ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Teona Cousin Manager Economic Development and Tourism 31 October 2019
WHAT IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? ‘A sustainable increase in living standards that delivers higher incomes, better education, health and wellbeing as well as environmental protection resulting from conscious and applied effort. At its core economic development is about improving the quality of life experienced in your community’ (LGAQ, 2012: 1).
4 MACKAY REGION FAST FACTS 47,975 116,539 WORKFORCE $7.9 BILLION POPULATION GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT $4.6 BILLION $69,386 ECONOMIC REGIONAL OUTPUT FROM PROVIDE GRP PER MINING AND OVER 1/3 OF CAPITA AUSTRALIA’S MANUFACTUING SECTORS SUGAR
THE RESOURCE BOOM: 2002 - 2013 High-growth period Source: IBIS World Business Environment Profiles, August 2017
THE BOOM AND MACKAY: 2002 – 2013 163 HECTARES 27,522 ADDITIONAL 27,694 ADDITIONAL JOBS OF INDUSTRIAL LAND PEOPLE (30% INCREASE) DEVELOPED 11,678 NEW DWELLINGS SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE 11,022 NEW RESIDENTIAL LOTS (32% INCREASE)
A shining light… Mackay’s approach to diversifying the regional economy through growth in the tourism industry has been undertaken in a coordinated and strategic fashion and has demonstrated the importance of playing to a region’s natural strengths.
WHAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS GROWTH?
THE FUN PROJECTS….
MACKAY REGION RECREATIONAL FISHING STRATEGY VISION Mackay Region will become one of Queensland and Australia’s premier recreational fishing destinations, renowned for our offer of superb fishing 365 days of the year. Where w THE OPPORTUNITY Great existing depth and range of fishing experiences but the net free zone is a game changer. Where w THE GOALS 1. Driving an increased economic contribution from recreational fishing 2. Increased recognition of the Mackay region as a premier fishing destination. 3. Improved species and habitat health 4. Reduction in the number of non-compliance reports e want to be?
Queensland State Funding In 2018 Council received $100,000 matched funding through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for the implementation and promotion of the Mackay Region Fishing Strategy and Net Free Zone. e want to be? Economic Development partnered with Mackay Tourism to deliver a number of initiatives aimed at developing awareness of the Mackay Region as a premiere fishing destination. Current initiatives focus on branding the regional fishing destination and highlighting the experiences available. To date focus has been on content creation and building local exposure and brand awareness. This local focus will shift in 2019/20 to intrastate markets. Branding, Content Creation and Partnerships e want to be? Push Linking with existing initiatives and events Signature Events
Branding, Content Creation and Partnerships ---> PUSH
Hooked on Mackay Website
Hooked on Mackay Fishing Shirts
Promotional Banners Promotional Fishing Lures
Qld and National Fishing Magazines
Mackay Region Fishing Guides
Welcome and interactive signs be?
Habitat Enhancement – Fish Hotels Brand Alignment and Strategic Partnerships Local events and support for local groups Media Famils
Voluntary Code of Conduct e want to be? Voluntary Code of Practice developed in collaboration with Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance. Taking the pledge encourages local and visiting recreational fishers to adopt sustainable and responsible fishing practices while fishing in the Mackay Net Free Zone e want to be? 454 subscribers since February Plan to use subscriber list to seek marketing content (i.e. local testimonials, local fishing stories) and use as database for six- monthly fishing newsletter.
Delivering a council wide focus e want to be? The Fishing Strategy has been successful in providing a Council wide focus on recreational fishing and the associated opportunities that exist within this industry. e want to be? A number of the Strategy actions are been undertaken outside of the State Funding allocation including: • Infrastructure, safety and lighting upgrades - $3M • Oxygenation of breeding grounds • Fish Barrier Removal Program • Sunwater and Council Camping Review (under investigation) e want to be?
