12 minute read
Strategy
Goal
A mature, diversified economy based on our unrivalled quality of life, our natural environment and our commitment to sustainability. We aim to build the economy to be more resilient to the peaks and troughs of the economic cycle and for our businesses, infrastructure and technology to have a reputation for sustainability and success, nationally and internationally.
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Principles
In undertaking economic development, there is a number of underlying principles that need to be addressed to ensure our people, lifestyle and environment are cared for and maintained, in keeping with the wishes of the Sunshine Coast communities and Council’s vision. In developing and implementing this strategy and any relevant sub-strategies, policies or action plans, Council will have regard to the key themes of:
• PEOPLE - A skilled, educated workforce is the driver of a sustainable robust economy. We will invest in our people to prevent economic and social exclusion and ensure that any barriers that prevent them from taking part in and enjoying the lifestyle are removed.
• LIFESTYLE - We will ensure that the economic development activities undertaken contribute to, and do not detract from, the current lifestyle enjoyed by residents and visitors, thereby ensuring that the Sunshine Coast is THE place to live and work.
• PLACES - We will seek to ensure that the right types of employment land are in the right places to suit employment types now and into the future. We will partner to create integrated employment and community places.
• VISITORS - We will develop a place that benefits our visitors and acknowledges the wealth they contribute to the economy and the diversity they contribute to our communities.
• DIVERSITY - We acknowledge the importance and value of diversity – both to develop resilience in our economy and also in the wealth and experience it creates in our communities. In creating diversity we will ensure that the Sunshine Coast has a supportive environment for business and innovation.
• EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS - Partnerships are vital to Council’s capacity to deliver economic development outcomes. Individually our roles and resources are limited in certain areas. By forming partnerships we can extend and multiply the effectiveness of our strategies and actions. Our partners provide different expertise, perspectives and resources and help to connect us to the diversity of our business communities.
Our key partners include:
• Queensland Government – Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) which incorporates Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) – Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP) – Education Queensland – Tourism Queensland – Sunshine Coast TAFE – Arts Queensland
• Australian Government – Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE), – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), – Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (DITRDLG) – Australian Council for the Arts (ACfA)
• Sunshine Coast Tourism Partnership
• Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast (RDASC)
• University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) and Central Queensland University (CQU)
• Chambers of Commerce
• Sunshine Coast Business Council
• Council’s own companies: – Sunshine Coast Airport – Sunshine Coast Enterprises – The Noosa Biosphere
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ)
• Priority Sector Peak Industry Bodies
1. COUNCIL’S CORE BUSINESS
In developing the new Planning Scheme, Council will have a view to ensuring the Sunshine Coast’s significant economic capabilities are protected. The following specific approaches will be adopted in the drafting the new Planning Scheme:
a) Land Use Planning
• Encourage development in specific areas to achieve employment diversity.
• Ensure the up-front provision of essential hard infrastructure, such as roads, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and public and freight transport that meets the future needs of business.
• Protect land and buildings with significant economic values and enable easier and faster development opportunities.
• Design centres and communities around integrated employment (commercial, industrial and home based) to achieve work, life and play, and reduce total carbon footprint.
• Actively protect rural viability by reflecting contemporary rural business functions, including those that work and service the land, support business services and innovative approaches to agriculture and businesses compatible with rural functions and living.
• Ensure that home-based businesses have the ability to grow and that legislative provisions are flexible to accommodate emerging trends.
• Provide urban corridors to link significant economic functions.
In drafting the new Planning Scheme, Council aims to support the establishment of new businesses and changes or expansion of existing business through a more streamlined approach. This will impact positively on the construction, retail and tourism sectors in particular.
b) Regulating - Local Laws and the Development Assessment Process
Local Laws and regulations can have both a positive and a negative impact on the business community. Where there is a conflict, Council will work to achieve a balance between the safety, amenity and aesthetic needs of the community and the business needs of the community. Council will ensure that unnecessary negative impacts are addressed wherever possible, including the reduction of red tape.
Council is aware of the critical impact that the development assessment process can have on businesses and an ongoing process to streamline and improve this function will be continued.
c) Funding
Council has a major capital expenditure program of over $750m for the 2009-2014 period which will result in the provision of significant infrastructure for the region, supported by an annual operating budget involving the purchase of goods and services to the value of $220m.
