ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
Dubbo Regional Council has connected with
business stakeholders and developed a CBD
Business Network and provided support to four
significant business development or place activation
programs annually. An example of this is the
improvement of the cultural and physical ambience
of the CBDs through public and commercial art,
encouraging live music and performance art through
streamlining busking approvals.
Council has completed a car parking audit
throughout the CBD and encouraged the use of
off-street parking through creative promotion and
signage as well as encouraging and supporting
stakeholders in identification and development
of further placemaking projects for delivery. The
progam also involves facilitating solutions to
address community safety concerns and antisocial
behaviour.
Dubbo Regional Council established and developed
a framework and processes to enable the Ignite
Program to be self-sufficient and actively managed
by stakeholders outside of Council. The success
of the Program has seen the region’s two CBDs
become the heart and soul of the Dubbo and
Wellington communities, offering exciting events
and a space for locals to meet.
FINALIST
WARRNAMBOOL CITY COUNCIL
Warrnambool China Bureau – A model for regional
Australian SME business engagement with China
Opportunity: the China market
Challenge: gaining an insight and a foothold in this
complex, sought-after market
Solution: The Warrnambool China Bureau
Warnanbool City Council identified that many
Australian businesses believe they have something
to offer the Chinese region but don’t know how to
access this potentially vast market.
China’s massive market presents endless business
opportunities, however, it is a market that is
complex, opaque and creates significant barriers
to success. Unquestionably, succeeding in and
with China is a long-term journey which requires
patience, professional market knowledge and
prudent China market entry strategies.
The Warrnambool China Bureau was created to
function as a Chinese market business incubator,
providing free customised support to small and
medium-sized local businesses in the Great South
Coast of Victoria.
In cooperation with Asialink Business, the
Warrnambool China Bureau (The Bureau) assisted
local businesses by offering end-to-end China
market engagement support including:
• one-on-one business mentoring, advice and
support;
• Chinese company background checking
service;
• translation services;
• market briefings; and,
• China-based market support and interpreting.
The Warrnambool China Bureau resulted in a
model that is highly transferrable to other regions
throughout Australia. It created an environment
where local government took the lead to ensure
services and support were easily accessible, low
cost and extremely practical. It eliminated the
fear of Chinese market engagement and allowed
businesses to navigate Chinese market complexity
and build Chinese market capability across the
region.
FINALIST
CESSNOCK CITY COUNCIL
Advance Cessnock City
Taking a strategic leadership role, Councils can
facilitate outcomes that stimulate enterprise,
investment, job creation, economic resilience
and enable environments which are conducive to
undertaking business.
Cessnock City Council’s Economic Development
Unit (EDU) has driven change through developing
the Advance Cessnock City platform. Advance
Cessnock City (ACC) is the partnership formed
of the Council and local Chambers of Commerce,
and a vehicle to enable a strategic and results-
oriented economic development approach based on
successful business engagement.
ACC has provided the foundation blocks for
solid and responsive business engagement, and
more critically an advanced understanding of the
economic base for better decision making. It has
been an instrumental tool which enables rapid
action and communication for government and
business projects.
The EDU have been able to successfully use the
ACC to attract strategic investment in the form
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