LUKE Hartsuyker said yesterday the North Coast should become a service delivery hub for corporate Australia.

Speaking at his campaign launch at the Coffs Harbour Deep Sea Fishing Club, Mr Hartsuyker said one of his most rewarding experiences as the Member for Cowper so far had been the expansion of the Centrelink call centre in Coffs Harbour, which now employed about 400 people.

The Nationals MP said this success, which had created about 250 extra jobs, could be replicated in other government departments and commercial activities.

“It is the largest single-purpose call centre in Australia and it highlights why call centres and back office government and corporate services should not be located in a metropolitan area,” he said.

“This region has competitive advantages that will enable it to make a real contribution to Australia’s economic future.”

Mr Hartsuyker said the region was ideally placed to fulfil this role, with its desirable location, jet airport, university, pool of retirees and diverse industries. He said such a hub would deliver huge benefits to the region without government subsidies.

He said he also believed Bellingen Shire could become a solar region under the Coalition’s Solar Towns program and he wanted to ensure small hydroelectric projects, like those believed to have considerable potential for the Dorrigo area, received ‘equal billing’ to other forms of renewable energy.

“The Coalition is committed to delivering practical environmental outcomes, which through such initiatives such as the Green Army, will employ people to do meaningful environmental work,” he said

Mr Hartsuyker said the Coalition was committed to delivering additional funds under Auslink 3 to accelerate the upgrade of the Pacific Highway