It also introduces another key element to the story – the Big Picture is not only about 5 industries.

Twenty-six years ago, I was faced with a decision which is much more common to our young people now – to leave Tasmania and seek further experience elsewhere, or to continue to live and work in Tasmania. I had obtained my engineering degree at UTAS, and been heavily involved for some years with providing automation and control systems for large companies in Tasmania, and on the mainland. I could see no reason why we could not provide services to the same standard as any mainland company, and more cost-effectively.

Although many in the community would not associate Cromarty with the large manufacturers, our company now employs over 60 people directly in Tasmania, as well as others in Victoria and Queensland.  A very high proportion of these are graduates of UTAS, and TAFE. It is particularly significant that two graduates who joined us directly from UTAS are now Directors of the Company.

We hear much about how our state should be clean, green and clever and it is very satisfying to keep such a talented pool of our smartest people here. Not only that, but they are constantly being challenged and kept interested by being at the cutting edge of automation technology. Another popular misconception is that the big picture industries are “old, low- tech industries”. Try telling that to a Control Systems Engineer involved with fuzzy logic control of a furnace at Grange Resources, or controlling a continuous sheet of Norske-Skog paper moving through a paper machine at around 1 km per minute!

Another Tasmanian advantage is a very stable workforce. With a base of major companies, service companies such as ours are able to invest, and in turn take our services to smaller companies in smaller industries, which have more intermittent needs. Without base load provided by the larger companies, it is much more difficult to achieve the critical mass required.  Engineers, IT Professionals and Technicians at Cromarty gain experience in both large and small industries, and on large and small projects, which provides cross-pollination of ideas and further adds to their experience, flexibility and career development.

Cromarty is not unique in the Big Picture. There are many Tasmanian Companies who form another tier of business under the major manufacturers, who would either not exist, or operate on a much smaller scale without them. This is the win-win for both the large manufacturers who are able to source competitive, reliable products and services, and the service companies employing Tasmanians to provide them.

SEMF has grown with these local industries with offices in Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne and Sydney. We have maintained a strong presence and head office in Tasmania because our staff like to live here, and we have confidence in the underlying strength of the Tasmanian business sector.

Our people work on multi-disciplinary engineering projects throughout Australia, many of which rely on the high levels of experience and skills of our Tasmania-based specialists, who have been with us for many years. Example of iconic projects that our Tasmanian team have been involved with include mine approvals in Queensland, the moving roof at Etihad Stadium in Victoria, Gold ore stackers in Western Australia, Nestle Purine pet food factory in NSW, iron ore and manganese ship loader in NT and the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment in Tasmania. We also have a strong commitment to UTAS through the provision of engineering and environmental scholarships to support the development of the next generation of skilled professionals within Tasmania. The scholarships have typically extended to graduate employment within Tasmania, thereby retaining skills and young people within the State.

Not only do we support existing Tasmanian industry, which we consider vital to Tasmania’s long-term viability, we also work closely with new, small and large emerging industries for everything from engineering feasibility studies and environmental approvals, through to design, procurement, project management and commissioning.

We are also actively involved in community consultation to assist in community understanding and acceptance of new developments and for Tasmania’s existing ‘Big Picture’ and other industries. SEMF is committed to supporting Tasmanian industry, retaining strong engineering and environmental specialty skills in Tasmania and assisting with the positive dynamic momentum initiated by Take a Look at the Big Picture.

Industrial manufacturing started when the Bell Bay aluminium smelter opened in 1955. The smelter was the first built in the Southern Hemisphere. It began as a joint venture of the Tasmanian and Australian Governments, primarily to overcome the difficulties of importing aluminium during wartime. Over the decades and through collaboration, innovation and investment, the operation has grown from just 1200 tonnes of aluminium production in its first year to around 185,000 per annum today.

Bell Bay Aluminium has an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and driving efficiencies to ensure the ongoing viability of this important industrial infrastructure in our community.

