Welcome to our April 2014 newsletter for valued members of the Sunshine Coast Business Council.
In this edition:
- SCBC Calls for Transparency on Maroochydore Plan
- Outcomes of Agribusiness Conference
- Destination Q forum comes to Coast
- Upcoming Events
SCBC Calls for Transparency on Maroochydore Plan
The Sunshine Coast Business Council (SCBC) has identified the lack of a transparent governance model to oversee the planning, approvals and delivery the Maroochydore CBD as a priority issue in its submission to the Council’s draft Maroochydore CBD Plan.
SCBC Chairperson, Sandy Zubrinich, said the business council has been calling on the Sunshine Coast Council to explain to the business community how it will manage its competing roles as the land owner, planning authority and developer, since Council first announced its decision to purchase the Horton Park land.
“The business council has always been supportive of Maroochydore being designated as the region’s principal activity centre but our members have identified governance, transparency and funding for the project as priority issues”, Ms Zubrinich said.
A copy of the SCBC’s submission is available on the business council web site. A copy of the proposed development scheme is available from Council’s web site.
Outcomes of Agribusiness Conference
More than 50 agribusiness industry representatives from across the Sunshine Coast converged on the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast last month as part of The Future of Agribusiness on the Sunshine Coast conference.
SCBC Chair Sandy Zubrinich said the general consensus amongst event attendees was that the local agribusiness industry had the potential to significantly enhance its contribution to the Sunshine Coast economy, by capitalising on opportunities to grow and export more local agricultural products both nationally and internationally. This is already a significant regional industry with a long history of success and has the capacity to be even stronger.
“Sunshine Coast farmers are already renowned around Australia and further afield for producing clean and nutritious product, and it has become apparent that this reputation needs to be leveraged further when promoting goods to overseas markets,” Ms Zubrinich said.
“Industry representatives at the conference also determined there is a need for farmers and other local stakeholders to collaborate with one another when promoting their products interstate and internationally. This will not only generate economies of scale, but hopefully also provide them with a more prominent presence within these markets.”
Ms Zubrinich said the conference also identified a number of threats to the industry and these will be addressed in the 12 month action plan.
“Increasing rural and residential development was recognised as one of the major threats to the local agribusiness industry, with many local farmers facing challenges with neighbours that have moved to rural areas for lifestyle reasons,” Ms Zubrinich said.
“Some resident groups are opposed to the impacts of farming such as machinery noise, animal odours and the use of crop sprays, and this has the potential to restrict or even put a stop to farming practices.”
“Many of the conference attendees felt there was a need for the government to step in and limit the urban encroachment to ensure their livelihoods were not put on the line.”
The Sunshine Coast Business Council will now work with industry to develop a 12-month action plan addressing the outcomes of the conference.
Destination Q forum comes to Coast
The Sunshine Coast Business Council is delighted with last month’s announcement by Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman that the Sunshine Coast will play host to the 2014 Destination Q forum.
SCBC Chair Sandy Zubrinich said the move to bring the significant industry event to the Coast was an indication of the state government’s commitment to the industry in the region.
“We are one of Queensland’s largest tourism hubs, accounting for almost 15 per cent of Queensland’s domestic tourists and more than 10 per cent of Queensland’s international visitors* and hosting this year’s Destination Q forum is a great boost for local tourism operators,” Ms Zubrinich said.
“The forum provides a great opportunity to discuss large-scale infrastructure projects like the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion and the upgrade of the Bruce Highway which both play an integral role in supporting tourism growth across both the Sunshine Coast and broader Queensland. It is essential these projects are progressed as quickly as possible and hopefully before 2020 when they are scheduled to be completed, as they have a significant impact on our local tourism industry and will be a drag on the growth that is expected from the tourism sector until they are completed.”
“The forum will also play a critical role in leveraging partnerships between industry and government and pinpointing the best markets to target with tourism campaigns.”
The forum is expected to attract over 400 tourism representatives from across the state to Noosa for the two-day event, which is the Queensland tourism industry’s biggest annual forum.
“Having hundreds of industry representatives coming together to plan sustainably for the next two decades and to determine the best ways to compete in the domestic and international tourism markets is a unique opportunity for the local industry.”
Upcoming Events
Youth Prosperity Forum Follow-up.
SCBC are now working on the follow up workshop to the November Youth Prosperity Forum. This will be held in mid-May and will respond to the commitments made at the November forum. The outcome of the next forum will be reported in the June newsletter.
Ripple Effect from Kawana Health Precinct.
Nine (9) months on from our last forum it is time to take another look at how the ripple effect is being experienced within the regional economy from the investment in to the health precinct. We are speaking with local chambers and business to gauge progress and will report back to our members in the May newsletter.
Meetings planned with regional state politicians and local government mayors.
SCBC are planning to meet with our five state members and two local Mayors before 30th June 2014 to keep talking about our regional priorities with the strength of a combined voice. We will keep you informed as these meetings occur.
Membership
Membership to join the Sunshine Coast Business Council is now open. To recommend a member to your own network of leading local businesses, please invite them to visit our website at www.scbusinesscouncil.com.au where application forms are available.
Sandy Zubrinich
SCBC Chairperson