Attachment 5 - Economic Needs Analysis

                                                     Rufous St Master Plan Commercial Development


Digital Hubs are the next generation of co working spaces for regional areas, adjusted to meet local
demand, build relationships and achieve maximum global exposure.

5.3.1 Co-workers, Start ups
Peregian is already home to several successful IT entrepreneurs and tech businesses so there is
established skilled potential clients. A scan of the Sunshine Coast indicates that various localities
have established co working space within their population catchment. This site is located within easy
reach of a rapidly growing residential base.

There is the opportunity for singular consultants to collaborate on various projects through
networking.

There also has been identified a number of pre retired residents who maintain consultancy roles
with their former businesses or industries who would be interested in utilising the Digital Hub.

5.3.2 Mobile Worker
A number of major employers such as financial institutions are moving away from ‘bricks and
mortar’ regional offices to employing mobile worker representatives who retain contact through ICT
or the Cloud to stay connected.

5.3.3 National and international visitors
The Eastern Beaches of Noosa e.g. Sunshine/Castaways/Marcus/ Peregian and Coolum are holiday
destinations for range of professionals who own or rent holiday homes and or units and may wish to
maintain office contact from a remote site.


6       IT ENTERPRISE(S) WORKSPACE 350m2
A level of the proposed commercial development will be allocated to IT businesses that are going
concerns and employ professional staff. This would allow successful start-ups to migrate and
operate on a more traditional footing. It may nurture interaction between ‘co-workers, start-ups’
and successful businesses. The types of businesses could include a range of enterprises that have IT
at the heart of their operation. This may include creative type industries online interactive education
etc but would exclude or limit face to face dealings with customers.

Should the enterprises be successful and/or other like businesses are attracted to Peregian a logical
extension would be to convert the present community house to this type activity by firstly
developing a new Community House within the precinct.


7       ANCILLARY COFFEE SHOP / OFFICE 30sqm
It is envisaged a small coffee shop with office space be established on the ground floor with
exposure to the car park and the public open space.

The primary customers for this will be users of the IT Enterprises and the coworkers /startups etc.
plus participants at the Community House, and the users of the Public Open Spaces. It is noted there
is no such facility on the western side of the David Low Way so that there is likely to be some casual
use from the local neighbourhood, cycle groups, and employees and customers of the Marquesas
development as well.