Bell Bay Aluminium employs 460 people and approximately 20+ full time equivalent contractors. However on a typical day up to 100 other contractors undertake work at the smelter. In 2012 the smelter paid $53 million in salaries and wages and spent a total of $224 million (including $31.4 million capital investment) purchasing goods and services from 293 Tasmanian suppliers. Independent studies have demonstrated Bell Bay Aluminium contributes $690 million per annum to Gross State Product.

The Launceston Chamber of Commerce is very proud of Bell Bay Aluminium and all the team that run this plant. The investment over the years and the ingenuity of the Bell Bay team has ensured that the aluminium products manufactured are of a quality and specialisation to meet the needs of select customers with over 80% exported into Asia.

The employees and their families contribute significantly to our community. They buy products and services from local business, they support our schools, sports and community events. Bell Bay Aluminium sponsors various activities from local events to cultural assets that we could not afford to operate as a community without their support.

Thank you Bell Bay Aluminium and all the team – we want to see you continue to grow and prosper in our region!

A big part of our business is providing services to Industrial Customers with most of the revenue pushed back into the local economy. Many of our staff are reliant on supplying services to these businesses for their job and we understand more than most  that the success of our business is reliant on the customers we serve being successful.

What a great initiative and thank you from myself and on behalf of the 300 employees of Veolia in the State for telling what is a great story and one we all must share in order for the wider Tasmanian community  to also be as proud as we are of doing business in Tasmania.

While small and medium businesses are the engine room of the Tasmanian economy and provide employment opportunities for up to 90 percent of the States private sector workforce, this sector relies on major industry for its ongoing health and vitality. Tasmania’s major industries are crucial for small and medium business survival. The broad range of suppliers, retailers and service business that make up this sector would not exist if not for the major industries that they sell to and support. Tasmania’s transport infrastructure, our ports, roads and rail networks that serve all business and the community, would not exist without the production volume and scale of major industries. Similarly, our enviable electricity generation and associated infrastructure would be significantly more costly if it was not underpinned by the major industrial users. Indeed, our major industries help sustain local butchers, bakers, supermarkets and milk bars, hotels and restaurants and even doctors and dentists. As well, the economic activity the major industries generate and the taxes and royalties they pay fund many of the services provided by government. The reality is that the Tasmanian economy and community is best served by a strong major industrial sector supported by the myriad of small and medium businesses spread around the State.

Tasmanians are a wily bunch. Through our colourful history we have been at the forefront of many innovations and have punched well above our weight in many areas.

Our ancestors were not short on vision. Major schemes providing plentiful, cheap energy as well as ready access to water developed such as those developed through Hydro have had intergenerational positive impacts on our State. Along with an attitude of getting the job done, Tasmania had a history of attracting major sustainable industries offering a safe, stable and competitive place to do business.

Nyrstar (or the Zinc Works to many that still refer to its previous name), Norke Skog (or Boyer Paper Mill for many), Bell Bay Aluminium (or Comalco) and many others have employed thousands of Tasmanians for decades.

To this day they continue to innovate and make the raw materials for some of the world’s most exciting products. As Tasmanians have also all benefited from their work through the millions of dollars of wages, goods and services that are bought locally every day of the year.

Tasmania is a State that relies heavily on all aspects of its economy functioning well. Sustainable industries play a key role in ensuring the economic wheel keeps turning, in fact it is essential they thrive to allow us the flexibility to grow other industries. It is something as society we easily forget, but we should not take for granted.

Our sustainable industries are businesses that operate globally being exposed to currency markets and commodity prices. Without our ongoing support their ability to continue to invest, grow and further support every one of us is challenged.

We should not forget that approximately half of Tasmania’s exports by value come from just four companies. They alone inject over $300m in wages into our pockets every year, not a bad contribution.

The Big Picture campaign is a really positive approach designed to remind all of us of the ongoing contribution our States historic and proud sustainable industries make to our ongoing health and vibrancy.

A future Tasmania must continue to support, grow and attract sustainable industries while nurturing our other sectors that also have great long term appeal.