Moreton Bay Regional Council has unveiled its five-year action plan for Moreton Bay’s $12.9 billion economy, outlining 29 key actions that focus on local business growth, ongoing investment attraction and the region’s next major infrastructure project, The Mill at Moreton Bay.
Acting Mayor Mike Charlton launched The Economic Development Action Plan 2017-2022 (EDAP) at a meeting of the Hills Chamber of Commerce at the Eatons Hill Hotel after council adopted the plan at its Coordination Committee Meeting on Tuesday, September 12.
“Attracting new investment, growing our existing businesses and regional projects such as the $1 billion Redcliffe Peninsula Line have helped Moreton Bay quickly become one of Australia’s fastest-growing areas and prosperous economies,” Cr Charlton said.
He said that the new EDAP focuses on five key areas, including:
- Investment Attraction
- Business Development
- Tourism
- Education
- International Engagement
“These key areas include clear, tangible goals that council together with its strategic partners will aim to achieve, such as attracting 20 industry-diverse businesses with more than 20 employees, developing a new investment attraction strategy, and delivering The Mill at Moreton Bay and its 6,000 jobs, 10,000 university places and $950 million in economic activity.”
“With our region’s population expected to grow more than 618,000 in the next two decades, we want to attract new business to Moreton Bay, nurture our existing employers and generate local study opportunities so residents don’t have to travel hours on end to get to university or work”
“Currently, 47 percent of our community travel outside the region for their job, and we’d rather see residents spend more time with their families than on the road.
“The plan highlights that Moreton Bay is a competitive region with a skilled workforce and more than 1,800 hectares of available greenfield land in close proximity to the Bruce Highway, Port of Brisbane, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast airports and North Coast rail line.
“Already, a number of the EDAP’s actions are being implemented with great success, including the Incentivising Infill Development Policy for areas like Strathpine and Caboolture, as well as the launch of the interactive investment prospectus for suburbs like Kallangur along the new Redcliffe Peninsula Line.”
Other action items include:
- Study tours – Initiate tours for prospective international students, families and education providers to showcase the region as a destination for secondary and tertiary study, especially with The Mill at Moreton Bay
- Tourism partnerships – Continue partnerships with Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism, Woodford Folk Festival and Abbey Medieval Festival to deliver greater tourism opportunities, both domestic and international
- Economic Development portal – A new economic development website with up-to-date regional profile and economic information
- Caboolture Event Precinct Development and Investment Attraction Strategy
- Food Directory Service – Highlighting the region’s growers and producers to provide greater visibility in the supply chain and self-containment.
“Local government plays an important role in guiding job growth and economic development, but we can’t do it alone, and that’s why the EDAP also recognises the importance of leveraging key partnerships with industry, business and residents to encourage ongoing growth in our $12.9 billion economy and 26,000-plus registered businesses.”
Local business growth
Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism CEO Shane Newcombesaid the focus on local business development and tourism was a vote of confidence in the region’s employers and workforce, and reinforced the need to continue the collaborative approach between government, industry and business in Moreton Bay.
“It’s great to see the EDAP continue that focus on local business growth and also identify how government, businesses and industry bodies like MBRIT and our local chambers of commerce all have a role to play in growing our economy,” Mr Newcombe said.
Cr Charlton said the Economic Development Action Plan and progress on the 29 clear target actions would be reviewed annually.
