Economic Development

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Economic Development

Monthly Review Report

March 2015

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Executive Summary

The Economic Development (ED) Program delivered a broad range of projects and activities during the month of March and achieved a number of milestones including the successful appointment of the Economic Development Strategy consultant, delivered the final Digital Enterprise Program workshops and launched the 2015 Twilight City Street - Beyond Your Imagination!

The Program continues to actively work in partnership with key industry stakeholders and business groups such as Resource Industry Network (RIN), Mackay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Evans Avenue Business Group and Bowen Basin Mining Club. Ongoing work with Department of State Development on a range of projects including RegionsQ, Digital Economy Strategy, Mackay Isaac Whitsunday (MIW) Food and Agritourism Project and through the Regional Economic Development Network.

In addition, in conjunction with the City Centre Taskforce, Council has been further developing the marketing strategy for the City Centre and ran the Twilight City Run to launch the BMA Mackay Marina run which will be held in June and launched the inaugural Fashion Week Mackay (scheduled for 8, 9 and 10 October) with Jason Chetcuti at the Art Meets Fashion event held at the MECC.

Key Focus April:

 Commence working with the successful consultant for the development of the Economic Development Strategy which will be completed 30 June 2015.

 Ongoing involvement in the MIW Regional Economic Development Network and continue working on the delivery of the RegionsQ Showcase project which is now scheduled to be held in Brisbane in June 2015.

 Working in partnership with Resources Industry Network, State Government, Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce and Rio Tinto on finalising the build of the Mackay region e-Business directory and capability register and move into testing phase.

 Continue to actively participate in the development of the Council’s Corporate Plan.

 Support the finalisation of the Footpath Trading Policy.

 Ongoing implementation of the Façade Improvement Scheme.

 Implement actions from Evans Avenue Business Forum meetings.

 Work with City Centre Taskforce on implementing the City Centre Marketing Strategy

 Attend relevant networking and sponsored events such as Resource Industry Network and Mackay Regional Chamber of Commerce.

 Continue to work with the Regional QLD Capitals Alliance.

Debra Howe

Manager Economic Development

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Program Overview

Program Main Operations

Economic Development

 Business Investment & Attraction

 Major Projects Facilitation & First Point of Contact

 Business Retention & Expansion

 Tourism Development

 Education & Training Development

 Infrastructure Development

 Business Development & Marketing

 Tradeshows & Events

City Centre Coordination

 Business Liaison

 Event Delivery (such as Easter in the Laneways, Summer in the City, Christmas in the City, New Year’s Eve)

 City Centre Website, Facebook & Instagram

 Marketing and Promotional Campaigns

 Facilitation of ‘Active in the City’ and ‘Kids Active in the City’

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Economic

Development

Economic Development Business e-Networks Statistics

City Centre Business Network: 734 current subscribers Regional Focus Business Network: 296 current subscribers Sarina Business Network: 284 current subscribers

Evans Avenue Network: 122 current subscribers

City Deals Club Subscribers: 1777 current subscribers

Economic Development Strategy

 Quotes closed on Monday 23 March with AEC Group Pty Ltd appointed the successful contractors.

 Inception meeting was held on 31st March with a clear methodology and consultation strategy confirmed.

Business Engagement – Investment & Facilitation

 The MIW Agritourism Business Development Program commenced with 15 businesses – 12 of which are from the Mackay region. Businesses that have been identified through this project were involved in the (Whitsunday Regional Organisation of councils (WROC) Showcase in Canberra on 16 March.

 First point of contact service continuing to work with a number of developers and new businesses by facilitating their enquiries across the organisation.

 Information on the Incentive Policy is being provided to all developers enquiries and draft promotional collateral is being developed and reviewed.

 Finialising the build of the Mackay region e-Business directory and capability register occurred in March and testing will commence in April. A strong working partnership has developed with Rio Tinto, Resources Industry Network, State Government, and Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce to develop this project.

Trade and Export Opportunities

 Progressing international trade opportunities in Latin America in conjunction with Resource Industry Network and exploring other market opportunities.

AusIndustry Innovation Seminar

 Discussion with AusIndustry regarding a partnership and Diversify Mackay leadership Alliance (DMLA) to deliver an Innovation/Entreprenuerial Seminar in Mackay in mid June. A working group is to be established in April to develop the project.

Events Strategy and Development

 Feedback on the Mackay Region’s draft Regional Events Strategy is being compiled and council endorsement will be sought for Mackay Tourism to take this draft to community and industry for comment.

 Numerous enquiries (10) were fielded in March regarding a range of assistance in event development.

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NBNCo Transition of services – Update

 Transitioned in the City Centre on 20 March. Essentially, the majority of people who needed to make the switch had already done so.

 Last week NBN Co launched their Technology Choice Program, providing new options for end-user contributions to alternate technology rollouts. This policy replaces the previous Network Extension policy which was launched in July 2012.

Evans Avenue Rehabilitation / Place Making

 Evans Avenue Working Group has been reviewing brand development concepts for their precinct.

Implementation of entry statements and precinct banners are under discussion once precinct brand has been established. The potential landscaping project has been further discussed with concept designs being reviewed internally. The Grendon Street fence line community arts project and marketing strategy are still under discussion. Further discussions with Ergon Energy were had in relation to the utilisation of the light poles in Evans Avenue and Malcomson Street.

Sarina Business Liaison/Place Making

 Continued to research a potential Town Centre activation workshop to occur in Sarina. Internal discussions have occurred in relation to tourism monument development, lighting projects and precinct banners. Economic Develeopment (ED) updated the vacant shop audit in Sarina’s town centre as research to prepare for possible activation plans for the town centre.

Recruitment of Principle Economic Development Officer

 Interview process completed on 23 March and offer made to preferred candidate who will commence on Monday 20 April, 2015.

