The development players: Nationally important industry and regional economic change

This paper focuses on the relationships underpinning regional economic development and specifically the establishment of new, nationally important industries. It draws on historical data on the development of mineral sands mining in the Capel area, south-western Australia, and negotiations around the establishment of a new mineral sands industry in western Victoria, Australia. It identifies key development players people and organizations directly involved in negotiating the regional development process and describes the relationships among them. The paper then shows how these relationships, seated in particular contexts, influence the process of establishing new regional industries and ultimately determine the kind of regional development that takes place.