Regional Plan 2013 - 2018 G R E A T S O U T H E R N W A DISCLAIMER This report was produced by Regional Development Australia Great Southern WA and does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government, its officers, employees or agents. Any representation, statement or opinion expressed or implied is made in good faith and on the basis that the Committee, Government, its employees and agents are not liable for any damage or loss whatsoever which may occur as a result of action taken or not taken, as the case may be, in respect of any representation, statement, opinion or advice referred to herein. Professional advice should be obtained before applying the information contained in this document to particular circumstances. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This project was funded by the Australian Federal Government. RDA Great Southern WA would like to acknowledge our Committee for their contributions to this Plan. We appreciate input from our key stakeholders, in particular Local Governments of the Great Southern and the Great Southern Development Commission, who have had input into this Plan along with other organisations. We also wish to acknowledge local contributors Delma Baesjou of Ayton Baesjou Planning, Melanie Price of Aurora Environmental, and Eleanor Barber at Stirling Print, Albany for production support. A list of Photo Acknowledgements is included in end matter. FURTHER INFORMATION This Regional Plan is available on the following website: www.rdagreatsouthern.com.au For further information regarding this Plan please contact: Regional Development Australia Great Southern WA PO Box 716 ALBANY WA 6331 Phone: (08) 9842 5800 Fax: (08) 9842 5811 Email: [email protected] Website: www.RDAgreatsouthern.com.au Contents Image: Little Beach at Two Peoples Bay, Albany Western Australia Contents 1. Background ................................................................ 8 2. Regional Analysis .................................................... 12 3. Regional Influences ������������������������������������������������� 25 4. Regional Priorities ................................................... 30 5. Review and Stakeholder Consultation .................. 37 6. About the Great Southern Region ......................... 40 7. Appendices ............................................................... 64 List of Abbreviations ................................................... 78 References .................................................................... 79 Tables in Text Table 1: Competitive Profiles for RDA Great Southern, Sunshine Coast and Northern Rivers Table 2: Business Sophistication Across the Great Southern Table 3: Comparative Advantage of the Great Southern – Raw Data Table 3A: Comparative Advantage of the Great Southern – Graphic Table 4: Competitive Profiles for RDA Great Southern, South West and Pilbara – Raw Data Table 4A: Competitive Profiles for RDA Great Southern, South West and Pilbara – Graphic Table 5: Human Capital: Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities and Threats Table 6: Sustainable Communities: Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities and Threats Table 7: Access To Market: Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities and Threats Table 8: Great Southern Median Trends Table 9: Great Southern Business Classified by Industry Sector to June 2012 Table 10: Great Southern Unemployment Rates June 2010 to 2013 Appendices Appendix 1: RDA Great Southern – Education and Training Services Appendix 2: RDA Great Southern – Primary Health Services Appendix 3: Great Southern Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Appendix 4: Great Southern Strategic Projects Chairman’s Foreword It is with pleasure that RDA Great Southern presents the revised Regional Plan 2013 - 2018. The previous Plan has served our organisation well by identifying issues impacting on the Great Southern and recognising priority projects in a number of locations across the region. This update has been informed by current State and Local Government strategic planning, a priority project review and considers some of the bigger picture trends facing the region. While many priorities are unchanged, our organisation remains alert to internal and external influences to our social and natural environment and aims to be responsive to emerging issues and megatrends such as the carbon economy, climate change, industry innovation and the growing economies of Asia. These trends will challenge every level of government and the community. However, opportunities within and beyond our region will continue to evolve and we must adapt to those changes as we plan for a vibrant and sustainable future. I commend our key stakeholders and partners for sharing their local knowledge and experiences from across the region, especially those who have so willingly contributed to the review process. Our regular Committee and community consultation in the region highlights the importance of local decision making and demonstrates how working together will achieve a better outcome for regional development in WA’s Great Southern. This high level document recognises the strengths of Federal, State and Local Government operations in the region and captures the community’s needs and aspirations into an integrated development strategy for the region. The priorities and opportunities highlighted will assist our Committee in determining its own Business Planning and taking appropriate action to deliver program outcomes and contribute significant progress on shared project initiatives. It is a privilege working with the dedicated RDA Great Southern Committee and staff, who I believe can take pride in delivering real benefits to the region in just a few short years. As we enter another three year contract with the Australian Government, I look forward to enriching partnerships leveraging opportunities, and collaborating with other stakeholders in serving our community and growing a stronger Great Southern. Milton Evans JP CHAIRMAN Executive Summary Regional Development Australia – Great Southern This RDA Great Southern Regional Plan considers: The Great Southern is well placed to support (RDA Great Southern) has a key role in assisting the emerging new industries and attract investment by • Australian, State and regional priorities; alignment of Local, State and Federal Government value adding to agricultural produce, developing planning initiatives, so that priority projects can be • Available resources relating to various industry resources and expanding tourism. The region undertaken to build more resilient and diversified sectors; offers amazing opportunities, with many highlights regional economies for our communities. • Updated research and statistics, primarily from and much untapped potential and human capital. RDA Great Southern has a strong Committee the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and In considering further development of the region’s with representatives from many sectors of the the Regional Australia Institute (RAI); potential, RDA Great Southern has identified four community. Through consultation with key • Overarching RDA Great Southern Priorities Key Priority Areas; all are complex, all offer planning stakeholders and partners, the Committee has Framework to guide future investment challenges, and despite the relative strengths of developed a vision and mission for the RDA Great (including priority areas, objectives and the region, all require more cross-community Southern. opportunities and outcomes); collaboration and co-ordination in order to be fully realised. • Planning initiatives and projects which have been identified by the community as important to provide essential services and infrastructure in the Great Southern; OUR FOUR KEY PRIORITY AREAS: • Megatrends including the economic growth of Asian economies; and • Industry and infrastructure development, Our Vision: • Comparative regional advantage. including tourism As a community, the Great Southern needs to • Education, training and employment Empowering Local Communities be proactive in considering these influences and • Environment and NRM, including water taking advantages of possible opportunities, while and land use planning Our Mission: minimising risks and threats. • Community development and social The Great Southern borders the Southern Ocean To work in partnership with the community inclusion on the southern coast of Western Australia and to develop a thriving sustainable region. extends inland for 200 kilometres. It comprises 11 Local Government Authorities (LGAs) and covers 39,007 square kilometres of prime natural and agricultural land with magnificent scenery. It represents 1.5% of Western Australia’s total land mass and has a population of nearly 60,000 people. 1 The first Key Priority Area is Industry and Infrastructure Development, including Tourism. The ¹ region has a strong agricultural sector which is attracting foreign and capital investment and is ¶ growing in diversification. And yet the sector faces challenges which threaten potential Lastly, RDA Great Southern considers integration and advancement, such as diminished access to emerging technologies and Community Development and Social communications networks, Inclusion integral to our region’s The region is serviced by a regional airport and a port with safe natural anchorage, both located in development and has therefore identified Albany; these facilities support trade and tourism and offer opportunities for further capital investment it as the fourth Key Priority Area. We are a and industrial diversification in the region.