ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
Act SA) with a new branded focus on an innovative
business support service through greater business
activation and stronger partnerships.
The ON Business Partner Program (ON) is
the culmination of extensive engagement in
2016 between the Southern Adelaide business
community and the City of Onkaparinga.
Originating from the new economic landscape that
emerged from the closure of car manufacturing
in Adelaide, ON provides support services to
businesses across all business life-cycles,
particularly helping the many micro-businesses
that dominate the local business mix (70% of
businesses).
Recognising that many home-based, micro and
SME businesses did not have the capacity to
hold all business capabilities and facilities in-
house, a robust structure was developed, along
with a brand for Council’s economic development
activities. This ON brand has opened doors to new
relationships with investors, decision makers, state
and federal governments, and other stakeholders;
in turn stimulating greater growth for our business
community.
FINALIST
WOLLONGONG CITY COUNCIL
“Advantage Wollongong”
Advantage Wollongong represents a best practice
approach to regional economic development.
It is a long-term, strategic approach to creating
sustainable new jobs and productive investment
for Wollongong, NSW. This is achieved through
facilitating new business investment projects and
the expansion of existing business operations.
This collaboration aims to promote Wollongong on
a national scale and takes advantage of its close
proximity to Sydney and its global position.
Advantage Wollongong represents a collaborative
partnership between the NSW Department of
Premier and Cabinet, Wollongong City Council and
the University of Wollongong.
As part of its business attraction and expansion
program, Advantage Wollongong promotes
four key advantages that make Wollongong a
competitive business location: globally connected,
superb liveability, City of Innovation and supportive
business environment.
Advantage Wollongong currently targets four key
growth sectors:
1. Knowledge services (superannuation, ICT,
business services and financial services);
2. Advanced Manufacturing;
3. Trade and Logistics; and
4. Defence.
Advantage Wollongong has resulted in significant
outcomes in terms of business investment projects
facilitated and new jobs and investment generated.
To date, Advantage Wollongong has facilitated over
2,700 new jobs for Wollongong, through over 80
business attraction and expansion projects. One
of Advantage Wollongong’s most recent major
achievements was attracting NEC to Wollongong
to set up a new corporate office. This $25M
investment in Wollongong has seen an additional
130 FTE jobs for Wollongong, which REMPLAN
modelling estimates has contributed $59M to the
local economy per annum.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC THINKING
WINNER
MORETON BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL
“Redcliffe Peninsular Rail Corridor”
Moreton Bay Region is one of the fastest growing
areas in Queensland and has been experiencing
significant population growth over the last decade.
Moreton Bay Region’s population is expected to
continue to grow from its current 425,302 t o over
618,000 by 2036. The Redcliffe Peninsula Rail
Corridor (RPRC) is an important and critical growth
area of the Moreton Bay Region, with roughly half of
the aforementioned growth predicted to occur within
the RPRC over the next two decades.
The significant growth within the region requires a
deliberate and considered response by council to
ensure that it can be accommodated by utilising
and maximising employment and investment
opportunities within the corridor. In order to ensure
this growth and investment potential is met, Council
has created an innovative and unique interface in
which to engage potential investors.
The RPRC Investment Prospectus is an innovative
online, interactive portal that highlights investment
opportunities within the RPRC. The Investment
Prospectus utilises 3D fly-throughs and interactive
mapping platforms to highlight and showcase
potential investment and development opportunities,
as identified in the Investment Attraction Study
(IAS) and the Moreton Bay Regional Council
(MBRC) Planning Scheme. Targeting investors, the
Investment Prospectus identifies key statistics such
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