2017-11-07 S&O Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 10 - Annual Report 2016-17

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




                                                                              Noosa Council | Annual Report 2016 - 2017
                                                                                                               Page 10