Local Government Economic Recovery Strategies, are we doing it right?
There appears to be a common desire at present for various government bodies to pursue an economic recovery plan from the pandemic. This should be applauded as our officials start thinking about what the immediate opportunities and stress points will be. At a local government level, the level where the rubber actually hits the road, I’m not sure our strategies are reaching their full potential.
In South East Queensland, much of the planning and strategies for the region loosely fall out of the SEQ Regional Plan and arguably the various infrastructure plans. However the true economic development of the region is being discussed at an individual local government level, as are the various housing strategies. This mentality adopts an inwardly focussed approach whilst somewhat dismissing the connectivity of the region and thereby the strengths associated with the broader region.
When the unemployment rate is taken into consideration, there are very few good news stories, so it makes more sense for the region to band together and decide on how they will create the most optimal outcome for the broader population using their own strengths.
As an example, Ipswich, Logan to Beaudesert and Moreton North and South all have very strong logistics profiles combined with some of the most affordable capital city housing in Australia. Business really doesn’t care which LGA it is located in, but more about the infrastructure that supports its potential growth. In the 21 years that National Property Research has been in business, not once have we ever heard a business introduce itself stating which LGA it operates out of. It is a bureaucratic construct that may serve the purposes for rates collection and other services, but business will be influenced by other factors.
In one economic recovery strategy, the author was disappointed to see that many precincts were not given the status that arguably they deserve. The science and health precinct at Woolloongabba/Dutton Park to St Lucia is a prime example for how government could help assist with the commercialisation of many studies. The Mill at Petrie is an incredibly important parcel of land that has the ability to combine the Sunshine Coast University with many private sector partners as well as creating a multitude of accommodation options for students and staff alike. The same is true for the SunCentral project which offers the opportunity for generational change for the whole of the Sunshine Coast in lifting the bar for collaborative economies to flourish. The Gold Coast continues to build on its health and education precinct whilst maintaining an international and national tourism identity. They are not mutually exclusive and service different parts of the economy.
The overlaps that occur in the competitive environment of one LGA competing against the other, actually serve to weaken the recovery efforts. In a period where words such as “unprecedented”, “the new normal” etc. seem to flow easily off everyone’s tongue, the challenge remains to create and build an economy that is both global and local. This opportunity for SEQ is arguably easier than many other regions, given the small number of councils that need to be co-ordinated.
The author was in a meeting recently where it was stated that people living in Brisbane are their own worst promoters. In part this is true, but in part this is due to some of the decisions that are being made. The talk of tourism for Brisbane and listing the Tangalooma Wrecks on Moreton Island as a drawcard, only to note that many have been cut off at sea level because someone might hurt themselves if they climb on them. The visual appeal of a wreck is lost unless you go underwater, in which case it is spectacular. The inability to get a zip line down Mt Coot-tha which has to be incredibly low impact, the closing of mountain bike tracks across most council regions etc., all lead to many in the local populace with a feeling like it is a “nanny state”. But is tourism really the function of Brisbane? What type of tourism is being chased? It is very hard when the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast dominate this industry and are arguably better suited to service this market. That is not to say that Brisbane shouldn’t pursue tourism, but perhaps its investment is better spent in industries that are under-represented across the region.
Whilst it may appear like the author is picking on Brisbane that is not the intention. The intention is that regions are stronger when united and playing to their strengths, rather than trying to compete in areas that are not their natural assets.
The question that needs to be answered for Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide is how can it compete on a global and national stage? How does the economy recover from both the GFC, which hadn’t fully washed through the system, combined with the tail end sting of a pandemic? Adelaide lost its manufacturing base, Perth became one dimensional and Brisbane lost many of its regional offices back to Sydney or Melbourne post GFC and never really got the staff numbers back again.
In a time when geopolitical manoeuvring is changing the way the world operates, how Australia and its capital cities/regions respond will be critical. This starts at a local level because this really is where many of the greatest differences can be achieved. However those positive outcomes will be maximised when regions come together to provide a significantly broader offer…and business growth will follow. It’s time for a new recovery roadmap…after all, these are unprecedented times.
Matthew Gross | Director