3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 1 10 OCTOBER 2012 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION DELIVERY - MONTHLY OVERVIEW SEPTEMBER 2012 Peter Boyd: 1/8/2-07: #3729634v2 RECOMMENDATION: That Council notes the September 2012 monthly update from the Economic Development and Innovation branch. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report presents the September 2012 update by Council’s Economic Development and Innovation (ED&I) branch. INTRODUCTION Council’s Economic Development & Innovation program is delivered in accordance with the Cairns Economic Development & Innovation Strategy and Delivery Program 2012- 2015 under five priority project areas: Innovation Investment Attraction Business Environment Business and Industry Development Events Economy COMMENT Key deliverables in September included the following: Innovation Agenda Applications are now closed for the 2012 Tropical Innovation Awards. Full information about the awards is maintained on www.tropicalinnovationawards.com.au Applications have been received from the follow regions: Agenda – Economic Development Committee – 10 October 2012 - #3742742 4 52 Cairns Regional Council 1 Gold Coast City Council 11 Townsville City Council 1 Mackay Regional Council 5 Brisbane City Council 1 Shire of Etheridge 4 Rockhampton Regional Council 1 Sunshine Coast Regional Council 3 Tablelands Regional Council 1 City of Fremantle 3 Cassowary Coast Regional Council 1 Western Downs Region 1 Whitsunday Regional Council 1 Tweed Shire Council 1 Logan City Council 52 Emerging 25 Established 10 Youth The Austropex Conference for 2012 has been postponed until 2013. The ED&I capital raising and innovation stream of the program will continue through a partnership between the Tropical Innovation Awards, QWIN, Townsville Enterprise and Advance Cairns. Key speakers include Paul Niederer from Australian Small Scale Offerings Board (ASSOB), Steve Torso from Wholesale Investor and Bryan Vadas from Ipledg. External sponsorship for the 2012 Awards currently totals $117,500. Council’s contribution to the Awards of $30,000 brings the total program budget to $147,500. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Cairns on 30 November 2012. Tickets to the gala event are now on sale at Ticketlink for $95 per head. Assessment of the economic value of the Awards is currently being carried out by Cummings Economics, with completion expected mid-October. The next Tropical Innovators Forum will be held on 18 October. Guest speaker Andrew Griffiths will discuss marketing and promoting your innovation. The event will be held at Placid Pools, Smithfield. Business Environment (including Digital Economy) October Monthly Mayoral divisional business lunch: The next Mayoral divisional business lunch will be held in Gordonvale, Division 1. This meeting will be attended by approximately 10 local business representatives. The businesses will have an opportunity to discuss local issues and opportunities for the region. October Monthly Councillor Business Visit: The October monthly Councillor Business Visit will be held at National Australia Bank, Corporate Tower. Representatives from a cross section of the financial services sector will provide an overview of the current economic climate including business lending, foreclosures and borrowing capacity of both local and external. Digital Economy and Community Engagement Strategy: Completed by Rutten Technology in partnership with the Cairns ICT Network. The strategy is a partnership project between CRC, DEEWR and RDA and will be presented to Councillors in a workshop during October. The objective of the strategy is to increase business and community outcomes from high speed broadband and maximise the advantage to the region of the NBN. The strategy is also focused on skills growth and new employment opportunities. The strategy will take a broad regional approach as well as identifying local areas for focused programs. Agenda – Economic Development Committee – 10 October 2012 - #3742742 5 An application for funding of a position to deliver the roll-out of the strategy has been made to DEEWR by Economic Development. NBN: NBN Co have recently release maps of the first 2 areas of the Cairns rollout. These maps can be viewed at the following website http://www.nbnco.com.au/assets/maps/cairns-qld-rollout-map-4cai.pdf. Please feel free to distribute to your networks. Business and Industry Development Proposed Network of Marine Reserves: Council submitted comment on the Proposed Network of Marine Reserves on the 10 September 2012. The submission did not support the progression of the proposed Marine Reserves, until a comprehensive assessment of the economic and community impacts is undertaken. Economic Diversification Fund: