tropical futures 2016 Pillars for a sustainable Cassowary Coast tropical futures 2016 ■ ■ ■ cassowary coast 1 Cassowary Coast Regional Council PO Box 887 Innisfail Qld 4860 Tel (07) 4030 2222 Fax (07) 4061 4258 Email [email protected] Web www.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au Publication produced August 2011 Disclaimer: ‘While every effort has been made to ensure information in this Plan is current and factual, the Cassowary Coast Regional Council makes no representation to any person or organisation with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the data or information contained in this document and, to the extent permitted by law, disclaiming all liability for any loss or damage (including indirect, special or consequential loss or damage) incurred by any person or organisation arising from the use of, or reliance upon, the data or information contained herein’. Publication Design: design.it • inspire.create.advertise - Tully (07) 4068 3311 Images indicated by location supplied courtesy of Tourism Queensland Table of Contents Foreword ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................6 A Message from the Mayor ...........................................................................................................................................................................................7 Purpose ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8 Cassowary Coast Regional Council Corporate Framework ....................................................................................................................10 Region Profile – Dynamic Cassowary Coast ........................................................................................................................................11 Urban Centres & Localities ..........................................................................................................................................................................................12 Demographics .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................12 Knowledge, skills and training ......................................................................................................................................................................................13 The Labour Force ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Lifestyle - Working and living in the region .........................................................................................................................................................16 Power ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17 Telecommunications .........................................................................................................................................................................................................17 Economic contribution of the region .....................................................................................................................................................................18 Context ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................20 An Eco-Economy ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................20 Liveable Cassowary Coast Plan .................................................................................................................................................................................21 Towards Q2: Tomorrows Queensland...................................................................................................................................................................22 ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland ...........................................................................................................................................................23 Queensland Research & Development Investment Strategy 2010 - 2020 ......................................................................................24 Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2009 – 2031 ......................................................................................................................................25 Far North Queensland Infrastructure Plan 2009 - 2031 ............................................................................................................................25 Centres of Enterprise Initiative ..................................................................................................................................................................................26 Keep Australia Working Cairns and Far North Queensland Regional Plan .....................................................................................26 Indigenous Economic Development Strategy Action Plan 2010 – 2012 ..........................................................................................27 Tropical North Queensland Regional Economic Plan ..................................................................................................................................28 Regional Development Australia Far North Queensland and Torres Strait Regional Roadmap .........................................28 tropical futures 2016 ■ ■ ■ cassowary coast 3 Pillars of Economic Development .......................................................................................................................................................................29 Pillar 1 – Marketing the Cassowary Coast Region ...............................................................................................................30 Regional Significance ......................................................................................................................................................................................30 Far North Queensland ‘GreenBiz’ Friendly Capital .....................................................................................................31 Laboratory for Innovation .........................................................................................................................................................31 Centre of Education Excellence .............................................................................................................................................31 Centre of Excellence in Health Services ...........................................................................................................................31 Mobile Knowledge Workers ....................................................................................................................................................31 Transport Connectivity ...............................................................................................................................................................32 Local Industry Recognition ........................................................................................................................................................32 Town, Rural and Coastal Communities ..............................................................................................................................32 Landmark Events .............................................................................................................................................................................32 Strategies for achieving above ..................................................................................................................................................................33 a) Creating a business brand b) Promotional activities c) Effective communications d) Business events Priority actions for above ............................................................................................................................................................................33 Pillar 2 – Building Partnerships, Fostering Innovation .......................................................................................................34 Strategies for achieving above ..................................................................................................................................................................36 a) Local, regional, global partnerships b) Fostering sustainable business practices c) Economic development partnership programs d) Linking business e) Research and development f) Regional innovation zones Priority actions for above ............................................................................................................................................................................37