Annual Report 2019-20

          Noosa Shire Council                                                                                                                                                              2019 - 20 Annual Report


  •	Council has been a key driver in
     the local business response to the
     coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic.
     Initiatives included:
    •	Establishing a Business
       Roundtable with representatives
       from local business associations,
       State and Federal Govt agencies
       and other key stakeholders.
       The group provided a forum for
       business support, advocacy and
       the distribution of Covid-safe
       information for local businesses.
    •	Providing a subsidised Business
       Support Panel which offered
       mentoring and free specialist
       business advice to affected
       businesses.
    •	Developing a 9-point Business
       Recovery Framework to drive the
       post-Covid economic recovery.
    •	Providing fee relief to businesses
       and organisations and reducing
       payment terms to seven days for                                                                     •	Council enhanced communications with the business community via a direct bi-monthly Economic
       local suppliers.                                                                                       Development e-newsletter. Council’s business webpages were updated to provide a one-stop
    •	Responding to the need for                                                                             portal for local businesses including a business events calendar, grants information, Federal and
       protective health equipment,                                                                           State government support programs and local economic data and statistics.
       the Digital Hub team, created
                                                                                                           •	Noosa Council hosted 15 businesses and individuals to celebrate local success in the Sunshine
       over 500 face shields using 3D
                                                                                                              Coast Business Awards (6 wins), GovHack competition and other achievements. Those recognised
       printing equipment for front line
                                                                                                              included: iExpeditions, Noosa Beach House, Provectus Algae, In Noosa Magazine, RACV Resort
       medical workers on the Sunshine
                                                                                                              Noosa, Gravity Fit, Food & Agribusiness Network, Fireball International, Create Noosa and
       Coast.
                                                                                                              Earthtech.
  •	In response to the 2019 bushfires, the Digital Hub developed the Firetech Connect Program which
                                                                                                           •	The Economic Development team provided support to businesses and associations including
     is helping to develop communities’ bushfire resilience by fast-tracking the commercial readiness of
                                                                                                              one-on-one meetings to better help businesses navigate Council functions and requirements and
     promising companies; and connecting, informing and supporting the sector’s transformation. The
                                                                                                              providing guidance on strategic planning and the development of business plans. A highlight
     Hub was awarded a $100,000 Incubator Support Grant from the Federal Government to support
                                                                                                              included supporting the establishment of the Sunshine Beach Business Association.
     Firetech 2020, a commercialisation program for early stage companies working on fire related
     technologies.                                                                                         •	Council facilitated GovHack, a federal government initiative that encourages technology minded
                                                                                                              individuals to develop solutions to some of our biggest societal problems. Noosa once again over-
  •	The Economic Grants program provided $21,500 for a range of projects that support the local
                                                                                                              represented itself in this national competition with the local event attracting over 40 participants,
     economy. The recipients included Slow Food Noosa for the Snail of Approval Program, Noosa
                                                                                                              generating seven projects with one national prize winner and two honourable mentions and two
     Open Studios for social media training for local artists, Noosa Hinterland Expo support, and
                                                                                                              runners-up prizes.
     Earthtech for the International Challenge.




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