Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2021-31

Council adopts its 10 year Economic Development Strategy

In late 2020 and early 2021 council worked closely with the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2021-31 Steering Committee. Made up of key industry sector representatives, the committee worked together to deliver a ten-year plan to uplift the economic well-being and quality of life of the Northern Grampians' community.

The strategy orientates us towards our future and provides clear direction for the next 10 years.

The strategy identifies ambitious, but necessary targets, and identifies how by 2031, council, together with the community, will act to:

Grow our population, and lower the median age
Grow our economy
Grow the economic capacity and engagement of our own people.

Background Project Steering Committee Snapshot Strategy on a page Options Document hierarchy Timeline

Background

On 14 March 2020 Australia recorded its 100th case of COVID-19, as the pandemic swept over the world. The economic shock of COVID-19 represented the most significant economic challenge to Australia’s economy since the Second World War.

By December 2020, the median fall in value-added to Northern Grampians’ economy was 7.4% and median job losses was 2.4%. The greatest impacts were felt by the accommodation and food services and retail sector.

This major world event made council and other community leaders realise that it was time to revisit how economic development is tackled in Northern Grampians. It reaffirmed to council that it needed to be laser focused in addressing Northern Grampians’ biggest challenges to releasing positive economic and social change.

Background research identified:

Our industry mix and what industries were driving our economy prior to COVID-19.
The role our economy played prior to COVID-1.9.
National and local industry trends.
How our economy has been impacted by COVID-19 so far.
The makeup of our community including who is staying, who is going, and the skills that exist within our community.
Our unique assets, opportunities, challenges and issues.

Project Steering Committee

Council selected steering committee representatives with expertise and knowledge from the largest industry sectors in our shire, as well as from sectors that have been heavily impacted by COVID-19, the education and health and human services sectors.

Steering Committee Terms of Reference (ToR)(PDF, 174KB)

Council thanks the Steering Committee for the hours of work and dedication they committed to this process, including

Jane Hosking - Executive Officer, North Central Local Learning And Employment Network (NCLLEN)
Troy Cole - General Manager, Stawell Gold Mine
Trent Carter - Mixed Farmer, Wallaloo Park
Ryan Milgate - Mixed Farmer and VFF Wimmera Branch Vice President
James Sorahan - Executive Director, MCA Victoria
Ben Duxson - Glendemar Merinos Stud
Marc Sleeman - CEO, Grampians Tourism
Tim McCartney - Economic Development Manager, Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
Kate Pryde - CEO, Stawell Regional Health
Councillor Tony Driscoll - Project Steering Committee Chair
Liana Thompson - CEO, Northern Grampians Shire Council
Geoff McDermott - Navarre Minerals

Snapshot

Strategy on a page

Options

Document hierarchy

Timeline

Step 1.Step 1 - Investigation and analysis, August - September 2020

-September 2020, the committee released ‘PART 1 Our Compass: A guide for preparing the strategy’ and ‘Our ECONOMY AND PEOPLE: What We’ve Learned So Far’, the findings of data analysis and a strategic document review.

Step 2 - Draft the Strategy, September - January 2020/21

- 23 September - 20 October 2020, targeted industry engagement was undertaken involving 42 structured interviews from 17 key industry sectors.

- 8 January 2020, the findings of industry engagement were released - ‘What we Heard, Engagement Report’.