2021-12-13 GC Agenda - Item 9 - Attachment 1 - Draft Economic Development Strategy 2021-2030

5.6.3. Enabling Infrastructure
Industrial and commercial land supply is a key enabler of economic growth. In the SEQ
Regional Plan 2017 and the Noosa Plan 2020, land zoned for business and industry is
limited to within the urban boundary of the Noosa Shire, and therefore a finite resource. In
this constrained environment it is important to use our existing land resources efficiently,
sustainably and future proof development to be adaptive and allow for new technologies.

With Accommodation and Food Services, Construction, and Retail as established mature
key industry sectors within the local economy, the opportunity exists to pursue future focused
industry development and expand opportunities for higher skilled employment in the Shire
through niche projects.

To support increased diversification of the local economy, opportunities exist to explore
demand driven development in employment zones including the remaining stages of the
Noosa Business Centre, particularly the innovation zone; the former Bowls Club site in
Noosa Junction, and Council and State Government owned land and facilities. This will
support the continued development and maturity of business ecosystems, where
specialisations emerge, and the acceleration of technology based industry 4.0 and
associated skill development, capacity building and research occurs.

Business hubs play a key role in enabling businesses within the ecosystem to take
advantage of specialisations and accelerate development. Hubs provide an anchor from
which businesses collaborate, build capacity and scale. The Peregian Digital Hub is an
example of this, and in just three short years and despite the impacts of Covid-19, 40 new
FTE roles have been created in member companies and 10 new part time jobs enabled. 3
new businesses created at the hub and 2 businesses accelerate out of the hub.


 Enabling Infrastructure
 Strategy: Develop initiatives and opportunities for collaboration with the aim of influencing
 the development and redevelopment of key business and industry sites across the shire to
 deliver high value employment opportunities in future focused industries, and attract
 investment and talent.

 Headline Actions
•   Progress the establishment of the Future Skills Learning Hub concept to determine
    feasibility, potential funding and operational models.
•   Progress the second stage of development of the Peregian Digital Hub – construction
    and operation.
•   Actively collaborate with industry, developers, and state and federal government
    agencies to actively influence outcomes from the development of the Innovation Zone
    at the Noosa Business Centre.
•   Working with stakeholders, facilitate a process to explore funding mechanisms, models
    and partnership opportunities to fund the development of economic infrastructure.
•   Undertake a commercial and industrial land demand review to inform discussion on
    future employment land availability and Councils response to the South East
    Queensland Regional Plan review.
•   Undertake a review of Council and State owned land zoned for industry and
    commercial development to determine how these assets are best used for community
    benefit.
•   Engage with business, the development industry and relevant stakeholders to actively
    influence development of remaining employment land stocks.
•   Explore the Community Wealth Building models to activate community economic
    development opportunities.

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