|
|
Shoalhaven
Economic Growth & Advocacy Group – Monday 18 March 2024
Page
0
|
EG24.2 Advocacy
and Growth - Staff Update
HPERM Ref: D24/20518
Department: Tourism
& Economic Development
Approver: Coralie
McCarthy, Acting Director - City Futures
Reason for Report
The purpose of this report is to provide the Shoalhaven
Economic Growth and Advocacy (SEGA) group with an update on key projects in the
City Futures Directorate.
|
Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)
That the Shoalhaven Economic
Growth and Advocacy Group receive this report for their information.
|
Options
1. Receive this report for information.
Implications: The SEGA group will be provided with a high-level overview of key
priorities and projects.
2. Request additional information.
Implications: Staff will provide additional information during the meeting if
possible, or later after further investigation.
Background
The Tourism and Economic
Development department within Shoalhaven City Council provide the SEGA group with regular updates. Previous SEGA
meetings on 18 October 2023 and 13 December 2023 did not meet quorum, therefore
the prior report was deferred. Therefore, this staff update report covers the
content from previous meetings, as well as recent updates.
Economic Growth Update
Council staff have participated
in, or provided feedback towards the following Economic Development matters:
o Presented Council and business
priorities to the Hon. John Graham, State MP for Jobs and Tourism, the Arts,
Roads, Music and Nighttime Economy
o Attended and supported the Shoalhaven
Business Awards in 2023
o Attended workshops explaining the
Australia-India Trade Agreement
o Attended meetings of the Shoalhaven
Motor Sports Working Group
o Attended workshop for the
Milton/Ulladulla Bypass
o Stakeholder for the Illawarra
Shoalhaven Regional Economic Development Strategy
o Attended the launch of the
”Think Regional” project
o Attended Movement and Place workshop,
hosted by the Greater Cities Commission
o Participated in the Illawarra South
Coast Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce
o Attended Workforce Australia
Providers meetings
o Attended Australian Regional Tourism
Board meetings
o Member of the Nowra Riverfront Action
Taskforce
o Participated in Vincentia Shopping
Village reactivation project finalisation and opening
o Member of the Shoalhaven Careers
Advisors Network (SCAN)
o Support of the Shoalhaven Business
Chamber – Business After Hours events
o Support Shoalhaven Professional
Business Association‘s meetings and events
o Organise Illawarra Shoalhaven
Regional Defence Network meetings and events
o Attended the launch of the Illawarra
Shoalhaven 10-Year Defence Industry Strategy
o Supported Telstra – Shoalhaven
Connectivity Action Plan
o Attended the launch of an Affordable
Housing report from Business Illawarra
o Supported the Sikorsky Plane Simple
competition
o Attended the IndoPacific Expo –
Darling Harbour and promoted the region
o Presented to the University of the
Third Age (U3A)
o Presented at various Business Chamber
meetings and hosted Business Chamber round-table discussions with Council staff
Advocacy Update
o Internal
and external consultations are underway to update Council’s Advocacy
Document in time for the upcoming Government Elections. The team is
currently reviewing the existing key projects and investigating new ones to
include that meet community and business needs.
Strategy Reviews
o Currently reviewing the Shoalhaven
Economic Development Strategy and Tourism Destination Management Plan in
order to map out an action plan to collaborate, align and renew.
o The review of the Shoalhaven Regional
Economic Development Strategy was completed in early 2023, and Council are now
part of a working group to develop a broader Illawarra Shoalhaven Economic
Development Strategy, which is being led by the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint
Organisation. The Shoalhaven Regional Economic Development Strategy can be
viewed here.
o Reviewing and providing comment to
the draft Community Improvement Districts Bill 2023, being led by Transport for
NSW. Submissions due 29 March 2024. Further information can be found here.
o Reviewing and providing comment to
the draft discussion paper on Short Term rental Accommodation (STRA) alongside
Council’s Strategic Planning team to provide feedback to Planning NSW.
Further information can be found here.
Defence and Manufacturing
Sector Development
o Shoalhaven Defence Industry and
Manufacturing Round Table
o Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Defence
Network - member of the Steering Committee and ongoing involvement in
arranging events and programs.
Industrial Land Updates
o Ongoing development of Flinders stage
11
o AATP stage 5 – Subdivision is
currently being registered and an expression of interest will soon go public
for the sale of the 15 available lots
o Woollamia Stage 5a is approaching
completion and an expression of interest will soon go public for the sale of
six available lots.
o Woollamia Stage 5 - An expression of
interest has recently closed for the sale of two available lots.
