oneOutback Prospectus

Disclaimer This report was prepared by SC Lennon & Associates Pty Ltd on behalf of the Outback Communities Authority (OCA). It has been prepared on the understanding that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use and interpretation. Any representation, statement, opinion or advice expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith. SC Lennon & Associates Pty Ltd and the individual authors of this report are not liable to any person or entity taking or not taking action in respect of any representation, statement, opinion or advice referred to above.

Photography: Martin Ollman. 6 A Region of Choice, A Place of Opportunity 9 Diversification to ‘Future-Proof’ the Outback Economy 14 A Region Rising to the Challenge 15 The Outback: A Pillar of ’s Economy 22 Investing in the Foundations for a Prosperous Future 23 Cultivating Regional Partnerships for Positive Outcomes 26 The Outback’s Priorities for Investment 37 Investing in the Future Welcome to Outback South Australia.

he Outback is clean, clear, and big. We embrace the challenges facing the T Really, really big. Outback by working to grow emerging industries, build confidence, and create Whilst there is no shortage of wide- jobs. open, uninterrupted space, the Outback is really not that far from Australia’s This prospectus contains innovative greatest concentration of population investment opportunities which are Outback Communities Authority oneOutback - the southeast. economically sound and community Outback Communities Authority oneOutback verified. We are open for business and we have the vision. Come on the journey with us - to Grow our Economy, Grow our Community, and Our four keystones of mining, pastoralism, to Grow our Influence - because a thriving agriculture and tourism are growing. Outback is critical to a thriving economy, and a thriving state. We want you to join us in future- proofing the Outback economy through Cecilia Woolford investment in diversification. Chair - Outback Communities Authority

Moolawatana Station Gammon Ranges 4 5 A REGION OF CHOICE, A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY

Outback South Australia is big, about 625,000 The OCA represents - and advocates for square kilometres or around two-thirds of the - the interests of these people and their State of South Australia. For comparison, this families. Following extensive consultation is an area as large as France and 2½ times in the communities, coupled with rigorous bigger than the United Kingdom, but with a socio-economic research and analysis, this

Outback Communities Authority oneOutback population of just four- and-a-half thousand. oneOutback Prospectus articulates the region’s Outback Communities Authority oneOutback critical investment priorities. The size of the Outback makes the idea of traditional ‘local government’ impracticable Building on the work of the OCA and its so the Outback Communities Authority (OCA) partner, Regional Development Australia is a hybrid between local government and Far North (RDA Far North), this prospectus community self-management by the people articulates the necessary catalysts for real who proudly call the Outback home. economic outcomes that have been prioritised 0km 200km by the Outback Community. It provides strategic direction to invest in the factors that will facilitate the resilience, competitiveness Unincorporated area

and the success of existing and potential new Southern boundary of unincorporated areas businesses. (excluding Coober Pedy)

6 7 DIVERSIFICATION Andamooka Beltana TO ‘FUTURE- Copley PROOF’ THE OUTBACK Eastern Districts Fowlers ECONOMY

The Outback is blessed with a strong natural These communities will benefit from the Outback Communities Authority oneOutback Bay GAWLER RANGES Outback Communities Authority oneOutback resource base which has served it well over Outback’s capacity to leverage its natural many generations and across a number of assets, its resources and its knowledge, Glendambo Innamincka Iron industries. promoting new business investment to diversify and future-proof the Outback Knob The region includes small towns and economy against economic peaks and LEIGH CREEK settlements which grew out of the need to troughs. serve the mining industry such as Coober Lyndhurst Pedy, Leigh Creek, , Andamooka Manna Hill Marla and Roxby Downs, other settlements built on the defence industry, namely Woomera, and MARREE Olary a number of smaller ‘satellite’ communities including William Creek, Marree, Glendambo, Parachilna PENONG Pimba Penong, Fowlers Bay, Yunta, Beltana, Parachilna, Manna Hill, Coorabie, Lyndhurst, Olary, Blinman, Innamincka, Marla, Pimba, and Woomera William Creek Oodnadatta all of whom were established to YUNTA support regional expansion around transport #oneOutback and primary production.

8 9 community values raise the Outback’s profileachieve innovative solutions for essential services build infrastructure to encourage regional self-sufficiencyleverage the tourism dollar promote cultural assets and their significance in Australia’s historyhighlight the Outback’s role in South Australia’s economy and identity retain and educate our youth preserve our unique history tackle climate change empower our communities to have their say improvements to healthcare service delivery safe, well- managed road network connected communities sustainable health outcomes community safety and wellbeing share the holistic Outback lifestyle put Outback South Australia on the map Welcome the World. “The Outback is blessed with a strong natural resource base which has served it well over many generations and across a number of industries.”

