EDA Journal Vol 11. No.2 Summer 2018 | Page 18

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY of major capital grants. It has allowed a strategic approach to business investment attraction to target jobs-rich industries that compliment and not compete with existing businesses. Ultimately, using the ACC, the EDU has been able to reposition Council as a leader and advocate for business in their region, provide targeted and well attended capacity building, provide assured local procurement. Using the ACC, they have been able to take steps to address national economic issues and implement strategies to mitigate risk. ACC has rapidly expanded the capability of Council’s EDU to respond to change, identify emerging issues, and plan for proactive economic development. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES - UNDER 15,000 RESIDENTS WINNER MURWEH SHIRE COUNCIL Development and Provision of Economic Structures for a Remote Community Murweh Shire Council has sought to address issues of business attraction, business retention and population drift by focusing its long-term economic development strategy on adding value to the natural resources and existing infrastructure of the region. The main town of Charleville is a Government service town and the main industry of the Shire is cattle and meat processing. It also boasts the clearest skies in the southern hemisphere. This economic focus has been on maximising transport access corridors through: a) Construction of a brand new airport terminal to increase capacity for future growth b) Construction of a $4 million rail loading bay and holding yards, to re-activate rail usage to the region c) Construction of new Industrial Estate to add further capacity for business attraction and business expansion Murweh Shire Council has recently: a) Upgraded the existing Charleville Cosmos Centre to maintain momentum and the interest of visitors in our clear skies and star gazing opportunities b) Started construction of a new Planetarium to increase revenue and create further employment c) Partnered with Griffith University to develop a World War ll Outback Tour and Museum using state of the art technology and holograms. d) Partnered with the Sunshine Coast University to develop the Chinese tourism trade. These recent initiatives have re-energised the shire and brought in extra capacity to support the expected capital growth in the region over the next five years. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP AWARD (ELECTED MEMBER) WINNER COUNCILLOR STEPHEN ROBINSON Sunshine Coast Council Councillor Steve Robinson was elected in March 2012. At the time, the Sunshine Coast economy was in post-GFC doldrums. Unemployment rates were above 10% with youth unemployment above 15%. There was no new investment in the region and a poor outlook for job growth. Business confidence was at an all-time low. Steve who came from a business background knew how tough businesses had been doing and knew they needed some help. The region needed direction and impetus. Despite the Sunshine Coast being an hour north of the State Capital, Brisbane, it had often been left off infrastructure priority lists and State and Federal budget allocations. The only way to change this was to have a plan. A plan that everyone, at all levels of government and industry agreed to. So in 2012, shortly after he was elected, Steve took on the Portfolio Councillor role of Economic Development and Innovation and with the Mayor, set about to transform the economy. The region’s first integrated economic strategy was developed setting a series of aspirational goals and game changer priorities to transform the economy and to give the region the profile it deserved. While VOL.11 NO.2 2018 | 18