The election campaign period has created several forums soliciting positions or policy from candidates in respect of Economic Development and more particularly SME’s (Small & Medium Enterprise).

It is important to background some issues peculiar to our region and recognise some influences outside our Region that have impacted on this topic.

• 2011 Census data shows that mining activity, construction and agriculture were our biggest employers. The 2016 Census and anecdotal evidence will surely show a contraction in at least 2 of these sectors
• Economic activity is fundamentally influenced by resource commodity prices, prevailing weather conditions in the agricultural sector and building and construction projects both private and public.
• Retail in our smaller communities is declining and Emerald has become a “regional” shopping and business destination.
• Many businesses are closing due to changing spending patterns due to generally lower incomes and broader consumer cautionary spending as the national economy contracts.
• Online activity for goods and services and the presence of large retailers particularly department store concepts have impacted traditional local operators.

Over the last 4 years, many businesses will have experienced an incremental slowdown as the region has experienced a mix of customer numbers diminishing and discretionary spending contracting.

Some have responded well and have begun diversifying their product mix, and in some cases offering their goods and services to a wider market than the Central Highlands.

Part of my business activity over the last 28 years involved the management of one of Emerald’s largest shopping centres. In periods of spending slowdown, all of the tenants participated in the Centre promotions group to create market days and strategies to increase the draw of customers by promoting the entire centre and highlighting each individual tenants “special” products.  Without doubt the best results and increased turnover numbers were directly as a result of “building a bigger pie” rather than trying to get a “bigger slice of a smaller pie”.

This is how I see the role of Council working for all the businesses in the Region.

Firstly, by having an active connected Development Corporation that accurately and diligently keeps a measure over our business community we can gauge where we need to provide support, stimulus and advocate for funding. Accurate indicators and economic profiling also provide new businesses looking to establish in the Region with a greater confidence.

Secondly, ensure planning schemes are sensitive to the different needs of each of our towns and communities which should assist businesses at all levels to find their right location, whether it be a large industrial site at Yamala or a unique site like the Bandanna Sunset  experience visitor proposal.

And great examples of street projects that create amenity like Egerton Street in Emerald and the Capella main street, can be a huge benefit to the critical CBD or Business Centre, in other locations around the Region. They attract people to stop and walk and spend by blending attractions, shade and parking for locals and tourists.

But private enterprise works best when they are using their combined resources to help themselves.  Effective Chambers of Commerce and like-minded groups can co-ordinate business interests and activities and target training and skills programmes to their members.

As a Mayor with a strong business background I will be working hard with the new council to build our capacity and support for businesses to create a bigger economy for all our SMEs to work in.