Crows Nest 2022 ‘The High Country Haven’ Community Growth Action Plan Draft Report January 2018 Crows Nest Community Growth Action Plan Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 3 1 OUR TOWN .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Our People .............................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Our Workforce ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Our Key Industries ................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Our Services and Facilities ...................................................................................................... 4 2 OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE ............................................................................................... 5 2.1 Our Action Plan ....................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Our Key Priority Strategies ...................................................................................................... 6 3.4 Our Priority Actions ................................................................................................................. 7 3 OUR STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS ......................................... 16 3.1 Strengths ............................................................................................................................... 16 3.2 Weaknesses .......................................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Opportunities ........................................................................................................................ 17 3.4 Threats .................................................................................................................................. 18 2 Crows Nest Community Growth Action Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Crow’s Nest Community Plan is designed to guide future growth and development in Crows Nest and the surrounding district. The plan has been developed as a partnership between the Toowoomba Regional Council, the Crows Nest Tourist and Progress Association, community groups and residents of the Crows Nest District. In 2015 the Toowoomba Regional Council engaged consultants to prepare economic reports on a number of towns in the Toowoomba Region. In May 2015, a community meeting was held in Crows Nest to identify some key priority actions to implement through the development of the the Crows Nest Community Growth Action Plan – Economic Development Strategy. In January 2016 the Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio presented the strategies to the regional towns to work collaboratively with Council to implement the priority actions. Throughout 2016 and early 2017 many of the priority actions were implemented. In early 2017, the Crows Nest community identified they would like to focus on a longer term strategy that targeted all opportunities for growth and development and not just economic factors. In April 2017 more than 30 residents attended a workshop to list any opportunities to develop Crows Nest. In May and June a community survey was implemented by the Toowoomba Regional Council Community Liaison Officer. The outcomes of the community meeting, combined with the results of the survey, the Economic Development Strategy, the Crows Nest Tourism Strategy 2017-2022 and the Crows Nest Cultural Tourism Strategy have guided the development of the Crows Nest 2022 Community Plan. The Crows Nest community have outlined a vision for their district and the areas they would like to focus their efforts for the next five years. Vision: To build and develop Crows Nest to achieve sustainable economic and lifestyle benefits for the district. To promote the district as an exceptional place to live, work, invest and visit. Crows Nest’s focus in the future development of their community will fall in the following categories: • Local Governance and Planning: identifying those key actions that can be implemented by Council that will assist in fostering the economic and social growth and development of Crows Nest; • Community Services and Facilities: identifying those key actions that can be undertaken by the local resident and business community with Council support to foster the economic and social well-being of Crows Nest; • Infrastructure: identifying those key actions required to improve and introduce new infrastructure within Crows Nest to enhance the economic and social development of Crows Nest; • Business and Investment: identifying those key actions required to attract and retain key business and development opportunities to foster the economic growth and development of Crows Nest; and • Tourism: identifying those key actions that could assist in increasing the number and frequency of tourists to Crows Nest. These actions will be best achieved through the involvement and commitment of the broader Crows Nest community who, as residents, have the greatest interest in their success. Council will partner with the community, assist directly where possible, and endeavour to involve other regional stakeholders when required. Council will play a supporting role in this process but maximum community involvement will ensure its relevance and increase the potential for success. 3 Crows Nest Community Growth Action Plan 1 OUR TOWN Located on the dividing range on the eastern edge of the Darling Downs, Crows Nest is a vibrant rural town 42 kilometres north of Toowoomba. The town’s location on the New England Highway makes Crows Nest an easy commute to and from Toowoomba as well as the broader region. Crows Nest has grown substantially from its origin as a stopping place for timber haulers bringing logs out of the surrounding mountain forest. Crows Nest provides a pleasant climate that benefit’s from the areas natural beauty amongst the dividing range. Crows Nest is a vibrant town that prides itself on being a friendly and welcoming town that provides a safe and secure environment for residents as well as visitors. Crows Nest offers a range of services and facilities to cater for local residents from young to old, as well as visitors. The town provides a rural feel which embraces a sense of community and belonging. The resident and business community are committed to ensuring the economic and social growth and prosperity of the town whilst maintaining its sense of community. 1.1 Our People Crows Nest has recorded strong population growth increasing from 1,777 persons in 2001 to 2,160 persons at the 2016 Census, or by 1.4% per annum. The Crows Nest community is characterised by older residents with almost a third (30.8%) of residents aged 65 years and older at the time of the 2011 Census, with the towns children aged 0 to 14 years old accounting for 18.0% of the community. Nonetheless, Crows Nest prides itself on embracing the young and the old to create a cohesive community. The average age of Crows Nest residents was 46.9 years as at 2011. Crows Nest households are characterised by couple only households, which account for over half of the town’s households (53.9%), with less than a third of households characterised by families with children (29.7%). Crows Nest represents an asset rich community with almost three-quarters of households either fully owned or under mortgage as at 2011. 1.2 Our Workforce Crows Nest has consistently recorded lower unemployment levels in comparison to the Toowoomba Regional Council area with Crows Nest recording an unemployment rate of 4.4% as at 2013. Labour force participation rates have typically been lower in Crows Nest compared to the Toowoomba Regional Council area with Crows Nest recording a labour force participation rate of 68.1% as at 2013. Health care and social assistance, retail trade and manufacturing were the main employers of the Crows Nest resident workforce in 2011. 1.3 Our Key Industries An analysis of industry specialisation shows that Crows Nest has high levels of specialisation in agriculture, food retailing, road transport and residential care services, reflective of Crows Nest’s older demographic and connectivity to the New England Highway. 1.4 Our Services and Facilities Crows Nest is a strong community that prides itself on delivering the best for its residents and visitors within a safe and secure environment. The town offers a good mix of localised services and 4 Crows Nest Community Growth Action Plan facilities including a supermarket, newsagent, post office, real estate agents, banks, police and ambulance. The town centre appears to be currently underperforming with an estimated 825m2 of vacant shopfront (or 12.7% vacancy rate), posing a challenge to the local community to reinvigorate the town centre. With a high proportion of older residents, Crows Nest offers a range of aged care services and facilities supported by a medical centre. Crows Nest provides childcare and schooling facilities for young families with the local school catering for students up to Year 10. As a result, students seeking to complete Years 11 and 12 are required to travel beyond Crows Nest, which may result in families choosing to relocate outside the town. The town also provides