Over 150 of the most influential academics, business people and government officials came together on 11 August to participate in the ‘Realising the Ripple Effect’ conference hosted by the Sunshine Coast Business Council in Maroochydore.

The conference focused largely on the impacts posed by the multi-billion-dollar Sunshine Coast Health Campus and considered whether the Sunshine Coast is positioned to successfully deliver an economic ‘ripple effect’ similar to those being experienced by comparable health precincts nationally and internationally.

Speakers at the event included Brian Haratsis, Macroplan Dimasi Executive Chairman and renowned futurist and strategic advisor operating in the property sector locally and internationally; Professor Marianne Wallis, University of the Sunshine Coast Professor of Nursing; James Mathews, Manager of Advisory for KPMG; Ben Simpson, Stockland Regional Manager – Sunshine Coast; Linda Delamotte, Kawana Chamber of Commerce President and Mayor Mark Jamieson.

Sunshine Coast Business Council Chair Sandy Zubrinich said feedback from the event had been very positive and discussions were already underway to further consider how to maximise the opportunities which were identified.

“While the conference was very well received and the experts presenting certainly provided challenging food for thought, what really matters is what we do next to keep driving this agenda,” said Ms Zubrinich.

“The Sunshine Coast Health Campus is forecast to inject more than $3 billion into the local economy followed by a further $447 million per year once the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital is operational. This presents an enormous opportunity for the Sunshine Coast business community.

“The Ripple Effect Conference explored how our existing local economy can leverage off the new health precinct, rather than the precinct becoming an independent economy of its own. We believe we need to better equip the Sunshine Coast business community — and in particular the 96 per cent of small business operators — to be ready to take the opportunity to grow in to new products and services as there will be others from outside the region who see the potential and are ready to act.”

“The ripple effect will extend well beyond the health industry and far beyond the geographic location of the precinct. There aren’t many industries which will not benefit from this precinct either directly or indirectly.”

“We are working closely with Stockland who are the land owners of much of the health precinct as well as representatives of the health sector and council, the Sunshine Coast Business Council members and chambers of commerce to communicate the new business and job opportunities that will arise. It is important that the broader business and investment community has an awareness of the benefits this precinct will deliver to the Sunshine Coast outside of being a new modern hospital and health service. Getting this message out to the community over the next six months will be crucial ahead of the hospital opening in April 2017.”