2016-11-08 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

    1              Executive Summary


Noosa is recognised as one of Australia’s most desirable       Noosa Shire has an unemployment rate of 7.3%. Gross
places to live, work and visit, thanks to its outstanding      Regional Product was $2.6 billion in 2013-14. This has
beauty, mild subtropical weather and enviable lifestyle        grown 2.5 % per annum over the past 5 years which is above
opportunities. A strong economy is one of the essential        that of the SEQ Region at 2.2% and 2.1% for the State.
elements necessary to sustain this. This Plan looks beyond
tourism-driven economic growth and employment,                 This Plan identifies: industry diversification; effective land
towards a more resilient and diversified economy.              use planning; enterprise support; essential infrastructure;
Furthermore, it complements existing community values          skilled and connected businesses and implementation;
while considering opportunities for careers and businesses     and monitoring and reporting as key themes to achieve
to flourish.                                                   diversification. Healthcare and wellness, digital economy,
                                                               environmental industries, rural enterprise, creative
The Noosa Shire Local Economic Plan’s aim is to broaden        industries and professional services are recognised as
the economic structure of the local economy by achieving       priority industry sectors of competitive advantage that
growth in ‘smart’ industry sectors that offer high economic    will support economic growth and provide employment
value and low environmental impact. Particularly those         opportunities.
that export outside of the Shire and align with our
environmental and social values.                               This Plan was developed consistent with Council’s
                                                               sustainability principles and in collaboration with the
Fundamental to a shift towards a smart economy is the          community. Community opinion was sought via two public
attraction and retention of skilled and talented people, and   workshops and through Council’s on-line community
the development of collaborative institutional alliances and   engagement portal, Your Say Noosa. A Project Focus Group
connections.                                                   made up of representatives from the community, business
                                                               and industry reviewed information obtained during
Noosa’s economy relies significantly on the tourism, retail    community consultations. The Group then identified gaps,
and construction sectors and is home to approximately          and contributed, tested and prioritised ideas.
7,400 businesses, which are mainly small or micro
businesses. It is also home to a range of very successful      The delivery of this Plan will be the result of collaborative
entrepreneurs and skilled businesspeople.                      projects undertaken in partnership with business, industry
                                                               and government agencies, as well as business representative
Noosa has an ageing population. In 2011 the median age for     groups and organisations. The Action Plan will be reviewed
the Shire was 46 years compared to 38 and 36 years in the      annually and updated to reflect the outcomes of the review.
South East Queensland Region and the State respectively.       As part of the annual operational planning and budget
                                                               process, an Implementation Plan will be developed, that
Three of the top 5 employment sectors in Noosa are primarily
                                                               describes priority initiatives and identifies partners or lead
geared towards providing for local residents and tourism
                                                               agents where known.
driven industries. They are retail, accommodation & foods
services, and construction. The retail and accommodation
and food services sectors also offer the lowest wages, and
this, combined with high proportion of part-time work in
the region, sees Noosa Shire report a median household
income below that of the SEQ Region and the State.



                                                                                         Noosa Shire | Local Economic Plan | Page 5