Local Business Support
o CEO Business Forum networking event
o Advocacy for businesses affected by
the closure of Pleasant Way, Nowra in relation to the Nowra Bridge Project
o Partnered with Investment NSW to
deliver an Export Workshop on 11 August 2023
o Supported NSW Government –
Business Connects free health check program
o Development of content for a new
economic development business-to-business website is underway
o The final business after hours
networking night for the year was held at Pelican Shores Marina and Cafe on 17
November. Council partnered with Shoalhaven and Sussex Inlet Business
Chambers, the networking event was well received with 73 people
attending.
o A Precinct Marketing Grant of $5,000
was given to Shoalhaven Heads Rotary for the Shoalhaven Heads town map.
o Product development continues across
Wellness, Aboriginal Cultural Experiences, Inclusive and Accessible products.
o Attendance at Destination NSW inbound
tourism workshops in region, and attendance at DSSS Centre of Excellence
familiarisations.
o At the Ordinary Meeting on 30 October
2023, it was resolved that Council acknowledges the economic benefit of the
local oyster farming industry and to assess the permissibly of the operations
occurring at these sites. Council requested a future report that outlines any
permissibly pathways to achieve consent, and working with DPE in applications
to amend zoning under the Shoalhaven LEP.
o Discussion with Kandui Technologies
– a green ceramics company in the Shoalhaven – and their possible
rapid expansion that has occurred from the silica ban taking effect in July
2024.
o Discussion with the Australian School
of Entrepreneurship and possible future endeavours.
Visitor Economy Data –
future booking insights:
o Summer showed a downturn in
accommodation bookings for the peak week of the year (Dec 25 – Jan 2) at
82% compared to a previous average of around 90%. January overall capacity was
at 65% as compared to previous average of 80%. Occupancy reports also show that
the higher priced accommodation ($600+) was 10% less booked than the lower priced
options ($0 – $200), which reflects feedback collected from luxury
product operators.
o Long term goals of growing off-season
visitation are on track. Since 2012, there has been an 84% growth in off-season
(May – Sept) trips to Shoalhaven. Conversely the peak season which
includes October, Summer and Easter holidays (Oct – April) has only grown
22% over the same 10 year period.***
o Tourism Research Australia data year
ending June 2023 shows an annual total estimated visitor expenditure of $1.319
billion. This total was growing steadily but has been volatile since hitting
the $1 billion mark in December 2019.*
Marketing and Promotion:
o The team launched Shop Shoalhaven, the Shoalhaven
Visitor Services online shop in December. Marketing and promotion of goods
including hampers is ongoing. The shop is a business development opportunity,
visioned by the team, to bring a commercial wing into the business unit, not
only to support the costs of visitor servicing but to also help local business
by way of further opportunities to sell local product.
o Web development of a new
business-to-business website to serve news and toolkits to Shoalhaven’s
Economic Development and Tourism operators is underway. Development of the
website will include consultation with the business community and other
stakeholders.
o The Winter Foodie Campaign wrapped up
at the end of October. Across four months the campaign delivered eight media
articles including familiarisations from Gourmet Traveller, Concrete
Playground, The Latch, and SBS Food with a total reach of over 10million. The
foodie landing page on shoalhaven.com saw almost 20,000 views and 1,700 leads
to industry. Paid social media ads gained over 1.3 million impressions and
delivered over 16,000 click throughs at a cost per click of only $0.29.
o The Love Local Campaign was a
reactive campaign in collaboration with local business chambers to drive extra
income into small local businesses in Shoalhaven due to a drop in visitation
over Winter. The campaign ran from July to September and partnered with local
media to deliver 23 radio interviews, 6 local articles, 250,000 reach and
40,000 engagements on social media, and stimulated 200 new free listings on
shoalhaven.com website.
o Destination marketing over summer
consisted of hygiene and dispersal activities such as: the launch of the next
Shoalhaven Travel Guide, and local advertising of the 100 Beach Challenge and
Conscious Traveller Campaigns.
o The Autumn Wellness Campaign has been
launched to media with familiarisations in progress throughout February and
March including Time Out magazine, Daily Telegraph Escape, KO Travellers (300K
followers), Mammamia, Women’s Weekly, Her Canberra, Australian Traveller,
and Wellbeing Magazine.
