WIDE BAY BURNETT Economic Development Strategy 2014 -2019 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 ECONOMIC OVERVIEW 7 ECONOMIC ENABLERS 9 THE VISION 18 ASPIRATIONS & PRIORITIES 20 Regional Leadership & Collaboration 20 Infrastructure Investment 21 Employment & Skills “People Investment” 22 Technology & Innovation 23 Strong Business & industry 24 WIDE BAY BURNETT BURNETT WIDE BAY IMPLEMENTATION AND REPORTING 25 APPENDIX 26 Major Regional Centres - Bundaberg Regional Council 26 Strategy Development Economic Major Regional Centres - Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council 27 Major Regional Centres - Fraser Coast Regional Council 28 Major Regional Centres - Gympie Regional Council 29 2014 -2019 Major Regional Centres - North Burnett Regional Council 30 Major Regional Centres - South Burnett Regional Council 31 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Regional Economic Development Strategy Report (2014) developed by Regional Development 2014-2019 is the first document of its kind for the Australia (Wide Bay Burnett), and draws on the Wide Bay Burnett that strives to address the broad extensive work conducted by the WBBROC through variety of challenges and opportunities that the the National Institute of Economic and Industry region faces. A collaborative regional approach Research (NIEIR) Demographics and Economic and provision of a framework to facilitate economic Change Report 2006 and through the Street Ryan development has been identified as being an Directions and Projects Report February 2012. The opportunity for the region to unlock potential strategy also seeks to link with the Burnett Mary resources and enabling infrastructure investment Regional Groups (BMRG) key priorities as part of from Local, State and Federal Governments, its Natural Resource Management (NRM) Plan industry and the private sector. and also the four Regional Tourism Organisations (Sunshine Coast Destination Limited, Fraser Coast As the primary governance mechanism to drive Opportunities, Southern Queensland Country economic development outcomes in the Wide Bay and Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism) via Burnett region, the Wide Bay Burnett Regional development of the 2020 Destination Tourism Plans. Organisation of Councils (WBBROC) fulfils a key Acknowledgement and consideration is also given leadership role to auspice economic development to the many other important actions and activities activities and projects. WBBROC includes the that other stakeholder agencies are involved in and Mayors and Chief Executive Officers for Cherbourg recognition that there are many interconnecting Aboriginal Shire Council and Bundaberg, Fraser synergies across the region. Coast, Gympie, North Burnett and South Burnett Regional Councils. This strategy has been developed in consultation and with guidance from stakeholder representatives. On behalf of WBBROC, the Regional Economic The strategy does not aim to replace nor diminish Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) existing sub-regional strategies or economic addresses the major strategic regional economic development activities but seeks to strengthen development issues, sets in place an economic and complement them through the provision of a development framework for the region and is a regional framework that can interchangeably guide structured entity that delivers priority projects regional economic development. Furthermore, the as identified by stakeholders. Furthermore, the success of the Strategy is strengthened through structure provides opportunities to leverage those the participation of all regional development resources currently available within the region as WIDE BAY BURNETT BURNETT WIDE BAY stakeholders and values the contribution and well as seek opportunities from beyond regional resources that representatives bring to the table. boundaries. It is widely documented & accepted that the Wide It is now considered to be opportune timing to Bay Burnett region faces many challenges when provide a foundational economic development analysing economic indicators of unemployment, strategy to guide the region in the achievement participation and an ageing population. Social of its vision. This Regional Economic Development trends of skill and youth migration away from Economic Development Strategy Development Economic Strategy 2014-2019 (REDS) supports the regional areas to larger metropolitan locations and achievements and drive of the many organisations below average household income levels prevail. and agencies across the Wide Bay Burnett seeking Furthermore, geographic challenges of a region every opportunity to improve the economy of the that has many small centres and communities can region. be difficult for infrastructure planning and resource allocation. The opportunities identified in this strategy align to a range of contemporary Queensland Government At a broader level, climate change impacts present plans and strategies such as Governing for Growth: possibly the biggest economic challenge for the 2014 -2019 Economic Strategy and Action Plan and The region over the coming 50-100 years.1 High value Queensland Plan – A 30 Year Vision for Queensland coastal tourism areas, agricultural production, (draft). In addition, this strategy considers the asset management/infrastructure and water Economic Development Strategies of the six availability are all highly vulnerable sectors which regional Councils within the Wide Bay Burnett, are already feeling the strain of climatic change the Regional Roadmap and State of the Regions through severe climatic events (which can no 4 1 BMRG 2014 “Response provided to draft Regional Economic Development Strategy 2014-2019” longer be described as ‘natural’ disasters). Councils, key farming industries and rural enterprises in particular will face enormous fiscal and efficiency challenges now and into the future in having to respond to situations as they occur. Conversely, the region has many strengths and competitive advantages which help form this strategy including an underutilised labour market, growing population, lower costs of living, abundant natural resources, proximity to markets and commercial activity in South East Queensland. Identifying such challenges, strengths and competitive advantages is essential to form a strategy for future growth. However, at a sub-region level resource availability can restrict capacity to influence the changes required to make a measurable impact on the wider economy. It is therefore central to this strategy that regional leadership and collaboration be assumed and focus turned to projects and actions for the region to address these challenges. By working towards a united vision and with strong regional leadership this strategy defines a number of aspirations and priorities that it is considered will make a difference to achieving a positive shift from an economic development perceptive. The aspirations include, but are not limited to regional leadership and collaboration; infrastructure investment; employment and skills “people investment”; technology and innovation; and strong business and industry. The Strategy is designed to assist the six Councils, other levels of Government, key regional stakeholders and the business community with decision-making relating to economic development initiatives. Together we will show leadership through implementation, in partnership with all stakeholders, to deliver sustainable economic opportunities and, undoubtedly, “the perfect place”. 5 Economic & Infrastructure Framework WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE IN THE FUTURE Vision Strategic Theme A thriving regional 1. Regional Leadership & Collaboration economy that is 2. Infrastructure Investment sustainable, resilient and 3. Employment & Skills robust, and advances the "People Investment" prosperity and livability of 4. Technology & Innovation communities within it. 5. Strong Business & Industry HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE ECONOMIC PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE » Port of Bundaberg » Natural Gas to WIDE BAY BURNETT BURNETT WIDE BAY Best Practice Wide Bay Management » Bruce Highway Digital Realignment Gympie Capability Resource » North Burnett Utilisation Minerals Transport Economic Development Strategy Development Economic Increase » Regional Broadband i Exports Connectvity Business » Improved connectivity Increase Diversification to Brisbane West Productivity Wellcamp Airport 2014 -2019 and along major Business transport routes Resilence from the southern centres of the Wide Bay Burnett 6 ECONOMIC OVERVIEW The Wide Bay Burnett (WBB) region is perfectly (softwood and hardwood) beef, pork and placed to take advantage of the considerable poultry production and processing, sugar cane economic development opportunities emanating production and processing, tree crops (especially from global and national markets including the macadamias and avocadoes), fruit and vegetable increasing economic power of emerging markets. production (especially citrus and tomatoes) Asia’s increasingly wealthy and mobile middle and seafood production and processing. These class is creating a wide range of trade and agricultural industries will continue to be investment opportunities for Australia. important for the Wide Bay Burnett region into the future. This agricultural base has remained It is also strategically located adjacent to the steady in recent times with declines in traditional state’s major population centre and between industries such as sugar and dairy being balanced South East Queensland, the industrial hub of against the growth in horticulture, aquaculture, Gladstone, within close proximity