![Greater Taree City Council general manager Ron Posselt speaks at the Mid North Coast [Connected] launch on Monday.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/2831e225-3e2b-4b07-a5c3-18edd8879a7b.JPG/r0_0_1772_1181_w576_h298_fmax.webp "Greater Taree City Council general manager Ron Posselt speaks at the Mid North Coast [Connected] launch on Monday.")
"THIS shows we all need to work together if we want development."
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Greater Taree City Council's general manager Ron Posselt welcomed the launch of the 2016 Mid North Coast [Connected] investment prospectus, which took place at the council chambers.
In his presentation, he said responsibility comes back to the role of government in planning and looking at the long term.
"The drive from Taree to Coffs Harbour is magnificent.
"We sometimes forget what a jewel we have here and we need to manage it properly."
For Greater Taree, he said aviation is an important industry.
"Port Macquarie is the commercial centre with flights of significance.
"We don't need that. But they don't have general aviation, which is also important."
That is where Taree and Kempsey come into the picture and offer services that are different but also complement those at Port Macquarie.
Freight is also a growing industry and he said that over the next 20 years, the amount of freight on the Pacific Highway is set to rise by about 83 per cent, while general car usage will rise by about 50 per cent.
"We need to manage it and it is the responsibility of government."
He spoke about the plan for a three step hop from Sydney to Brisbane that will include Taree and Grafton.
"It maintains the safety of the driver and gives development for regional business in places you want it."
He said planning for the future needs to be "so much better".
Mr Posselt also sees great potential in the horticulture industry in Manning Valley over the next 20 to 30 years.
He said the publication of the investment prospectus gives opportunity during the next 12 to 18 months to move forward and get connections going across the region.
"We need to be dynamic and we need to be responsive and reactive to the market."
Greater Taree City mayor Paul Hogan, who was in attendance at the launch, said council will be working hard with Regional Development Australia and local members of parliament to encourage the growth needed in the area.
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