Focus On... Tourism and Economic Development

• Streets ahead in economic development
  Banyule Council in Melbourne’s northeast has a strong track record in utilising special rates to create vibrant main streets.
• Providing opportunities in the downturn
  A footpath improvement program funded by the West Coast Council will provide a much-needed boost to employment to the Tasmanian region.
• Future Directions - By Greg Arnott, Director of Corporate Governance, Roper Gulf Regional Council
  
• Annual event keeps bush poetry alive
  Lovable larrikins and budding bush poets converged for the 15th annual Nebo Bush Poet’s Smoko last month in Isaac Regional Council in Queensland.
• Heritage building becomes regional gallery
  Inspired by the Shire’s developing arts community, Narrandera Shire Council in New South Wales turned a disused heritage building into a stand-out arts and cultural centre.
• Little wooden shops boost shopping strip
  As part of Moonee Valley City Council’s Buy Local Moonee Valley campaign, wooden ‘little shops’ with rewards attached have been hidden along a local shopping strip.
• Connecting young people and local businesses
  Mosman Council Youth Services is committed to helping young people feel that they belong in their community.
• Accelerating your digital transformation*
  Many councils in Australia enthusiastically started migrating their paper-based processes to online environment and created a few electronic forms. However, progress has stalled and the councils were unable to extract further value from their digital transformation move. Why?
• Remote towns making world-class tracks
  The Blue Tier Mountain Bike Trail in North East Tasmania is breathing fresh life into remote townships in Break O’ Day Council.
• Building a tourism brand
  Bathurst Regional Council has commissioned a tourism research project as part of the development of a brand identity for the Bathurst region.
• The economy in space: local government planning and economic development*
  By Sasha Lennon, Director SC Lennon & Associates
• Drovers campfire puts town on the map
  The Annual Drovers Campfire event in Narrabri Shire in New South Wales proves how partnerships between Council and the community can reap great rewards.
• The City of Greater Dandenong
  The City of Greater Dandenong, also known as ‘The City of Opportunity’, has long been recognised as the capital of Melbourne’s southeast region.
• Pop-up shop success
  An innovative pop up shop in the City of Onkaparinga in South Australia has helped activate the area and revitalise the local economy.
• The Pavilion Kiama makes business a pleasure*
  Long a tourist hotspot, the historic township of Kiama is turning out to be a magnet for those looking to mix business with leisure.
• Online presence boosts visitor numbers
  As more people access destination information online, Penrith City Council has been building its visitor strategy.
• Boosting job opportunities
  The City of Greater Geelong has received funding to enhance employment opportunities for residents.
• The world we walk in*
  By Ken Moule, CEO Global GBM
• Destination Daintree
  Douglas Shire Council and the Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA) have produced an interactive guide to the Queensland region’s Bloomfield Track.
• Cross-border collaboration
  A tourism partnership agreement between Hilltops Council in New South Wales and VisitCanberra is helping both regions.
• Crab Fest sets sights on tourism award
  Mandurah’s signature annual event, the Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest, is competing for the 2016 Perth Airport Western Australian Tourism Awards, hosted by the Tourism Council of WA.
• New skin for iconic rhinos
  Ahead of hosting the Artlands Conference, Dubbo Regional Council granted their iconic rhino statues a fresh lick of paint.
• Learning about bushtucker
  Campbelltown City Council has launched a series of bushwalking tours through the Dharawal National Park, an area rich with Indigenous heritage.
• Geocaching visits the Surf Coast
  Surf Coast Shire Council in Victoria is preparing to host a geocaching event that will see up to 1000 people converge on the region.
• TV crowdfunding a collaborative success
  The Borough of Queenscliffe in coastal Victoria recently coordinated a successful crowdfunding campaign with local traders to help boost the region’s tourism brand.
• Getting it started
  Bundaberg Regional Council in Queensland is playing a key role in encouraging tech entrepreneurship across the region via startupBundaberg.