3.4 To be recognised as a preferred tourism destination

1. Industry Expansion and

Attraction 2. Business Capacity Building 3. Strong Local Identity 4. Welcoming Environment The City continues to actively participate in regional networks including the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council, GROW South East and the Inland Freight and Logistics Hub Member Councils on collaborative projects to facilitate industry expansion and attraction. The latter has been formalised by the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding in which the Cities of Canning, Belmont, Swan and Kalamunda resolve to work together in good faith for the promotion, advancement and development of the Inland Freight and Logistics Hub and Corridor given that the freight and logistics industry is a major economic driver. This partnership was officially branded as Link WA with accompanying website and media launch in September. Two workshops have been completed with input from planners from each municipality working towards harmonisation on planning matters in relation to freight and logistics. We continued collaborating with the Kalamunda Chamber of Commerce to support the Farmers and Night Markets, the Annual Kalamunda Business Awards, industry events, training opportunities and networking. These have contributed to the effective capacity building of our business community which is further supported by the City’s commitment to the Small Business Friendly Local Government Strategy and the many City’s economic development initiatives necessitated by the impacts of COVID-19. These include the rolling out of a free one-on-one business advisory services to local small business to provide guidance in the face of the recent pandemic.

3.3.2 Attract new investment opportunities and businesses with a focus on innovation.

The City has continued developing an economic development prospectus which is expected to launch by the end of 2020. Council endorsed the establishment of an Economic Development Advisory Committee to advise the City on initiatives to enhance the economic development of the municipality. The committee will be implemented by end 2020. Smart Cities Research is being undertaken on Digital and Smart City strategies that have been adopted by other levels of government across Australia, with the following three themes under review - the fostering of innovation, simplifying systems and the development of an IoT sensor network.

3.4 To be recognised as a preferred tourism destination 3.4.1 Facilitate, support and promote activities and places to visit.

The City’s tourism brand Experience Perth Hills continues to lead the way in shining a light on the Perth Hills region. Over the past 12-months, there has been significant growth within the social media arena.

A new partnership with Destination WA has brought the City of Kalamunda’s tourism offering to the fore with television segments on Channel 9. Bickley Valley, Carmel and Pickering Brook continue to grow in popularity, due to the ever increasing offering within the region. The Blossom Festival pop ups created huge interest together with farm gate and more traditional meet the maker experiences. The City is well placed to provide the remarkable and memorable offerings visitors are looking for. Similary, the tourism collaboration with the City of Armadale, Shire of Mundaring, City of Swan and Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, known as the Perth Hills Tourism Alliance, has been extremely effective. This initiative encourages visitors to the wider Perth Hills region delivering a more robust offering and accelerating our destination marketing through this collaboration. It is an exciting time for our region, we are on the doorstep of Perth with an abundance of experiences for the visitor to enjoy.

3.4.2 Advocate and facilitate diversification options for rural properties to flourish.

Rural Land Diversification Phase 1 outcomes of the working group technical studies are nearing conclusion with Pickering Brook townsite expansion recommendations to be presented to the Taskforce in late 2020, and Council likely early 2021. Phase 2 relating to tourism and surrounds is anticipated 2021.

Town House Development Hales Residential Estate Forrestfield Pickering Brook