2015-12-14 General Committee Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 3 Noosa Shire Economic Plan

 A SWOT analysis was conducted at the public workshop of 25 May 2015 which noted the following:


                                                                                            •   Lack of available land for employment and economic
              •   Strong existing brand




                                                                          WEAKNESSES
                                                                                                uses
STRENGTHS




              •   Existing tourism market
                                                                                            •   Inflexible/old planning scheme
              •   Strong community
                                                                                            •   Insufficient broadband connectivity
              •   Strength and quality of local business people/
                                                                                            •   Reliance on tourism
                  residents
                                                                                            •   ‘Unfriendly’ business environment




              •   Maintaining the strong brand (and protecting it)



                                                                          OPPORTUNITIES
              •   Lost opportunities due to lack of broadband                               •   Tourism (potentially expanding and diversifying the
                  connectivity                                                                  local industry)
THREATS




              •   Increasing social inequality                                              •   Aged care/retirement living

              •   Inability to diversify the economy through high value                     •   Creative industries and digital technologies
                  activities                                                                •   Health and wellness
              •   Complacency                                                               •   ITC and professional services




 The consultation process revealed that the                                   •           Focus on outcomes – with an emphasis on
 community wanted to see an innovative, sustainable                                       activities and actions as opposed to more
 economy aligned to the Noosa brand. At the same                                          discussion or further planning.
 time, the community felt it was important that the
                                                                              •           Ensure accountability - and thus clearly articulate
 future economy:
                                                                                          goals for activities and who is responsible. It
   •        be viable and include a range of profitable                                   should be clear in terms of what the Council’s role
            businesses and good jobs                                                      in economic development is and what activities
                                                                                          the Council will be responsible for (and be held
   •        be focused on high value-adding economic
                                                                                          accountable for). Equally, activities and roles of
            activities, and
                                                                                          other organisations should be clarified and the
   •        have a more diversified economic structure.                                   same accountability measures be applied.

 Furthermore, they identified the need for this Plan                        A complexity in planning for community economic
 to:                                                                        benefit is engaging with and providing support for
                                                                            different age segments, for example youth, families
   •        Provide clarity and certainty - the private sector
                                                                            and seniors and the transition from one to the other.
            must be able to easily and quickly understand
                                                                            Each segment has different training and employment
            what the overall objectives are, aiding them to
                                                                            needs that should be catered for.
            understand how best to participate.




                                                                                                                  Noosa Shire | Local Economic Plan| Page 9