ECONOMY

An affordable and attractive environment for local business to flourish.

1.1. Establish a Tourism and Economic Advisory Committee.

The committee has been established and is meeting bimonthly. Link to minutes - https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Council/Governance-andtransparency/Committees/Advisory-Committees/Economic-Development-and-Tourism-Advisory-Committee

1.2. Support and coordinate activities for small business and industry engagement.

1.3. Partner with the Chambers of Commerce in the delivery of programs and activities that support economic sustainability

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Sustainable tourism that benefits the whole of the local government area, without burdening the coast further.

2.1. Review the Tourism Strategy to identify appropriate service levels including Visitor Information outlets and collateral.

2.2. Promote infrastructure and environmental heritage assets.

2.3. Implement Hinterland Cluster Development Tourism program to disperse coastal tourism.

The tourism service review has been ongoing during the first half of 2022/2023 which is looking at the current service levels and will make several recommendations for consideration. include the level of visitor information outlets to be maintained, resourcing and the development of a new Tourism Strategy to reflect the outcomes of the service review. The style, nature and format of tourism collateral is also being reviewed in order to ensure information is available as guided by best practice.

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The initial planning meeting has been conducted and the draft of the Lawrence Community Economic Development plan has commenced.

The Clarence Valley Council Dark Sky Place Feasibility Study and Pre-nomination Assessment, site visit and optimum locations have been identified and outlines in the Dark Sky report. A report for Council will be provide in Q3

Work to update the SEO on MyClarenceValley website starting with hinterland pages such as Canoe and Kayak trail which has since seen an increase in website traffic. This has resulted in an increase in demand for brochure requests for kayak trail

Council staff have been engaging with Hinterland tourism operators to support their operations and assisting to promote their offerings. One example is Exodus Adventures, who indicated that their business is thriving currently, and they are moving their business focus from the white-water rapid sections of the trail to the calmer/intermediate levels for school tours, groups etc.

Council is developing a workshop to be delivered by the Tourism Officers (TO) with the immediate focus being on hinterland business where the TO can update the ATDW listings, collect images to file and use on socials and website, help businesses make the most of our services.

2.4. Recognise the important role of Jacaranda avenues through retention, maintenance and replacement

Delivery of the urban tree planting program is on-going through this financial year. 305 trees have been planted throughout the Valley and consultation for the program continues.

RV friendly towns

3.1. Incorporate opportunities for RV access in parking strategies.

TBA

Support for the sustainable growth of local industries that are respectful of the lifestyle that exists.

4.1. Partner with other levels of government and local industry groups

CVC has been working with Regional NSW and key stakeholders to review and update the Clarence Valley Regional Economic Development Strategy for 2023 – 2027. This is due for release in Q3.

Council has partnered with Transport for NSW, SERCO and a range of local community groups and businesses to deliver the Rediscover Grafton project, which is being delivered by the Department of Environment and Planning Streets as Shared Spaced grant program.

4.2. Support buy local campaigns and support and promote local market opportunities that benefit the both small business and the agricultural sector.

Dispersed and sustainable development ensuring connections to services.

5.1. Review Local Growth Management strategy.

The development of our local growth management strategy is well underway, will be made up of four key strategies:

• Employment Lands Strategy (Adopted by Council in June 2022) – Complete

• Rural Lands Strategy (Adopted by Council in June 2022) – Complete

• Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy is advancing (Public Exhibition from Fiday 3 March to Friday 21 April 2023) –Underway

• Draft Housing Strategy is currently being developed. This strategy is supported by the Department of Planning and Environment’s Regional Strategic Planning Fund. Council was successful in being granted $150,000 in December 2022 to commence this strategy – Underway

Once completed, these strategies will comprise our local growth management strategy and inform decision making for land use planning, development applications, investment, advocacy, future project prioritisation and resource allocation over the next 20 years.

Diversification of employment and education that provides opportunity for young people and families to stay in the area.

6.1. Attract new investment and employment growth within the Valley

The Employment Lands Strategy (Adopted by Council in June 2022) provides an up to date assessment of our employment generating areas and provides short medium and long terms actions that can be used to inform investment attraction and economic development.

Major events that drive economic activity in the region and make it a more attractive place for people to live and work and visit.

7.1. Market LGA events beyond the LGA.

The Tourism and Industry Engagement team continue to engage with Regional NSW, RDA and ATDW and the wider Tourism and hospitality sector to promote events to the widest possible audience outside of the LGA.

The promotional activities to support the Jacaranda Festival, the Archibald Exhibition and most recently Groove on the Grass are all examples of the effectiveness of these promotional activities through CVC Social Media, MyClarenceValley, Grafton Regional Gallery and the CVC website. These platforms have extensive reach both nationally and internationally.

The recent introduction of The Clarence magazine has also supported marketing events and activities within the community as well as CVC Noticeboard which is seeing weekly growth from community registrations.

Support for community and business led innovation that creates a diverse and vibrant community.

8.1. Work with stakeholder to establish roundtable activities that bring representatives of town, village and community progress associations and business chambers together.

Council continues to work with the respective Business Chambers, stakeholders and community groups to support economic development and collaboration. Attendance at Chamber activities such as business breakfast briefings, chamber meetings and support for grant applications has been a feature of Q1 and Q2 engagement. All business chambers are in a state of rebuilding following the effects of the COVID pandemic. The establishment of the Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee as also been well supported by the business community.

Adequate telecommunication s to service economic growth.

9.1. Review and promote telecommunications required for new developments as standard condition.

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Recognition of Grafton as a Regional City for State Planning purposes.

10.1. Advocate the reinstatement of Grafton as a Regional City.

A submission to the draft North Coast Regional Plan in August 2022, submitting that Grafton be recognised as a regional city, rather than a strategic centre. This submission was endorsed by the Council at the August meeting, signed by the General Manager and forward to the Department of Planning and Environment (DEP). Further correspondence was sent to the Deputy Secretary and with the DEP. The final North Coast Regional plan, released in December 2022, retained Grafton (and Ballina) as a strategic centre and the Regional Cities of Tweed Heads, Lismore, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie remained unchanged.