Southern Tasmania Ii Overview of the Regional Economic Development Plan: Southern Tasmania CONTENTS
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OVERVIEW Regional Economic Development Plan Southern Tasmania ii Overview of the Regional Economic Development Plan: Southern Tasmania CONTENTS MINISTER’S FOREWORD 1 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR SOUTHERN REGIONAL REFERENCE GROUP 2 ABOUT THIS PLAN 4 VISION 7 KEY ASSETS OF THE SOUTHERN REGION 8 REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 9 GOAL ONE 10 GOAL TWO 12 GOAL THREE 14 GOAL FOUR 16 FURTHER INFORMATION 18 DISCLAIMER 18 PHOTO CREDITS 18 Overview of the Regional Economic Development Plan: Southern Tasmania iii MINISTER’S FOREWORD Early in the development of these regional plans, the Tasmanian Government recognised it could not do this task alone. This regional plan has built on existing work undertaken by Councils and regional bodies in the south and by the Australian Government. It has also drawn on local expertise and knowledge through the valued input of local enterprises, the tireless efforts of the Southern Regional Reference Group and of community members who attended the community conversations in March and August 2012 to provide input into the regional plan. This Plan is about making the most of the strengths and comparative advantages of the southern region. It is also about recognising and supporting those sectors of the economy, such as retail, hospitality and other services that play such a major role in the employment, vibrancy and liveability of the region and its communities. There are many opportunities for growth and development This is a challenging time for regional Australia. Around the in the south. For example, it is a hub of academic and world, national and regional economies are experiencing scientific excellence as the home of the University of structural adjustment, resulting from uncertainty in global Tasmania, the Menzies Research Centre, the CSIRO and the markets. Australia’s strong currency is the major reason for Australian Antarctic Division. The south is also home to the the contraction of export markets. A high Australian dollar world renowned Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) means our exporters – farmers, miners, tourism operators, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). manufacturers and education providers – become less Hobart is fortunate to be located on a deep water harbour competitive on the world stage. with a working port. Tasmania is not immune from this. Our three regions are Tasmania has three distinct and diverse regional economies, in transition. The government knows the pressures this each with its own unique advantages. What is clear in all has brought to bear on both the business sector and the that we do is that Tasmania’s brand is fundamental to our communities involved. future economic prosperity. That is why the Tasmanian Change is not always easy, but sometimes it is necessary. Government is funding the Brand Tasmania Council to continue its work as the custodian and champion of the In 2011, in order to guide us through this transitional Tasmanian Brand. phase, the Tasmanian Government launched its Economic Development Plan 1 for the next 10 years and beyond. It is also clear that each region needs to move forward. The This state-wide Plan is about improving the prosperity new opportunities identified may well result in the regional of all Tasmanians through implementing a program of economy being one that is quite different from the one that development that is economically sound, and socially and exists now or has existed previously. To do this, government environmentally sustainable. will work in partnership with regional communities to develop local leaders, to help lead the way. The government is embracing a partnership approach with industry whereby all three levels of government – I look forward to working with you to meet that challenge Australian, Tasmanian and Local – have aligned priorities and I have pleasure in commending to you this Southern and strategies to grow and support our regional economies Regional Economic Development Plan. and communities. David O’Byrne Importantly, the Economic Development Plan signalled the Minister for Economic Development development of three regional economic development plans to coordinate government actions and build resilient regional economies, through diversification. The Southern Regional Economic Development Plan provides a timely opportunity to reflect on where the region has been, where it is now, and where it could go. 1 www.development.tas.gov.au/edp, as at 1 November 2012 Overview of the Regional Economic Development Plan: Southern Tasmania 1 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR SOUTHERN REGIONAL REFERENCE GROUP The Southern Regional Reference Group provides strategic advice on regional development issues to the Tasmanian Minister for Economic Development. Members of the reference group have worked hard, engaged in productive debate about the region’s future, and listened deeply to community members. They have played an important role in supporting community consultation for a partnership approach to economic development that has been outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding for Left to right: Mike Paine, Frances Bender, Rob Pennicott, Elaine Stratford, John Paton, Nick Heath, Jen Newman, David Wise, Rob Wooding, John Brennan Place-based Investment, signed by the Premier of Tasmania Absent: John Gilbert, Steve Gunn, Geoff Hazell, David Hunn, Jeremy Kouw, Tom and the Prime Minister on 26 August 2011. Lewis, Roz Madsen, John Ramsay Southern Tasmania is a remarkable region of a remarkable island-state. It boasts some of the most beautiful places on Earth: rugged wilderness, breathtaking coasts, pastoral scenery of real bounty, and heritage cityscapes like nowhere else. Liveability is a term that typifies its capital city, suburbs, hinterlands and many rural settlements. These domains are populated by people skilled in trades, services and more; a people deeply committed and attached to their communities of place and communities of interest. 2 Overview of the Regional Economic Development Plan: Southern Tasmania Southern Tasmanians seek a dignified, peaceable and Our collective focus on creating prosperity and our prosperous way of life, characterised by resilience in the strategy of place-based investment will bring major face of inevitable change. We understand that this way of dividends to the region in the form of new infrastructure; life is not a destination – not a place we will reach sometime a newly invigorated planning system; and business-enabling in the future. This way of life is built every day, by each of us, environments. It is not mere rhetoric to state that these through each of our actions. ventures and the benefits they bring will be informed by a strong sustainable development framework. Indeed, Let us be very deliberate about how we work together: Tasmanians have led the nation in such matters since caring, considered and forward-thinking. the mid-1980s and are known internationally for this commitment to development that meets the needs of the A prosperous way of life amongst southern Tasmanians will present generation without compromising the needs of be the product of our abilities to seize opportunities; show future generations to also enjoy prosperity. vision and optimism; take pride in our achievements to date; and struggle together to continually improve on those Across all sectors of the economy, significant, creative and accomplishments. truly exciting work is being done to boost growth within sustainable parameters and to share that growth in ways We know we need to be more adaptable, more flexible, that also benefit those in need. inventive. Demonstrating capacities to diversify and innovate will be chief among the skills we bring to bear to create More work is needed, always – and day by day. The Southern prosperity, day by day. Diversification and innovation Regional Economic Development Plan seeks to make a robust themselves depend upon place-based investment – the and substantive contribution to this task. clear, targeted and careful outlay of fiscal and human resources in this place, our region. Elaine Stratford Chair, Southern Regional Reference Group Overview of the Regional Economic Development Plan: Southern Tasmania 3 ABOUT THIS PLAN When the Minister for Economic Development launched The Southern Regional Economic Development Plan consists the Tasmanian Economic Development Plan in August 2011, of the following three parts: he signalled the development of three regional plans, to make the state-wide plan relevant and applicable at 1. The key assets of and opportunities for the the community level. This Southern Regional Economic region, leading to a regional economic, social and Development Plan is one of those three. It is a state environmental context that describes the people and government plan that provides a framework at the regional places that make up the region, and its performance. level to determine economic development strategic 2. A vision, followed by: priorities and to coordinate their implementation across government. The Southern Regional Economic Development a) Current actions that are already planned, Plan has a 10 year Vision, just like the state-wide Economic committed and funded. These are organised Development Plan from which it is derived. under the four Goals of the Economic Development Plan. Further organisation occurs under the lever There are several characteristics of this regional economic headings above. development plan: b) Suggested actions that will be evaluated, prioritised and, where appropriate, implemented • To develop it, a whole-of-government approach was