Applications are now open for the 2012/2013 Economic Diversification Fund. Applicants can apply for up to $30,000 and applications close on 12 October. Advertisement through print media, newsletter, web site, e mail databases and two evening presentations held in Cairns and Port Douglas on the 21st and 28th August. Local Area Delivery (Babinda): Next meeting of the steering group has been scheduled for October. The steering group is currently preparing an article to include in the CMCA’s Wanderer magazine promoting the Rotary Park RV facilities, which were opened by Cr Steve Brain on the 21 August. Filming: Activity in September supported through streamlined application process included: - Naomi's Nightmares of Nature - A BBC Children's natural history production aiming to inspire and engage children into natural history by demystifying false beliefs surrounding certain species. In doing so, for instance, we will highlight the plight of the Great Barrier Reef and the spectacled flying fox. - Australian Geographic Journal - feature on Tree Kangaroos. Tourism RV Sector: ED&I, Property and the Deputy Mayor have progressed discussions with the CMCA, including the Highway Wanderers, and with the Caravan Parks Association (CPA), regarding provision for RV camping in Cairns Region. A Councillor workshop will be held on this subject in October/November. Investment Attraction Presentations, meetings and proposals to investors and other organisations during September included resource sector companies, maritime sector and tourism interests. Council’s ED&I branch hosted and coordinated a reception to host a Chinese property investment delegation in late August. A follow up email was sent and the delegation has advised that several emails from business partners they met in Cairns have been received and their enquiries answered. They also advised that a number of delegates are following up with certain projects. A further follow up will be undertaken in October. Council’s ED&I branch is part of a new TNQ region and industry-wide China Strategy, established in August, facilitated by Advance Cairns, focused on capitalising on new direct China-Cairns flights. Agenda – Economic Development Committee – 10 October 2012 - #3742742 6 ED&I are working with Trade Queensland and Advance Cairns to consider the proposal by the Queensland Government to base a Business Development Manager in China. ED&I presented on Council’s Investment Attraction Incentives program at the International Economic Development Conference for Australia and New Zealand held in Cairns on 17-20 September. Eclipse The Eclipse Working Group has continued to meet with the following issues addressed: - Marathon course resolved - Community engagement activities finalised - Council resource allocation complete - Site management plans complete - budget for Council resources finalised The Eclipse Working Group, Port Douglas Eclipse Taskforce and the Advance Cairns Taskforce will continue to meet regularly over the coming weeks in the lead up to the event. CONSIDERATIONS Corporate and Operational Plans: Council’s Corporate Plan Goal 5 states: To increase the region’s capacity for long-term economic growth by supporting opportunities for local business and local employment Key Projects, Services and Actions under Goal 5 include: - Strengthen Council’s support for economic development including tourism and economic diversification - Review Council’s role in stimulating economic activity through its own policies and operations Statutory: The Cairns Economic Development and Innovation Strategy and Delivery Program 2012-2015 has been developed in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2009 which highlights good governance and transparency. All programs reported on in this monthly report are delivered in accordance with this Strategy. Policy: General Policy 1:05:02 states that Council recognises that there is value in Council supporting specific initiatives or projects that will have significant economic benefits for all or parts of the local government area. Financial and Risk: This report presents an update on current initiatives and does not commit Council to any financial exposure beyond its current commitments. Agenda – Economic Development Committee – 10 October 2012 - #3742742 7 CONSULTATION All initiatives reported against within this report are carried out in full consultation with appropriate internal and/ or external stakeholders, varying with the particular initiative. OPTIONS AND CONCLUSION It is recommended that Council endorses the September monthly delivery program update from the ED&I branch. Peter Boyd Acting Manager Economic Development & Innovation Peter Tabulo Acting Chief Executive Officer Agenda – Economic Development Committee – 10 October 2012 - #3742742 .