GOOD ACCESS IS GREAT FOR BUSINESS
Keryn South , City of Swan
THE CITY OF SWAN IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A COMMUNITY THAT IS INCLUSIVE , ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE . ONE WAY WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS IS BY WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE . NOT ONLY DOES THIS RESULT IN ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR BUSINESSES , BUT IT ALSO BENEFITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH ACCESS NEEDS .
INTRODUCTION The City of Swan is the largest local government by land size in the Perth metropolitan area and has one of the fastest-growing populations .
The City covers an area of 1,042 square kilometres , equivalent to almost 20 per cent of the Perth metropolitan area . A beautifully diverse expanse of land , the City is rich in natural assets , including the iconic Swan River and internationally renowned Swan Valley viticulture region established in 1829 .
Our location , services and facilities make the City an attractive place to live . The population across our 42 suburbs stands at 168,334 in 2023 but is set to reach 300,000 by 2050 .
The Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation have been the Traditional Custodians of the land for more than 40,000 years . The Derbal Yerrigan ( Swan River ) holds enormous cultural significance for the Noongar people . The City is also rich in European history , and our community is a melting pot of multiculturalism , with one in three people being born overseas and one in five speaking a language other than English at home .
With a clear understanding that our business community forms an important part of our economy , the City invests significantly in supporting businesses to grow and prosper .
Our dedicated Economic Development ( ED ) team operates many initiatives to support and enhance local business efforts .
In 2022 , the ED team developed a Business Support and Enhancement Plan ( BSEP ). This plan aimed to confirm that the business support services offered by the team aligned with our business community ’ s needs and wants .
By reviewing recent business surveys and focus feedback , as well as conducting a benchmarking exercise against other comparable metropolitan local governments , it was also intended to identify any gaps in service delivery .
Finalised in July 2023 , the plan identified 31 actions to be delivered over the next four years . One of the actions selected for early implementation was the development of the Accessible Swan Businesses initiative .
VOL 17 NO 2 2024 26 www . edaustralia . com . au