Positive outlook
Hello and welcome to our first newsletter for 2013.
I believe there is good reason to feel positive about the region’s economic outlook for the year ahead, with unprecedented investment in major projects set to attract new business and skilled workers to the Sunshine Coast.
As the region’s peak business body, we look forward to continuing to make a constructive contribution to debate about the region’s economic development and the actions required to ensure long-term prosperity.
We will continue our research focus to identify current and emerging trends, holding forums for our members and stakeholders and meeting with representatives from government and business to ensure we are all focused on making the most of the opportunities coming our way.
Our target of 250,000 jobs on the Sunshine Coast by 2031 to support the anticipated population growth over the next 20 years remains our top priority.
With the $2 billion university hospital and health precinct at Kawana starting to take shape, construction due to commence on the new CBD next year and ongoing efforts to secure funding for the airport expansion, I believe that target is achievable.
Attracting investment from Asia will also be a hot topic in 2013 following last year’s Asian Century White Paper, and this needs to be front of mind for our representatives on the Sunshine Coast.
The business council is planning to hold a forum in April to examine how relevant the Asia opportunity is to the Coast and to raise our region’s profile among investors in these markets and boost awareness of potential investment opportunities.
I look forward to a busy and productive 2013 for the Sunshine Coast Business Council and wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year.
Sandy Zubrinich
Chair, Sunshine Coast Business Council
Planning scheme
Sunshine Coast Council staff are now considering public comment on the draft regional planning as they begin to finalise this critical document which is due to be adopted later this year.
The SCBC was one of 11 business and industry associations that contributed to a group submission to council, highlighting key concerns, issues and omissions in the draft document.
We will be meeting with the Sunshine Coast Council on the 8 February to present our submission. One of our main objectives is to ensure that the planning scheme supports the regions vision and economic development strategies, not the other way round as it appears to be currently.
De-amalgamation
Noosa residents will head to the ballot box on March 9 to decide whether to proceed with de-amalgamation from the regional council.
Only those enrolled within the boundaries of the former Noosa shire will be eligible to vote in the referendum, although the outcome will have implications for the remainder of the region.
It will be important for Noosa residents to have all the facts at their disposal before they decide whether it is worth the financial pain of separation.
The University of the Sunshine Coast has commenced an independent study of the Noosa community to identify what appear to be the issues that the community finds most important and whether they believe that they have adequate information now to arrive at their decision. Results from the study are anticipated to be made public in early February.
While a public education campaign will be required, we sincerely hope that this debate does not become a major distraction at a time when we need to remain focused on the key challenges of creating jobs, economic growth and delivering major projects.
New Board members
This year we welcome three new Board members who will bring invaluable knowledge and experience from the local health, tourism and development sectors.
They include CEO of Sunshine Coast Destinations Ltd, Steve Cooper, co-founder and CEO of the Sunshine Coast Haematology & Oncology Clinic, Sandra Reardon, and Chair of the Sunshine Coast branch of the Property Council of Australia, Peter Bolton-Hall.
In addition, Board member Michael Hopkins has taken up the new position of Deputy Chair.
The new members’ skills and expertise will greatly assist our efforts to promote economic development in key industry sectors at a critical time in the region’s history.
We would also like to thank retired Board member Karen Neuendorf, from the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network, for her commitment and contribution to the business council.
Website
While many of you were enjoying a break over the festive season, we’ve been overhauling our website to include more information and news to benefit our members. Visit www.scbusinesscouncil.com.au to view the results and let us know what you think.
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.