THE BIG PROJECTS…
Mackay Region Mountain Bike Strategy VISION In 2018 the MTB Strategy was developed to identify and prioritise key projects, actions and deliverables to enhance, promote and manage the Mackay region's mountain bike industry. Where w THE OPPORTUNITY The region has tremendous potential to develop a mountain biking market underpinned by a unique and internationally significant trail town offering based around Eungella – Finch Hatton. Where w KEY ACTION Undertake a feasibility study for the Eungella-Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Park. e want to be?
Key Features — 11 individual mountain biking trails; — 2 Town Linking Pathways; — 4 mountain biking trails rated as ‘Easy’; — 5 mountain biking trails rated as ‘More Difficult’, a number of which could possibly be designed and built to offer optional ‘Very Difficult’ A -lines for advanced riders; — Each trail is single-direction. The proposed direction of travel for most of the trails is clockwise; — The total length of the trail network is approximately 100 km. — The trail network has been designed to use and ‘showcase’ the best terrain in the Finch Hatton - Eungella Region; — The trail network has been designed with a number of gravity specific trails, with the inclusion of a proposed shuttle road to offer the longest possible continuous descent.
Implementation Detailed feasibility and concept design Sep-19 Approvals Late-19 Tender for detailed design Early to mid-20 Tender for construction Mid to late-20
THE PROJECTS THAT CHANGE THE RULES….
RV Attraction
Why? o The camping market contributes over $7 billion annually to the Australian economy - Mackay region is missing out on a large portion of this market; o The needs of campers has changed with the dominance of self-contained vehicles; o Regulating free/lost cost camping is an issue affecting local governments across Australia; Industry feedback received that council’s regulations are cost prohibitive to o supporting new business development.; o The above is supported by a rise in number of unlawful operators who are responding to market demands; o Council direction to work with existing operators (lawful and unlawful) rather than council owned/managed RV sites.
Findings Council’s regulatory framework hasn’t been updated to take into account the 1. evolution of self-contained vehicles; 2. Several Queensland Council's (i.e. Toowoomba and Sunshine Coast) indicated that they are intending to update their regulatory frameworks; 3. To date, the Fraser Coast Regional Council is the only identified Council who have adopted an amended framework.
Planning Scheme Amendments Key components of the proposed amendment include: — The creation of administrative definitions for self-contained recreational vehicle ground and self-contained vehicle. — Reducing the level of assessment for self-contained recreational vehicle grounds in certain zones where undertaken as nature-based tourism or as part of an existing tourist park. — Inserting provisions related to self-contained recreational vehicle grounds into the tourist park and relocatable home park code. — Establishing a nature-based tourism code and creating provisions related to self- contained recreational vehicle grounds as well as provisions related to other forms of nature-based tourism. — Reducing the category of assessment for self-contained recreational vehicle grounds where affected by certain overlays.
Initiatives and Marketing ➢ $3.45 million investment in to new state of the art Visitor Information Centre located in Sarina at the gateway to the Mackay region
Initiatives and Marketing cont. ➢ Promotion of the Mackay Region in Caravanning Australia magazines. ➢ Provision of developer concessions for development involving tourism parks – one recent approval provide a $500,000 concession. ➢ Ongoing: • Engagement with CMCA and existing operators • Assisting rural showgrounds to navigate State approval for secondary use of showgrounds for camping • Collaboration with Mackay Tourism
THE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMMUNITY DRIVEN (WITH ECONOMIC OUTCOMES)…
AMP! Activate My Place ❖ The Mackay region is comprised of a mix of urban and rural area each with a unique character and community. These places are drivers of economic development, are a source of community pride and can encourage people to live, work, play and visit a location. ❖ The AMP Grant supports the enhancement of a place to enable social and economic returns through approved projects. ❖ AMP! offered grants to individuals or organisations to deliver programs, projects and/or events that enhance the amenity, activity and/or appearance of a place.
Slade Point Water Tower Mural
Fifth Lane Activation
MACKAY LANEWAY PROJECT
THE PROJECTS THAT THE COUNCILLORS LOVE….
THE PROJECTS THAT THE COUNCILLORS LOVE…. 47
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