Local Economic Plan open for business

Council has adopted a new economic plan for the shire, developed in consultation with the local community.

Mayor Noel Playford said supporting Noosa’s changing economy was a major focus of the plan, which builds on previous economic strategies.

“Our economic landscape is vastly different than it was eight years ago – new technology is enabling all sorts of new ventures in health and wellbeing, medicine, training, and information technology that didn’t exist a short time ago,” Cr Playford said.

“Take Atmail, for example. From its offices at Peregian Beach it provides email software technology to clients across the globe.

“While tourism and retail are important sectors, we need to seize our share of these new and expanding industries for the broader range of employment options they provide.

“The same things that make us popular with tourists make us appealing to entrepreneurs and footloose industries that can operate from almost anywhere. One of things that has been missing is high-speed internet connectivity but that’s set to improve significantly in the near future.

“This plan is a blueprint for supporting knowledge-based businesses, and attracting others, to develop Noosa as a major start-up hub and research and development centre,” Cr Playford said.

“Fortunately we have land designated for that purpose, and future councils face the challenge of ensuring it isn’t lost to more retail space which our population doesn’t warrant.

Noosa Council developed the Noosa Shire Local Economic Plan with extensive community input via public workshops, online submissions and a 26-member project focus group made up of community and business representatives.

It celebrates Noosa’s strengths, identifies growth sectors and lists actions needed to boost the shire’s economic resilience.

Council will work with the community to implement the plan.

“Finalising this plan has been a priority for the new Council and I thank the community for helping shape it,” Cr Playford said.

View the Noosa Shire Local Economic Plan at Council's YourSay Noosa website.

18 December 2015