2016-17 A Year in Review

Corporate Plan Theme 3: The Noosa Economy
“Our economy is diverse and resilient”
Key achievements as we work towards our long term goal include:

   The design of the Peregian Beach Digital Hub was            Council continued to work closely with Tourism
    completed and town planning approval obtained.               Noosa to develop the Noosa Tourism market. In
    Council was successful in obtaining $1 million of            particular, Council provided significant input into the
    funding from the State Government. Associated                development of the Noosa Tourism Strategy 2017 -
    road works and parking in Rufous Street have                 2022 adopted by the Tourism Noosa Board. This
    substantially been completed and preparatory                 strategy included a focus on “value over volume” in
    works have commenced on the Digital Hub building.            relation to tourism so that the focus is on yield per
    Tenders have been called for the management of               visitor rather than simply more visitor numbers.
    the Digital Hub component of the building and in            Council continued to work closely with Regional
    addition, Council has submitted an application to            Development Australia (Sunshine Coast) on a
    the Commonwealth under the Building Better                   range of projects including a successful
    Regions Fund for additional work associated with             entrepreneurship program.
    the project.
                                                                Council undertook an audit of footpath trading
   Council appointed an Economic Development                    across the shire and also provided information to
    Manager who has brought significant experience               the operators while the audit was being undertaken.
    and focus to our economic development programs.
                                                                Council worked with the private sector to assist with
   Council undertook a detailed review of the proposal          the establishment of Innovative Noosa. This is part
    from CCIQ Noosa for a Noosa Convention and                   of a regional program that attracted significant
    Cultural Centre. Council recognised that such a              funding from Advance Queensland to develop
    proposal could have potential economic benefit but           innovation on the Sunshine Coast.
    identified that the cost of construction and operation
    should not be borne by Noosa ratepayers but                 Council continues to manage our Holiday Parks
    rather, Council expressed a willingness to consider          including awarding a new three-year contract for the
    financial options driven by the market.                      management of the Noosa River Holiday Park.
                                                                 During 2016/17, Council also commenced a
   Council undertook its first Economic Development             process to redevelop the Noosa North Shore
    Grants Program providing financial support for               Beachfront Campground including the development
    programs that will support the outcomes of the               of concept designs and sorting out tenure issues.
    Local Economic Plan.
                                                                Council undertook its three yearly review of
   Council entered into a Memorandum of                         commercial high use permits and following a tender
    Understanding with the Small Business Solutions              process, awarded new permits for the operation of
    section of TAFE Queensland to provide support for            commercial activities on Council controlled land in
    training and development of local small businesses.          the Hastings Street precinct.