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Plan for booming business<br />
Northern Beaches Council has<br />
released its first Economic<br />
Development Strategy to grow and<br />
support businesses across the whole of its<br />
local government area.<br />
And it could see Council throw its weight<br />
behind growing a significant central<br />
business district hub.<br />
Mayor Michael Regan said ‘Business on<br />
the Beaches’ recognised the unique nature<br />
of our local economy, and challenges and<br />
opportunities over the next 10 years.<br />
“Our vision is for a more diverse,<br />
innovative, vibrant and green economy. A<br />
local economy that is sustainable, both in<br />
an economic and an environmental sense,”<br />
Mayor Regan said.<br />
“We love our local businesses and want<br />
to support them now and into the future.<br />
This economic development strategy<br />
identifies the challenges our economy<br />
faces, the opportunities available and sets<br />
out our aspirations for the next decade.<br />
“The Northern Beaches is home to many<br />
highly skilled and talented people, who<br />
could contribute significantly to our local<br />
economy if we can create new employment<br />
opportunities in our local area.”<br />
The draft strategy was prepared by<br />
specialist economic development firm<br />
NDP Economic Development with the<br />
assistance of Council staff and follows a<br />
thorough analysis of the current economic<br />
climate and consultation with the Northern<br />
Beaches community.<br />
Major opportunities could include:<br />
Innovation – new spaces or hubs to<br />
attract knowledge-based businesses and<br />
workers that align with the skills and<br />
aspirations of workers.<br />
Entrepreneurship – with some of the<br />
most talented professionals in Sydney and<br />
higher levels of home-based businesses, a<br />
focus on start-ups could grow the culture<br />
of entrepreneurship through information<br />
sharing, promotion and networking.<br />
Town centres – Welcoming back<br />
business and tourism through a<br />
combination of promotion, events and<br />
public domain improvements.<br />
Cultural & creative – the Northern<br />
Beaches is home to the largest<br />
concentration of cultural and creative<br />
RETAINED: Council says it’s important existing<br />
industrial areas, such as at Mona Vale, are kept<br />
a part of the Beaches’ fabric.<br />
businesses outside the Sydney CBD,<br />
offering scope for further growth by<br />
establishing creative hubs.<br />
Green economy – with local consumers<br />
wanting sustainable products and a high<br />
proportion of residents having the skills<br />
that could support a green economy,<br />
there is potential to explore emerging<br />
investment opportunities in this sector.<br />
Council has identified challenges in the<br />
plan, including traffic congestion, with<br />
slow transport for staff, customers and<br />
suppliers potentially reducing business<br />
profits.<br />
Also, with the Beaches not having a<br />
major ‘CBD’ it could be harder to attract<br />
major corporates and provide jobs that<br />
match residents’ skills.<br />
The absence of international students<br />
and working travellers, as well as rising<br />
housing costs that force many key workers<br />
to live outside the LGA, was also limiting<br />
the pool of workers for entry level roles.<br />
Further, Council is adamant that existing<br />
industrial and warehousing areas must be<br />
protected as they allowed for existing and<br />
emerging industries that supported the<br />
ongoing performance and functionality of<br />
the Northern Beaches economy.<br />
Among the many actions set out in<br />
the draft strategy are plans to revitalise<br />
employment areas. Council will also<br />
enhance existing industrial zoned areas<br />
and look at ways to support innovation and<br />
emerging industries.<br />
Investment in affordable housing will<br />
help attract and retain a broad range of<br />
essential workers and advocating for better<br />
public transport connections will support<br />
logistics and help attract employees.<br />
Council’s business support service will<br />
be expanded and a Business Advisory<br />
Forum could also be established,<br />
comprising key local businesses.<br />
The draft economic development<br />
strategy is underpinned by independent<br />
technical reports, employment studies and<br />
consultation with the business community.<br />
Business on the Beaches will be on public<br />
exhibition for eight weeks on the ‘Your<br />
Say’ page on Council’s website; resident<br />
feedback is encouraged.<br />
Comment has been sought from<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>’s local Chambers of Commerce.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JANUARY <strong>2023</strong> 25
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