Council’s procurement strategy will continue to support the local economy. Where price, performance, quality, suitability and other evaluation criteria are comparable, Council will support an industry participant that engages in such local economic development and growth. Contracts are structured to accommodate the capability of smaller providers and Council monitors its spend with locally based companies on an ongoing basis. Support will be provided to local businesses to develop their capacity in responding to Council’s tenders.
2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
Council’s economic development initiatives have been structured to deliver on the five themes outlined in the Corporate Plan 2009 – 2014.
A Broad Economic Base - The key aim of this section is the diversification of the economy. This will be achieved by focusing growth on the 11 identified sectors of:
• AVIATION - Based around the Sunshine Coast Airport and building on existing companies in the areas of training, manufacturing, project management, design, maintenance services and charter services.
• CREATIVE INDUSTRIES - Building on an emerging capability in music, writing, marketing, architecture and design, visual and performing art. There will be a particular emphasis on building new media, film and TV, broadcasting, computer animation and video games, web design and music composition and production.
• DIGITAL INDUSTRIES - Building on the infrastructure of the University of the Sunshine Coast, the Innovation Centre, the ICT Learning Centre, and the delivery of hard broadband infrastructure.
• EDUCATION SERVICES - Using the 80+ schools, TAFE’s six local campuses and the University of the Sunshine Coast’s 150+ degree programs and Central Queensland University programs to grow the sector, as well as provide local educational programs. Building on the region’s education export business through visiting overseas students and provision of training overseas.
• ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - By using the natural environment and the Biosphere status of the northern sub-region to stimulate the continued growth of companies within the environmental technology sector.
• FOOD AND BEVERAGES - Building on a large rural productive area and leveraging off the tourism industry to increase the range of innovative food and beverage processing activities, fruit and nuts, seafood, baked goods, dairy products, food ingredients and horticultural projects.
• HEALTH AND WELL BEING - Using the population growth and the two major public and four private hospitals as well as the proposed Sunshine Coast University Hospital, there is scope for exemplary care facilities and services, medical facilities and supporting infrastructure together with opportunities for companies within the medical, business and innovation sectors.
• LIGHT INDUSTRIES - Building on a strong base of advanced manufacturing and metal fabrication businesses, particularly those in the environmental technologies sector.
• PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - Support services in the legal, accounting, finance, engineering, business consulting, public relations, architecture and recruitment.
• SPORT AND LEISURE - Building on natural training grounds and sub-tropical climate, and complementing the healthy lifestyle attractions of the region, over 100 sports fields, aquatic centres, surf life-saving clubs and Olympic rowing courses, together with educational facilities and educational courses.
• TOURISM AND EVENTS - Utilising the existing $1.5b tourism industry to continue to grow major world class events, we will use the visitor economy as a tool to generate business development and relocation.
It is not intended that the development of these sectors will be at the expense of jobs and GRP of the Tourism, Retail and Construction. The overall broadening of the economic base will contribute to and stabilise these three larger sectors.
a) A series of Sector Development Strategies will be produced and implemented in conjunction with a sector specific industry group.
b) In developing these sectors Council will invest in people by creating new employment opportunities across the skills base with a priority focus on job creation in new and growing sectors.
c) A skills development strategy will be developed that ensures a range of skills e.g. trade, as well as knowledge, are available to businesses. It will also seek to increase the level of skills to create a better skilled and educated workforce.
Working with our partners we will bridge skills gaps by developing people’s capacity for quality, well paid jobs by improving skills, improving the links between business and training, by targeting areas of higher unemployment, by retaining more graduates and encouraging the return of graduates:
a) Through a targeted Inward Investment Attraction process using business attraction tools such as a Business Attraction Prospectus, advertisements and marketing material, we will actively target potential investors through selling the region at key events and expos. We will also utilise regional champions to showcase the region on the national and international stage.
b) By examining emerging opportunities to further diversify the economy by utilising the possibilities of climate change adaptation options, such as energy production and other technological advancements including the possibility for involvement in regional carbon sinks and broader carbon trading initiatives.
c) By working in key partnerships including joint delivery with other levels of government and the private sector (such as the Clever Networks Broadband Infrastructure Project undertaken with the Australian Government and the private sector). Through joint funding (such as the economic study for the Sippy Downs Tech Park, co-funded by private sector partners and the University of the Sunshine Coast) and by talking the ‘same message’ and having the Business Attraction Prospectus agreed with regional stakeholders.
