Mayor Keith Campbell - Economic Development Portfolio Report - 18 January 2017

International Visit to the South Burnett

SBRC was proud to support the initiative of the South Burnett Wine Industry Association in hosting a representative of the Hong Kong based Wine Luxe Magazine during the early part of January 2017.

Councillors had the opportunity to meet delegates at a Lunch hosted by the Wine Association at Cassis at Booie.

As a result of this visit, Mr Nelson Siu of Wine Luxe Hong Kong will profile the wines of the South Burnett on their website, develop media articles in their Wine Luxe magazine and provide advocacy to Chinese based industry and networks.

Following on from this positive visit, South Burnett industry has the opportunity to promote their products at the HOFEX 2017 International Food Show during May of 2017. The Queensland Government will be leading a HOFEX trade mission to Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Council will endeavour to run an export ready workshop early in 2017 for interested businesses wishing to become export ready or to build upon their export knowledge.

South Burnett Economic Development Strategy 2014 to 2019

The South Burnett Economic Development Strategy was prepared in 2014 and it is timely for Councillors and South Burnett Directions to jointly review the strategy going forward. This will happen during the first quarter of 2017.

Water:

South Burnett Directions has investigated ways in which water for agriculture can aid the growth of this important sector. The Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils (WBBROC) has commenced scoping a water for agriculture growth project for the Wide Bay Burnett region.  This includes the South Burnett. The information gathered by SBD will be included in this new project scope. Council staff will participate in the project implementation to ensure the South Burnett benefits from opportunities identified. This approach is the most appropriate as the Wide Bay Burnett Council regions are all part of the same water scheme and the best outcomes are achieved by working together.

Heavy Vehicle Transport:

South Burnett Regional Council has a dual approach to improving heavy transport efficiencies in and out of the region.

Firstly, it is participating in the WBBROC ‘Last Mile Project’ which is working with Transport and Main Roads and the Federal Heavy Vehicle Transport Regulator to establish a flexible and safe approach for individual business to access main transport routes from their place of business. This approach is particularly important as it is cost prohibitive to upgrade a large number of local roads.

Secondly, through the South Burnett Directions Transport Reference Group priority heavy vehicle transport routes that restrict efficient transport of product to market have been identified.  An economic analysis will be undertaken on these routes to identify the cost impost imposed on the region by these routes. In addition the economic benefits to the region if the roads are upgraded will be analysed. This information will be prepared in conjunction with TMR and forwarded through the relevant State Government Roads Group. We will be using this information to push for improvements to these Roads.

South Burnett Rewards:

There are currently 54 businesses registered for South Burnett Rewards. 

Media is being rolled out to the community.  Editorials have been included in the South Burnett Times, as well as radio ads.  The SB Rewards Facebook page likes are increasing as are the participation statistics.

Grant for Exercise Precinct:

Council recently submitted a grant application for funding to develop an exercise precinct behind the Town Common Hall.  This was an idea from Taabinga Rotary and Council provided support.

The funding was announced last week, and the application was successful.

Capacity Building:

A Mentoring for Growth panel session was held at Murgon during November 2016, for local businesses.  

Digital Connectivity:

The recently announced Australian Government Mobile Blackspot Program - Round 2 – awarded 4 new base locations in the South Burnett:

• Gordonbrook (Telstra)
• Maidenwell (Optus)
• Tingoora (Telstra)
• Windera (Telstra)

Noting that Round 1 also awarded 4 locations to the South Burnett.

Transport Reference Group (TRG):

The inaugural meeting was held on 29 November 2016. The following routes were identified as critical to improving heavy vehicle transport to/from and through the South Burnett:

• Durong – Tingoora
• Bridges – Kilcoy and Woodford
• Kingaroy – Dalby
• Proston – Boondooma
• Mundubbera - Durong

It is intended to undertake an economic analysis on the efficiencies/inefficiencies of these routes. This information will be fed through the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Roads Group.  

Transport and Main Roads who are members of the reference group commented that the South Burnett TRG is a first of its kind and a great initiative. TMR are supportive of flexible approaches to improve transport efficiencies.

Health:

South Burnett Community Hospital Foundation

New equipment purchased to the value of $218,485 (GST Inclusive) will allow the hospital to undertake the following new services commencing January 2017:

• Gynaecology
• General Surgery

Additional equipment purchases will be further evaluated early 2017.

Tourism:

Responsive South Burnett Tourism Website ‘discoversouthburnett.com.au’:

A 3 month Google Adword Campaign commenced in December that will target the following experience groups:

• Wineries and
• Wine Trails
• Camping
• Caravan Parks
• Bunya Mountains Accommodation
• Scenic Drive
• Romantic Getaway
• South Burnett which includes tourism information, activities, fishing and what to do in the South Burnett.

Marketing print and digital promotion under the brand Discover South Burnett.

The South Burnett is promoted in Southern Queensland Country Tourism 2017 campaign in the Southern Queensland Country Tourism visitor guide.

The South Burnett Touring Guide has been updated and reprinted, with 30,000 copies printed (increase of 10,000) for distribution through:

• Visitor Information Centres
• Link Logic distribution (outside region)
• Operators
• Consumer shows
• Digital versions to Discover South Burnett website; Southern Queensland Country Tourism website; RACQ virtual visitor information centre

Australia’s Country Way Highway Group

SBRC is a longstanding member of Australia Country Way (ACW). An alliance between Australia’s Country Way and Leichhardt Highway group is being developed.

Highway group membership is important to the South Burnett which is a drive and short stay destination.

Culinary Tourism:

A food forum was hosted in Kingaroy on 28 November with approximately 75 attendees – both growers and on sellers. Presenters included a farmer, café owner and media consultant from outside the region who are successfully working in culinary tourism.

Next steps are to build and publish a database of local produce and interested businesses and facilitate a food networking group.

International Visitors:

Following on from the Kangaroo Mommy visit to the South Burnett opportunities are being created to attract international visitors to the South Burnett.

International business tours will provide a platform for local businesses to showcase and present their potential investment and strategic partnership opportunities to international investors.