BACKGROUND

The 2003 Bellingen Shire Economic Development Plan is recognition that a coordinated long term approach is needed to fostering sustainable economic growth within the Bellingen shire. The primary objective of the Economic Development Plan is to attract investment and create jobs by focussing on emerging and developing industries.

Investment is the key driver of economic growth and an important conduit for technology, innovation and skills transfer. Investment builds productive capacity across a range of industries that reflect the competitive advantages of the Bellingen Shire. Working closely with businesses to help facilitate worthwhile investment projects creates a more diversified economy that is more resilient to external shocks.

VISION

- Build a more diversified economic base for the Bellingen Shire

MISSION

- Attract new investment and help existing Bellingen Shire businesses to grow

Economic development framework

A new economic development framework in terms of people, structure and processes has been established to help facilitate economic development in the Bellingen Shire. The framework consists of the following key elements;

· 2003 Bellingen Shire Economic Development Plan

· Bellingen Shire Economic Development Committee

· Bellingen Shire Economic Development Officer

A clear central contact point for all business and investment enquiries has been established within Bellingen Shire Council with the employment of an Economic Development Officer.

The following key economic development functions represent areas where the Economic Development Plan activities can have some impact. There is a high degree of interdependence and crossover between these functions and sometimes the distinction between each can seem blurred. They include;

· Investment attraction and facilitation

· Business development

· Industry development

· Community economic development (CED)

· Infrastructure provision

A tripartite whole of government approach between local, state and federal governments is needed to ensure that a coordinated and collaborative approach is taken towards economic development within the Bellingen Shire. Establishing effective linkages and partnerships with existing regional projects and strategies maximise outcomes and avoids duplication. It also creates greater alignment between agreed local and regional priorities. Over time, this helps local communities to better access targeted state and federal government assistance programs.

Economy in transition

- Declining traditional industry base

In recent years the economy of the Bellingen Shire has been in a period of transition as many of the main traditional industries have declined resulting in significant job

losses. Closures and downsizing has occurred in the timber, dairying, potato and meat processing industries. The Bellingen Shire is relatively small in terms of the size, structure and sophistication of its economy. This lack of scale and diversity of industries has made its economy particularly vulnerable to the largely externally driven economic shocks that have impacted upon its traditional key industry sectors.

In contrast to the recent experience in its mature industry sectors, the Bellingen Shire has some extremely dynamic developing and emerging industries. These reflect the competitive advantages of the Bellingen Shire in terms of both its built and natural attributes. Emerging and developing industries include;

· Aquaculture

· Agribusiness/processing

· Creative industries

· Regional cuisine

· Tourism

· Aged Care

The continued growth of the tourism industry has helped to underpin the Shire's economy. Its growth and increasing importance as a key economic driver is perhaps best typified by the popularity of the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre which attracts around 175,000 visitors annually.

The township of Bellingen is known nationally and internationally for its dynamic and diverse cultural activities and lifestyle. Once seen as negative and divisive, the cultural diversity and creativity of its residents and industries is now seen as a major strength of the Shire. The past three decades has seen an explosion of growth in the scale, scope and diversity of the creative activities being undertaken within the Shire. Creative industries now represent an important and integral part of the Bellingen Shire economy. Creative industries is an umbrella term that covers activities in the following areas;

· Multimedia, film and video production

· Music and performing arts

· Visual arts and craft

Supporting these emerging industries are events such as the monthly Bellingen Community Markets and the nationally acclaimed annual flagship events; Bellingen Jazz Festival, Camp Creative, Stamping Ground and the Global Festival.

- Coffs Harbour

In terms of infrastructure, the Bellingen Shire benefits from Coffs Harbour's high quality transport, education and tourism infrastructure. These include the Coffs Harbour Airport, international resorts and the Coffs Harbour Education Campus (CHEC). Their close proximity and ease of access convey considerable benefit to the economy of the Bellingen Shire and help to improve its attractiveness to potential investors.

Plan development

The 2003 Bellingen Shire Economic Development Plan has been formulated by a new committee called the Bellingen Shire Economic Development Committee. Importantly, the Economic Development Committee is not a formal committee of Council as it must sit above the distractions of local government to be effective. The Committee is not a forum for personal agendas, local politics and parochialism. Extensive consultation has been undertaken with local industry, chambers of commerce, community groups and government agencies.

Plan implementation
A total of 13 strategic initiatives have been developed as part of the implementation of the 2003 Bellingen Shire Economic Development Plan. These initiatives cover a broad range of activities, projects and programs aimed at achieving the vision of a more diversified economic base for the Bellingen Shire.

The Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD) is taking a lead role in this process with assistance for most projects being provided through the Regional Economic Transition Scheme (RETS). The initiatives are divided into five broad functional areas that reflect the overall activities being undertaken as part of the Bellingen Shire Economic Development Plan;

Investment Attraction Initiatives
-Initiatives to improve the investment readiness and attractiveness of the Bellingen Shire
* Initiative 1 Invest Bellingen Shire; Investment Attraction and Facilitation Strategy
* Initiative 2 Bellingen Shire Economic Profile
* Initiative 3 Bellingen Shire Marketing Strategy

Business Development Initiatives
- Initiatives designed to help existing Bellingen Shire businesses to grow
* Initiative 4 Bellingen Shire Business Survey Initiative 5 Business Development Strategy

Industry Development Initiatives
- Cluster based industry development initiatives that promote growth in key emerging and developing industry sectors
* Initiative 6 Aquaculture Industry Development Strategy
* Initiative 7 Creative Industries Development Strategy
* Initiative 8 Agribusiness Development Strategy
* Initiative 9 Regional Cuisine Industry Development Strategy
* Initiative 10 Tourism Industry Development Strategy
* Initiative 11 Aged Care Industry Development Strategy

Community Economic Development Initiatives
* Initiatives to improve physical design, retail marketing and events Initiative 12 Community Economic Development (CED)

Infrastructure Development Initiatives
* Initiatives to ensure the provision of appropriate infrastructure to support growth strategies
* Initiative 13 Bellingen Shire Industrial Land Strategy

Enquiries
For further information about the 2003 Bellingen Shire Economic Development Plan please contact;
Mr Don Tydd, Economic Development Officer, Bellingen Shire Council Ph (02) 6655 7320 Fax (02) 6655 2310
Email dtydd@bellingen.nsw.gov.au