearling and aquaculture.

Mr Proctor said Broome was a natural location for a logistics hub because it already had a deepwater port, an international airport and an excellent road network that would service the gas and oil industries crucial to driving future economic growth.

"In an economic sense, further development of the Port of Broome and the Broome International Airport (if required in the future) would serve development of the region more effectively," he said.

Mr Proctor said the availability of accommodation in Broome should also be recognised for the support of offshore crew transfers from the Browse Basin as well as rig evacuations in cyclones.

Shire of Broome president Graeme Campbell said the liveability of the town was a vital part of the council's verbal submission.

"There is enormous potential for people to live here and fly out, whether that is on-shore or off-shore with the oil and gas industries," he said.

"Combine that with Broome's beautiful weather, stunning Kimberley get-away locations, the fishing, the sports and social facilities and places like the majestic Cable Beach, and you have a match made in heaven for people from all walks of life."

Broome International Airport chief executive Nick Belyea said Broome had the opportunity to welcome oil and gas as a second major industry to complement tourism, which would eventually help to retain or increase airline schedules, including a future international service.

Australia's North West Tourism chief executive Glen Chidlow said his presentation centred on raising awareness of affordable access to the region, much-needed infrastructure investment, land tenure issues and the additional cost of doing business in the North.

The Federal Government plans to prepare a White Paper by September to guide future development of the region.