progress. The Murraylands Skills Centre is an innovative, dynamic space established to support community, businesses and students across the Murraylands. Murray Bridge has been recognised as a satellite city by the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan and the Centre sits right in the heart of the CBD. The region now has access to tailored career advice, study support, onsite training, and direct connections to job opportunities. Students studying any course through any provider can access the Centre seven days a week, for free one-on-one support and use of the facility to help achieve their career goals. The Centre also features a co-working space and delivers subsidised, in-person training developed from realtime regional needs, enabling businesses to upskill their teams and helping individuals transition into employment.
FINALIST: Logan City Council Striving for Gold- Logan ' s Legacy Roadmap The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games offers a once-in-ageneration opportunity to deliver long term social and economic outcomes. To identify opportunities and guide the city’ s ambitions, Council developed the City of Logan Legacy Roadmap. The roadmap has 19 initiatives, led by a mix of Council, industry and community. For the city to successfully achieve its ambitions, Council is leading, energising and empowering the community, industry and its key stakeholders to collaborate and plan for positive legacy outcomes. Striving for Gold – Logan’ s Legacy Forum was held on 7 May 2025. The forum brought together a broad cross section of the city and key Games decision makers to review the roadmap, call for new bold ideas and mobilise city-wide planning for legacy outcomes. Stakeholders are already reaping the rewards and since the creation of the roadmap, Council has secured a multi-purpose indoor venue as part of Games planning, which will be funded by the 2032 Delivery Plan.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOVERY & RESILIENCE sponsored by Monitor CRMS
WINNER: City of Subiaco Marketing the Past – Bringing Soul Back to Subi
Subiaco has a longstanding history with markets, with the iconic Pavilion Markets once a major tourism attractor and central to the suburb’ s identity for over 25 years. After its closure in 2008, along with Subiaco Oval in 2017, the area experienced a decline in visitation and vibrancy. In response, the City of Subiaco developed an Economic Development Strategy, leading to the See Subiaco destination brand to attract visitors.
Community feedback consistently called for the return of markets, prompting a trial in 2023. Following its success, in 2024 the City made a strategic multi-year commitment to deliver Subi Night Market and Preloved Markets, reinvigorating Subiaco’ s market legacy and raising its profile as a vibrant destination attracting thousands of visitors annually. By leaning into its legacy and delivering a product that meets contemporary audiences, Subiaco has re-established itself as a market destination— one that not only strengthens local identity, but also delivers lasting benefits for economic development and place vitality.
FINALIST: Camden Council The Time is Now: Camden ' s Call for Critical Government Investment Camden is one of Australia’ s fastest growing Local Government areas, facing urgent infrastructure challenges that directly impact its economic future. The Time Is Now is a bold, innovative advocacy initiative focused on sustainable growth and economic prosperity, driven by a strong collaborative approach. Centred on clear, evidence-based priorities, the campaign supports improved transport, enhanced essential services and job creation.
Through effective engagement, clear communication, advocacy and high-impact publicity, it has contributed to securing critical government investment in transport, health, and education. The initiative has strengthened Camden’ s economic development capacity by making advocacy more transparent, connected and outcomes-focused. The Time Is Now positions Camden to continue to attract the government investment needed to unlock economic opportunity, ease commuter pressures, and deliver long-term prosperity and sustainability.
FINALIST: Fraser Coast Regional Council Business Recovery Support from Disaster The Fraser Coast was taken by surprise when ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred converged on Hervey Bay. In the early hours of Sunday, 9 March 2025, Hervey Bay received 230mm of rainfall in 3 hours, causing flash flooding and considerable damage in many parts of the city. Whilst there was substantial damage to many residential properties in the region, over one hundred businesses were also severely affected.
Fraser Coast Regional Council’ s Economic Development team quickly began business recovery- working with businesses, supporting them to return to trade and building resilience. Council worked closely with State and Federal government agencies to ensure information and support was easily accessible to business owners, many of whom were under or un-insured and facing a multitude of challenges following the disaster.
Council set up a Business Recovery Hub providing emergency support to specifically aid flood-affected businesses by providing information on recovery options, grants, and support services, connecting them with state agencies and offering business counsellors and guidance during the recovery process.
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