*Tourism Research Australia
Shoalhaven & Jervis Bay Monitor year to date June
2023.
**Localis Data Company 2019
– 2023
*** Tourism Research Australia
Shoalhaven & Jervis Bay June & Sept quarters 2012 - 2022
Event
Update General
o The events team are currently
undergoing a review of policies and procedures, working to streamline the event
application process.
o There has been an increase in
events processed on Council owned or managed land in:
o The number of event approvals
in October to December 2023 surpassed the number of events in the same period
the previous year (45 in 2022), with 64* approved events on council owned or
managed land.
o During the same period,
Huskisson and Mollymook are the locations attracting the most events.
o There was a large influx of
summer events in January and February 2024
o The events team are seeing a
trend of shorter turn-around times for event applications. Often leaving
council with only four weeks to process applications and approvals ahead of the
proposed event date.
o The events team have been
engaging with many community event organisers, aiming to build relationships
and assist the community with their local events.
o Currently recruiting for an
Event Liaison Officer, following the resignation of Renee Wenban.
*This count taken from internal events
calendar run by events team as at 21.02.2024
Event Support
Program (Grants)
The current
round of the Tourism Event Support Program is due to close mid-March 2024, with
successful applicants advised by end of April 2024.
o As in previous years the Event
Support Program is designed to attract visitors to the Shoalhaven outside of
the peak period. There will be a strong focus for the next round to
encourage more events in the winter months, spread out around the region.
o There has also been time spent
researching and pulling together a new database of event organisers to target
with the aim of attracting a broader range of events to the region.
The first half
of 2024 (January – June) features eight sponsored events from previous
funding rounds:
o Volleymook Tour –
Mollymook
o Brumbies Rugby South Coast 7's
– Ulladulla
o Classic Car Show & Shine
– Sussex Inlet
o Rhythmic & Aerobic
Gymnastics State Championships – Bomaderry
o Winter Solstice – Jervis
Bay
o Comedy Show Dinner Series
– Ulladulla
o Beer & BBQ Festival
– Huskisson
o Viking
Festival – Sussex Inlet
Grants
Spotlight – Business and Community Focus
Energy Efficiency Grants for Small Business –
Department of Climate Change, Energy, & the Environment and
Water
® Grants available between $10,000
and $25,000
® NSW Applications CLOSE Monday 8
April
As this funding program is a demand driven program it has
been shared with local business chamber networks as early as possible. Grants
can be up to 100% of eligible expenditure. Grants
will be awarded to eligible applicants in order of application receipt in each
state and territory. Applications may close early if all allocated funds for
Round 2 are exhausted.
The Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized
Enterprises program is supporting businesses to upgrade or replace inefficient
equipment and implement other energy efficiency activities. Up to $41.2 million
will be available in grants to help businesses fund a range of energy
efficiency activities, such as:
· Upgrading or replacing inefficient technologies, such as
changing existing display fridge cabinets with more efficient models, or gas
cookers with electric equivalents
· Improving space and water heating systems
· Conducting energy audits
· Installing energy monitoring systems.
For more information and
access to funding guidelines please click here.
Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund –
Australian and NSW Cricket
® Grants up to $40,000 for local
sport projects
® Applications CLOSE on Monday 15
April 2024
The
Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund (ACIF) provides funding for community
cricket facility projects, with a focus on growing participation and promoting
accessibility and inclusivity. The ACIF is open to all clubs, associations,
schools, councils, and cricket facility managers, acknowledging the important
role that these partners play in providing facilities for community.
The
ACIF will provide funding in the following three categories:
Minor
Projects: $1,000 — $15,000 (Up to 50% of the total project cost)
Eligible
projects include upgrading pitches, practice nets, practice facility
refurbishment, minor change facility/pavilion refurbishment, supporting
infrastructure (e.g. shade/shelter)
Major
Projects: $15,001 — $40,000 (Up to 50% of the total project
cost)
New
practice facilities, significant oval upgrades, sports lighting, change
facility/pavilion upgrade, major refurbishments including drainage and
irrigation.
The third stream of funding is for larger
strategic projects which need to be discussed with the infrastructure team
at infrastructure@cricketnsw.com.au prior to submission.
Applications
must be submitted to the relevant State or Territory Cricket Association via an
online application form and must include landowners consent approval letters.
For more information on the program and access to funding
guidelines please click here.