William Creek Far North A REGION THE OUTBACK: A RISING TO THE PILLAR OF SOUTH CHALLENGE AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMY The Outback has come through a period of unprecedented change and adjustment Despite the challenges associated with being a following the resources sector slowdown and remote region, the Outback is presented with the resulting reduction and cessation of mining Outback Communities Authority oneOutback strong prospects for economic growth based Outback Communities Authority oneOutback in the Far North Region, where the bulk of on the region’s comparative and competitive South Australia’s mining activity is located. advantages and opportunities to diversify The challenges associated with the Outback’s economic activity. heavy reliance on one industry and the fact The Outback generates substantial wealth that that a large proportion of the wealth generated flows through the South Australian economy by mining is captured outside the region are and beyond. The Gross Regional Product exacerbated by the Outback’s remoteness. (GRP) of the Outback is estimated at $1.7 “the Outback is This highlights the importance of investment billion, which is 54% of the wider Far North in the critical strategic infrastructure and Region’s GRP and approximately 2% of South presented with services that underpin the Outback’s economic Australia’s Gross State Product (GSP). GRP development and its connections with the per capita in the Outback is $392,000. This markets it serves, throughout Australia and compares to South Australia’s GSP per capita strong prospects of $58,300. overseas. for economic growth”

14 15 is the Outback’s principal Pastoralism & are traditional Miningeconomic driver, accounting for by mainstay far the largest share of the region’s Agriculture

Outback Communities Authority oneOutback industries of the Outback, based on Outback Communities Authority oneOutback industry output, jobs and exports. sheep, grains and beef cattle production. Mining remains the anchor of the The Outback’s agricultural sector is a vital Outback economy and will continue industry given its notable contribution to to be a significant employer and industry value-added, employment and economic contributor into the future. regional exports, coupled with strong local linkages throughout the Outback economy.

16 17 is an emerging around the industry with construction Tourisma solid base and potential for growth Servicesand utilities sectors also display all of the as national and international market attributes of ‘driver’ industries and for this

Outback Communities Authority oneOutback trends support opportunities to capitalise reason, they also present opportunities Outback Communities Authority oneOutback on demand for Outback experiences. to diversify and grow the Outback Tourism in the Outback employs local economy. residents across a diversity of sectors including accommodation and food services, arts and recreation services, retail trade and transport. The tourism sector presents an exciting opportunity for economic diversification in the Outback.

18 19 “the Outback would be a better place to Outback Communities Authority oneOutback live, work and play ... if Outback Communities Authority oneOutback communications and infrastructure were improved”

Montecollina Bore Strzelecki Track 20 21 INVESTING IN THE CULTIVATING FOUNDATIONS REGIONAL FOR A PARTNERSHIPS PROSPEROUS FOR POSITIVE FUTURE OUTCOMES

To take advantage of the Outback’s evolving A strong commitment to facilitate economic The appeal of the Outback’s lifestyle and its Outback Communities Authority oneOutback Outback Communities Authority oneOutback and emerging industry opportunities, growth and investment in the Outback is ‘liveability’ is key to successful investment investment in critical infrastructure and services defined by collaborative partnerships. The attraction and efforts to beautify the region’s that facilitate new investment and which Outback Communities Authority and RDA Far towns and to ensure all communities are promote the region as a location of choice for North are taking the lead, working together afforded quality health and community services Outback living, is essential. with other stakeholders – including the South is paramount. Australian Arid Lands NRM Board, local This has been recognised in the Outback Councils, industry and the communities - to Industry diversification, which capitalises Communities Authority Region Economic address opportunities for investment that on existing comparative and competitive Growth & Investment Strategy, a key planning support the region’s long-term growth. advantages, will drive the Outback’s economic document that is informed by rigorous development. Investment in infrastructure economic analysis, and which provides a Informed by the Outback Communities and services that support the growth and pathway to prosperity for the Outback. Authority Region Economic Growth development of agriculture and Outback & Investment Strategy and ongoing tourism will underpin the Outback’s pathway The Outback’s priorities are also informed by community consultation and engagement, to prosperity. The Outback’s priorities for the OCA’s program of continual consultation priority investment needs include strategic investment reflect this. and engagement with businesses, landholders infrastructure, particularly roads and and communities throughout the region. communications as well as energy and water.

22 23 Painted Hills William Creek Outback Communities Authority oneOutback Outback Communities Authority oneOutback “Industry diversification, which capitalises on existing comparative and competitive advantages, will drive the Outback’s economic development.”

