Draft economic plan now open for comment

Noosa’s draft Local Economic Plan is now open for public comment on Council’s YourSay Noosa website.

Noosa Council Senior Economic Development Officer Carolyn Bullen says it sets out strategies to broaden Noosa’s economy.

It also outlines Noosa’s competitive advantages and important growth industries.

“It’s a blueprint to develop industries such as health and wellness, the digital economy, environmental industries, rural enterprise, professional services, and creative industries to match the strength of our tourism industry,” Ms Bullen says.

“Council recognises that these are high value industries we need to grow, particularly those that export products and/or services beyond our shire, which helps boost our resilience to local economic factors.

“Greater economic diversity benefits the whole community, offering a wider range of employment options and pay scales for local workers.

“Besides goals, the local economic plan lists actions and focus areas needed to achieve them,” Ms Bullen says.

The draft plan reflects community and stakeholder feedback from public workshops, online submissions, and the input of a 26-member project focus group.

Council commissioned the AEC Group to profile Noosa’s economy, which helped inform the draft economic plan.

“This also provides a baseline to measure our future economic growth,” Ms Bullen said.

Council will work with business, industry and government agencies to achieve the plan’s aims.

The community can view and comment on the draft plan until 4 December, online at http://yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au

20 November 2015