Telstra
Connected Communities Grant Program – Telstra and FRRR
Grants
range up to $10,000 for community groups
® Applications CLOSE on 27 March
2024
In
partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, grants of up
to $10,000 are available to community groups and not-for-profits to help them
build resilient, sustainable, and liveable communities. The program has
three themes:
Resilient
communities that are well prepared and socially connected, with the ability
to renew and recover together when disaster strikes. Example project includes
purchasing a generator, solar panels, and rechargeable radios for a community
hall to boost preparedness.
Sustainable
communities that are diverse and inclusive, through planning for the
health, wellbeing and prosperity of their people and planet. Example projects
include installing video conferencing technology for health services in remote
areas.
Liveable
communities that have digital capability, helping to equip people with the
skills to live, learn and work in a digital society. Example project includes
boosting digital capability for older people through cyber security workshops
enhancing skills and knowledge.
Successful grants will be announced in June 2024 and successful applicants will
have 12 months to complete funded projects.
For more details on the
Connected Communities Grant program click here.
Drought
Preparation Grants – Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR)
® Grants available up to $20,000
(Shoalhaven eligible Stream 1 Only)
® Applications OPEN on 13 February
2024 and close 26 March 2024
Through
this initiative the Australian Government is investing in the future of
agricultural dependent communities to identify and act on their drought
preparedness at grass roots level in ways that best suit local communities.
The
small network grants will fund workshops, community events, training
initiatives, community infrastructure, development, and learning initiatives to
assist local people and communities to strengthen social capital and capability
to deal with droughts.
Shoalhaven
region is eligible in Stream 1 – Council and community groups can apply
for up to a maximum of $20,000. No co-contribution is required.
For more information and
access to funding guidelines please visit here.
Electric
Vehicle Destination Charging Grants Round 2 – NSW Office of Energy and
Climate Change
® Changes from Round One make this
round more attractive for local business
® Applications NOW OPEN and close
Friday 3 May 2024
Under the NSW Electric Vehicle
Strategy, and in consultation with Transport for NSW, the Office of Energy and
Climate Change, has designed the Drive electric NSW EV destination charging
grants. 167 sites across NSW have been successful to date.
There is a further
$10 million to roll out widespread, public EV charging infrastructure at
visitor destinations across regional NSW. Under the grants, a destination
charger refers to 7kW or 22kW AC electric vehicle chargers. These are to be
installed at popular tourism businesses allowing EV drivers to
charge while spending time at the tourist location. A destination is a location
that supports the NSW visitor economy and can be publicly or privately
owned.
What has changed from Round
One
· More approved EV charger hardware and software providers
· More eligible LGAs and destination types
· Higher co-funding towards purchase & installation
costs (up to 75% of costs covered)
· Greater flexibility around site configurations
· More time to install your charger.
To be eligible businesses must be:
· Located in an eligible regional NSW local government area
(LGA)
· An approved destination type as listed in the
guidelines
· Be listed on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW)
· Have no more than FOUR existing EV charging ports
installed
· One application per site.
For more eligibility information
and access to funding guidelines please click here.
Visitor Information
Services
It has been another busy
Christmas and New Year period at the Nowra and Ulladulla Visitor Centres.
Enquiry volume followed weather patterns as travellers looked for advice on
activities to keep themselves entertained come rain, hail, and sunshine. The
team were also out in Huskisson providing Visitor Information from our pop up
at White Sands Park. There were strong numbers of international travellers
particularly from Europe as well as interstate and far west regional visitors.
There was emphasis on questions about natural attractions, adventure
activities, aquatic activity info and directions for scenic drives. Most people
were staying between 3-4 days or seven days plus in the region.
The recently launched Shop Shoalhaven online store has
gained significant momentum, attracting over 3,000 visitors eager to explore
its offerings. We are currently engaged in reaching out to various businesses,
seeking expressions of interest. With the aim to enhance the diversity of
products available and showcase Shoalhaven businesses.
The management team is focused on
enhancing operational efficiencies and refining strategic initiatives, with a
particular emphasis on the ambassador program.
Staff Updates
Updates for
Tourism and Economic Development:
o Emelie Einarsson remains
on maternity leave
o Lindsay Conway is
filling in as the Visitors Services Manager full time
o Phil Schafer continues
to enjoy his Grants Officer role
o Kristy
Mayhew is currently Acting Tourism and Economic Development
Manager