We will work with local, regional and national partners to develop networks that achieve our aim of “Australia’s most sustainable region – vibrant, green and diverse” and communicate that aim to those that may wish to assist in its achievement both within and external to the region.
Support for Local Business
a) Sunshine Coast Enterprises, Council’s wholly owned company, will deliver a series of programs and support services aimed at small to medium businesses in the region. These programs will address the development of business skills, improving economic performance, developing leadership and assisting in building capacity at the sector level. Council will actively help investment in the newer economic sectors through encouraging and supporting new business start-ups and retention of local businesses.
b) By using knowledge to advocate for, or help implement, key communications infrastructure such as roads, rail and digital networks.
c) By assisting in the creation of competitive urban centres through place-making programs in targeted centres.
d) By undertaking research into equity funding/business funding for new and expanding businesses with the aim of creating a regional funding scheme.
e) To ensure accurate data that is consistent and verified, we will seek to establish an online repository of business information called the Sunshine Coast Observatory. Initial work has already commenced on the Council website.
f) Through specific business sponsorship to provide promotional opportunities for local businesses we will celebrate success (such as the Sunshine Coast Business Awards) to provide visibility for all industry sectors.
Infrastructure for Economic Growth
a) Help facilitate the delivery of key hard infrastructure projects, including the provision of land for business establishment, growth and relocation.
By applying sustainable development principles, to minimise adverse impacts such as working through planning policies to secure sites for employment in appropriate locations, and by using catalytic projects to grow clusters of employment, such as at the Sunshine Coast Airport which will aid the diversification of the economy.
We will lead the way in providing the basis for a truly digital economy by implementing both the correct infrastructure and by providing access choices in a market environment.
We will help business to adopt high standards of design, including environmental and crime prevention best practice, by seeking to attract businesses that take environmental stewardship responsibilities seriously and those that lead the search to enable lower impact business.
b) Ensure that the economic advantages are maximised in key regional projects including: – Sunshine Coast Airport – Sippy Downs Town Centre and Business and Technology Precinct – Broadband provision in Cooroy, Sippy Downs and Maroochydore – Sunshine Coast University Hospital – Maroochydore Principal Activity Centre – Palmview – Caloundra South – Caloundra CBD – Kawana Town Centre – Beerwah Town Centre – Low Carbon Energy Technology Hub
c) Ensure that the economic advantages are maximised in key soft infrastructure projects such as leadership and governance, training, skills development and knowledge transfer, and sector development.
We will support the exchange of best practice between businesses, sectors, and with educational establishments that enable a more innovate, modern workforce.
A Sustainable Tourism Industry
a) Following on from the structural review of the Tourism sector, Council will establish a new regional tourism body to commence in July 2010.
b) A tourism and an events strategy will be developed with the industry with the aim of continuing to build major events and to grow the visitor economy.
A Strong Rural Sector
a) Through the Rural Action Plan and a Rural Futures Strategy, we will undertake projects that develop business support and incubation, including research to help guide training and advice, establish supply chain programs and ensure sufficient and appropriate land for business.
b) Undertake a project to develop the Local Food and Beverage sector by establishing a promotional brand/image/story, attending food festivals, expos, and looking at a regional awards scheme. Also, developing tourism and visitor trails.
c) Looking at investment options around the provision of rural broadband, signage, land use and skills development and training.
d) By engagement with the rural community through a joint Council/Queensland Government Rural Reference Group.
2. ADVOCACY FOR REGIONAL INITIATIVES
Council will work with other regional partners to identify those projects which have the potential to impact the regional economy, and will be a strong advocate for the economy, on behalf of the region. Projects currently identified include the University of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and the multi modal transport corridor.
