Welcome to our February 2013 newsletter for valued members of the Sunshine Coast Business Council.
De-amalgamation
Noosa residents will soon head to the ballot box to have their say on whether de-amalgamation will proceed and it appears that most have well and truly made up their minds.
Four hundred Noosa residents participated in a survey undertaken by the University of the Sunshine Coast earlier this year, where they were asked a series of questions about key issues in the upcoming poll.
The aim of the survey was not to ascertain voting intentions but to establish whether respondents had already decided which way they would vote and if they believed they had received sufficient information about the implications of going it alone.
The findings released on February 7 showed 78% of respondents knew how they would vote and the vast majority were unlikely to be swayed from their position.
However, about 38% of those surveyed said they would like to receive more information about de-amalgamation in order to make an informed judgement.
The top four issues for Noosa residents were: governance, including local representation and quality of services provided (35%); costs (20%); community pride and identity (12%); and environment (11%).
Noosa residents will have the final word on March 9 when they will vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in response to the question: “Should a Noosa Shire Council be created by the de-amalgamation of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council local government area, with the costs to be met by the Noosa Shire Council?”
SCBC research
While much time and energy has been directed towards the de-amalgamation debate, there are far more pressing issues for the Sunshine Coast requiring urgent and sustained attention.
The Sunshine Coast Business Council commissioned research last year to provide a clear and detailed picture of the local economy, so we could target areas of weakness and identify future opportunities.
The findings pointed to an economy that has been flat-lining since population growth and migration plummeted to levels below the state average in 2006.
The research showed the problems set in well before the global financial crisis and the economy has been languishing ever since.
Since 2006, construction has declined dramatically, tourism has been flat, and Gross Regional Product and salaries on the Coast were both below the state average.
A comparison of the performance of 14 regional economies across Queensland in 2006 and again in 2011 saw the Sunshine Coast sitting at 13 in 2006 with no improvement in its ranking five years later.
The only positive notes in the research were an increase in skills and qualifications in the region, an increase in labour force participation (although this was due to higher unemployment) and an increase in the number of people from Asia living on the Coast, although this was coming off a very low base.
It is a significant concern and it is clear we need action now to attract investment and skilled workers to the Sunshine Coast.
The business council believes the region’s focus should be on the health, education, agribusiness and tourism sectors and our leaders and representatives must be unified and proactive in their pursuit of opportunities for expansion in these areas.
The challenges for the Sunshine Coast are significant but not insurmountable, provided a concerted and collective effort is made to achieve clear objectives within specific timeframes.
Support is needed now from the State Government, the Sunshine Coast Council, the Planning Scheme and the community to achieve our goal of being a vibrant and prosperous region.
Details of this research are available on our website at www.scbusinesscouncil.com.au.
Strategic workshop
These research findings were presented at a half-day strategic workshop earlier this month, where board and other members of the business council thrashed out ideas about our priorities for 2013.
SCBC believes it is important to have quality research to underpin its actions and we now have the evidence to support our position.
Participants at the workshop agreed that our priorities for this calendar year should be communication; attracting investment and leveraging off existing investment; pursuing infrastructure and catalytic projects; and achieving clarity about the ‘enablers’ that will help drive investment and major projects.
We’re now in the process of developing an action plan outlining who will have responsibility in each area, where the Business Council will take the lead and where we will play a support role.
This information will be available on our website and distributed to members in the near future.
Asia Forum
In October 2012 the Federal Government released a White Paper titled “Australia in the Asian Century”. Asia is the most populous region in the world and in the future it will be home to the majority of the world’s middle class. Within a few years Asia will be the world’s largest producer and consumer of goods and services.
To understand the potential at a regional level, the SCBC recently commissioned research to identify the potential opportunities for the Sunshine Coast. That research will be released in April at a forum sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Council and University of the Sunshine Coast.
Mark this date in your diary:
Date: 11 April 2013
Venue: Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast
Time: 3:00 – 6:00pm
New members
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 where application forms are available.