Stakeholder Engagement

 The final workshops of the Digital Enterprise Program were held on 16 and 17 March for small business operators.

 Participated in regular teleconferences with the Regional Queensland Capitals Alliance. Continuing to work on finalising the Report with the next workshop in early April 2015.

 Attended the Regional Capitals Australia Conference held at the MECC. ED facilitated the Delegate bags and Board member gifts.

 Sponsorship and delegate bags provided to the Central Queensland Planning Institute Association

“Planning Matters” Symposium held in March.

 ED are continuing to work with the members of the Regional Economic Development Network in preparing for the RegionsQ Showcase planned for 12 and 13 June, 2015 in Brisbane.

 Participated with Mackay Tourism in a meeting with Seaforth Business Hub to gain an understanding of the current business climate in the coastal communities and provide advice on expanding their marketing activities.

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City Centre

Coordination

City Centre Website and Facebook Stats

Stats from March 1 - 31 mackaycitycentre.com.au Visits: 13,032 Page Views: 28,548

Mackay City Centre Facebook Likes: 2,589 Total reach: 23,055 Engagement: 7,028

Mackay City Centre Instagram Followers: 304

Following: 69 Average Love rate: 2.15%

Average Talk rate: 0.18%

Average Spread rate: 0.61%

City Centre Taskforce

The City Centre Taskforce met on 3 March 2015 and were debriefed on the success of the

“Flavours of the World” campaign and the Summer in the City Chinese New Year event. The taskforce discussed the upcoming events and marketing for the City Centre, indicating support for the upcoming Lanes Easter Festival, Twilight City Street Party, televised Professional Bullriders Rodeo and Fashion Week Mackay.

Active in the City

The Active in the City program offered a range of free activities for the community including: City Centre Dog Walking, Zumba®, Rock and Road Cycle Rides and The LRC Runners Club.

Active Kids in the City

The Active Kids in the City program was organized for the April 2015 school holidays. The program will offer a wide variety of activities and events including arts and crafts workshops, live entertainment shows as well as physical activities such as Zumba kids, Yoga Fix and Kindermoves.

The program has been promoted via the City Centre website and social media accounts with strong response and sessions booked out.

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City Centre Marketing Strategy

Continued to work with Red Hot Blue on the implementation of the City Centre Marketing Strategy, the current focus is on retail businesses following the success of the “Flavours of the World”

campaign and the City Centre Dining Guide. In addition, continued to further develop the new City Centre website and increased social media interaction with all of the City Centre businesses.

Marketing and advertising campaigns:

 Daily Mercury monthly editorial column promoting the events and activities in the City Centre, including promoting The Lanes Easter Carnival and Anywhere Festival

 Full page Daily Mercury Top 10 Deals in the City Centre advert with further marketing of the deals via the Daily Mercury website with customised Leaderboard directing visitors to the Mackay City Centre website

 Continued the promotion of City Centre businesses via weekly “live reads” every Friday on SeaFM.

Street Entertainment

In coordination with Community Development, organized free on-street entertainment and activation for the April school holidays, as part of a joint initiative between the Mackay City Centre and Mackay’s Got Talent.

Events

In coordination with the City Centre Taskforce and the BMA Marina Run, hosted the first annual Twilight City Run to launch the upcoming 2015 BMA Marina Run being held in June. The event attracted over 400 participants, commencing from Bluewater Quay, across the Forgan Bridge and back in to the City Centre. In addition, worked in conjunction with the MECC and Events program, supporting the Anywhere Festival, promoting the event and encouraging City Centre businesses involvement and community support.

ED continued the development of future events in support of the City Centre including, the Twilight City Street Party, Fashion Week Mackay and the City Centre Slider ED also coordinated with Community Services in support of the 100^th Anniversary Greenmount Heritage Fair and

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Continued the development of future events in support of the City Centre including, the Twilight City Street Party and the City Centre Slider. Coordinated with Community Services in support of the 100^th Anniversary Greenmount Heritage Fair.

Fashion Week Mackay was launched on Sunday 29 March at the MECC as part of the Art meets Fashion event. The event date claimer for 8, 9 and 10 October 2015 was announced, promoting four events within the three days. Jason Chetcuti was announced as the Fashion Week Mackay Ambassador.

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Property Owner Engagement

City Centre Facade Improvement Scheme

Continued to work with the applicants of Round One of the scheme to finalise funding agreements.

The old Lambert’s building in Victoria Street was the first to have its makeover which has transformed this architecturally significant building.

Approvals to commence in March

 W-Lane Building, Hugh Reilly Building, T & G Building and The Australian Hotel Approvals expected to be finalised in early April

 Hogs Breath Cafe

 Dames and Dandies

 Jill Burston for Brides and Ragafair

 McKays Solicitors

 BURP

 Singapore Sams Building

 Jeremiah Bullfrog

Economic Development

Economic Development

Monthly Review Report

March 2015

Contents

Executive Summary

Key Focus April:

Program Overview

Program Main Operations

Economic Development

City Centre Coordination

Economic

Development

Economic Development Business e-Networks Statistics

Economic Development Strategy

Business Engagement – Investment & Facilitation

Trade and Export Opportunities

AusIndustry Innovation Seminar

Events Strategy and Development

NBNCo Transition of services – Update

Evans Avenue Rehabilitation / Place Making

Sarina Business Liaison/Place Making

Recruitment of Principle Economic Development Officer

Stakeholder Engagement

City Centre

Coordination

City Centre Website and Facebook Stats

City Centre Taskforce

Active in the City

Active Kids in the City

City Centre Marketing Strategy

Marketing and advertising campaigns:

Street Entertainment

Events

Property Owner Engagement

City Centre Facade Improvement Scheme