Annual Report 2021-22

                                                                                 2021 - 22 Annual Report

                       Theme - Noosa Economy
                       Corporate Plan Goal: Our economy is diverse
                       and resilient

Key achievements as we work towards our long term goal include:
Smart Biosphere – Economic Development Strategy
• The
  	  region’s new Economic Development Strategy,
  Noosa Smart Biosphere, was formally adopted by Council
  in November 2021 and launched to the business and
  wider community in March 2022.
• This
  	   post-COVID economic plan focuses Council on the
  development of a more diverse and resilient economy
  that delivers higher value, higher skilled employment
  opportunities.
• The
  	   evolution of Noosa as a Smart Biosphere is about
  connecting future focused and new technologies with
  Noosa’s strong environmental focus and credentials to
  meet future economic challenges. In a region where
  employment and industrial land is scarce, future
  economic growth in Noosa will be reliant on bold
  leadership, empowered ecosystems and enabling
  infrastructure.
Destination Management
•	Council’s Destination Management Plan (DMP) process
   is well underway and will be overseen by a Council endorsed Project Control Group, including
   representatives of Noosa Community and, an internal Advisory Group comprising of senior
   Council officers from across Council’s business units.
• In
  	 addition to the sourcing and consolidation of a significant range of primary and secondary data
  sets, key pieces of work that have been undertaken to inform a final plan include:
   o Development of a Noosa Story & Guiding Principles
   o Product Audit and Data Dashboard
   o Community Attitude (Sentiment) Survey and Focus Groups
   o Environmental Audit
• Extensive
  	         ongoing community and stakeholder engagement is a hallmark of a successful
  destination management process.
Peregian Digital Hub General Information
•	The Digital Hub core business is performing well - near full capacity with 37 monthly paid
   memberships and new tenants secured for all three private office spaces.
• The
  	   Hub continues to cultivate a strong local digital/innovation ecosystem, with growth across all
  digital industry groups, and 25 events delivered in the past 12 months.
Peregian Digital Hub Programs
• The
  	   Hub secured a further $960,000 of federal funding
  to support its Firetech Connect program - this includes
  two years of operational funding to deliver a series of
  technology trials.
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