24 25 THE OUTBACK’S Sealing the PRIORITIES FOR Strzelecki Track INVESTMENT Tourism is one of the Outback’s largest The Strzelecki Track, which extends employers, accounting for 5 per cent from Lyndhurst in the south to The Outback Communities Authority Region of jobs located in the region and Innamincka in the north, is largely Economic Growth & Investment Strategy employment numbers in the Outback’s unsealed and, if upgraded, would present identifies short- term actions for the OCA and tourism sector are higher than in its other opportunities not only for tourism in the RDA Far North to address in their capacity Outback Communities Authority oneOutback service industries. Outback tourism is Outback but also for improved intra- as promoters and facilitators of economic growing rapidly with the region’s natural regional links to support mining and

development, and these form the basis of the PRIORITY ONE landscape the major drawcard. related industrial activity throughout the organisations’ current work plans. Far North. The OCA and RDA Far North Regions elsewhere in Australia are taking are committed to collaborating with the Other informed and strategic priorities for full advantage of the growth in demand for State and Federal Governments to seal investment in the Outback, which require the drive tourism experiences by promoting the Strzelecki Track to serve the growing support and commitment of government, touring routes and providing the facilities drive tourism market. concern the enablers of economic and services that visitors seek. Many development, that is, the critical infrastructure opportunities are created to grow business items that will support the appeal and capacity enterprises in hospitality and unique of the Outback as a place to do business. offerings such as Indigenous art.

26 27 Strzelecki Track Moomba

“To take advantage of the Outback’s Outback Communities Authority oneOutback Outback Communities Authority oneOutback evolving and emerging industry opportunities, investment ... is essential”

28 29 Committing to Co-ordinated Outback Investing in Cross-loading facilities at Tourism Destination Management and to Grow the Outback’s Marketing Agricultural Industry

To effectively capitalise on opportunities In the short-to-medium-term, the Freight transport infrastructure is A major impediment to the industry’s to grow the Outback’s emerging tourism design and implementation of a regional of strategic importance to primary timely, safe and effective access to industry, a concerted approach to wayfinding strategy, with an emphasis on industries, facilitating improved markets is the absence of cross- branding and promotion, which taps consistent, branded signage throughout efficiencies which drive economic loading facilities at Port Augusta to Outback Communities Authority oneOutback into wider State and national tourism the Outback and the wider Far North development and job creation. Quality transfer cattle from road trains to networks is essential. Region, is a priority. roads are crucial for the Outback’s trucks. This part of the journey would PRIORITY TWO pastoral industry to access supply chain be accomplished far more safely and nodes. efficiently with the construction of cross-

The OCA and RDA Far North are PRIORITY THREE committed to collaborative and co- load facilities. The OCA and RDAFN are ordinated Outback tourism destination committed to collaborating with industry management and marketing. This will stakeholders, Port Augusta City Council require significant State and Federal and the Government of South Australia Government investment to ensure to progress the need for investment in success. cross-loading facilities at Port Augusta.

30 31 Rolling out the NBN for Greater Digital Connectivity and Improving Mobile Phone Coverage

The Outback currently lacks high-speed The potential for the tourism and broadband infrastructure, limiting the agricultural sectors to utilise digital capacity of businesses and individuals technologies and communications “The Outback has for many years

Outback Communities Authority oneOutback to interact with the global economy. to diversify and grow also presents The rollout of the National Broadband an opportunity to extend mobile and Network (NBN) is therefore of critical satellite phone coverage throughout been an integral component of

PRIORITY FOUR importance and a priority for government the Outback with the support of the investment. Blackspots Program. the South Australian economy, These key investments will be underpinned by its wealth of natural complemented with the use of State and Federal government programs to build the capability of businesses and resources and the strength of its communities in the Outback to better utilise digital technology. agricultural sector.”

32 Lake Hart Pimba Outback Communities Authority oneOutback Outback Communities Authority oneOutback “With an ever-evolving global economy comes new opportunities for growth and development, through diversification”

34 35 INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

The Outback has for many years been an With a strategic framework in place and integral component of the South Australian a shared commitment to capitalise the economy, underpinned by its wealth of natural Outback’s natural comparative advantages, “the Outback’s lifestyle and its resources and the strength of its agricultural its competitive strengths and emerging sector. opportunities for industry diversification and

Outback Communities Authority oneOutback ‘liveability’ is key to successful sustainable growth, now is the time to invest in Outback Communities Authority oneOutback With an ever-evolving global economy the foundations for prosperity – for the benefit comes new opportunities for growth and of the Outback and for the economy of South investment attraction and efforts to development, through diversification of existing Australia. industries and the emergence of new areas of beautify the region’s towns and to growth such as tourism. Find out more about oneOutback opportunities ensure all communities are afforded at oca.sa.gov.au/oneoutback or [email protected] quality health and community services is paramount.”

36 37 Cactus Beach Far West Coast

“Come on the journey with us - to Grow our Economy, Grow our Outback Communities Authority oneOutback Community, and to Grow Outback Communities Authority oneOutback our Influence.”

38 39 41 Outback Communities Authority oneOutback oca.sa.gov.au

Outback Communities Authority 12 Tassie Street, Port Augusta SA 5700

PO Box 2353, Port Augusta SA 5700

T 08 8648 5970 F 08 8648 5971 E [email protected]