National Economic Development Awards 2008
Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the
2008 Economic Development Awards
The 2008 Economic Development Awards (the ED Awards) were presented at a Gala Dinner in Brisbane on October 8, attended by more than 250 economic development managers from local government regional development agencies and state departments, as well as councillors from across Australia. The Gala Awards ceremony was held on the evening of Day 1 of the National Economic Development Conference.
David Keenan, the inaugural
EDA Chairman, receiving his
special award for contributions
to the EDA from the incoming
Chair, Stephen Chapple. In addition to the eight awards, the outgoing Chair of Economic Development Australia, David Keenan, was presented with a special award for outstanding excellence for his major contribution to the development of the EDA from a state based body into an influential national organisation for economic development managers.
More than 60 councils, regional bodies, state government and the private sector submitted entries to the 2008 Awards. New EDA Chairman, Stephen Chapple, congratulated the winners and finalists and commended all who had put entries into the 2008 awards. He also thanked the judging panel for their contribution.
The winners and finalists are listed below, together with a brief profile of their award submissions.
Strategic Economic Development Award - National
Finalists: Andrew Millen [Sunraysia Mallee EDB], Mayor Roberto Paino [Wangaratta Rural City Council] (WINNER), David Morgans [ Tourism Queensland], Peter Cummins Delfin Lend Lease [SPONSOR]
Winner: Wangaratta Rural City Council
Contributing a hefty $191 million to the local economy, the agricultural sector and associated industries are key economic drivers to prosperity of the Rural City of Wangaratta.
Yet, during times of drought and economic conditions, the livelihoods of those reliant on the agribusiness sector such as farm workers, farm owners and operators can be at risk. In a positive move designed to engage and retain rural people with skills in the wider region, Doug Sharp who is Chief Executive Officer of the City, has worked to shape an assistance initiative in the form of The Rural Skills Connect project.
One vital aspect of the project is the $250,000 pilot program under the Make Your Career Happen initiative to Regional Development Victoria. In a fine example of productive collaboration, the program has been instigated across three neighbouring municipalities: Moira Shire, the City of Greater Shepparton and as well as the initiating body, the Rural City of Wangaratta.
Finalist: Tourism Queensland
In a successful bid to identify key tourism opportunities and support infrastructure, Tourism Queensland engineered a blueprint in the form of the Regional Tourism Investment and Infrastructure Plan (RTIIP).
Key stakeholders include regional and local tourism industry representatives and organisations, local, state and federal government, economic development bodies and community organisations. This broad spectrum and practical plan provides a window into current tourism and related infrastructure and assists in the forecasting of visitor and resident numbers and shared future direction for tourism development.
The roll out of the plan will follow the gap analysis of existing tourism products and support infrastructures, new tourism product investment opportunities and infrastructure requirements.
Importantly, the activity undertaken by the Plan is aimed at stimulating public sector tourism and related funding initiatives, attracting new private sector investment that collectively will underpin the long-term sustainable development of tourism in Queensland.
Finalist: Sunraysia Mallee Economic Development Board
An initiative of the Sunraysia Mallee Economic Development Board,, the China Project is a suite of projects focusing on trade, investment, education, labour, relationship building and tourism with Yunnan Province, south west China.
The cultivation of strong ties aimed at rejuvenating the region commenced four years ago with the Board conducting market research and building relationships with key Government departments and organisations in Yunnan Province.
Among its more visible achievements, the China Program will promote Mildura’s businesses, products and services through exhibitions at trade fairs, meetings and regional wine tastings and thus raise awareness among Chinese businesses, buyers, importers and wholesalers.
The program also serves to identify Chinese contacts and export markets for future trade and to market Mildura region investment opportunities to Chinese investors and businesses.
Strategic Economic Development Award – Regional
Finalists: Michel Wendt [Sunshine Coast Regional Council], Clr Brenda Martin [Belmont City Council], Clr Adam Atmaca [City of Hume & Whittlesea] WINNER, and Helen Dineen [Regional Development Victoria] (SPONSOR)
Winner: Cities of Whittlesea & Hume
An initiative of the Cities of Whittlesea and Hume in northern Melbourne, the Plenty Food website aims to elevate the region’s food suppliers to local, national and international buyers are indeed paying dividends.
The website showcases more than 120 of the food manufacturers and wholesale suppliers to markets, food service and hospitality sector and - in tandem with exhibits at leading national and international exhibitions- sales of more than $3 million have already been generated.
The Victorian Government and local food manufacturers have got right behind this initiative and the industry cluster provides opportunities for small to medium manufacturers to participate in global strategies - thereby supporting a strong and growing industry sector of great economic importance to Melbourne’s north.
The Plenty Food Group is now poised to grow its own identity by becoming self reliant and sustainable by attracting more interest, membership fees and sponsorship.
Finalist: Belmont City Council
With its origins dating back more than ten years, The City of Belmont’s City of Opportunity strategy was developed to boost local business conditions and increase the growth of the City’s population.The City of Opportunity strategy was designed to proactively rejuvenate areas within the City that was harming both the business and social life of Belmont. It was felt that unless positive action was taken to arrest the decline that it would fall into a self-perpetuating cycle of decay..
Without determined action, the City was starting down the barrel of declining rates, diminishing population and increased level of inequality compared to neighbouring Councils.
The strategy has reversed the downward spiral and with positive media coverage, promotions and marketing incorporated in the ‘whole of organisation’ approach, and with the strong support of the local community and business, it is fair to say the City of Belmont’s City of Opportunity strategy has evolved from a marketing slogan to a reality.
Finalist: Sunshine Coast Regional Council
The Connecting the Coast program is developing a world class broadband telecommunications infrastructure for the Sunshine Coast.
Connecting the Coast comprises two new fibre-optic trunks, new wireless capacity and a data centre - with the overall capacity to reach over half of the Sunshine Coast population and potentially 38,500 businesses in the local area.
Costing $11 million, the vital communications program facilitates connectivity to high speed broadband by connecting government, business, educational institutions, health-care and the general community, thus paving the way for effective, targeted investment across three critical sectors: education, business and health.
Among its many benefits, Connecting the Coast will grow the knowledge economy and enable small and home based business to operate more like big business, while driving community competition and next generation services.
Heavily involved in Connecting the Coast are the Maroochy Clever Networks Project and Noosa Clever Networks Projects that are now aligned under the newly formed Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
Economic Development Marketing Award
Finalists: Suzette Sutton [Gold Coast City Council], Alicia Keogh [Greater Shepparton City Council] WINNER,
Serge Markov [Parramatta City Council] and Bill Dunn [Telstra] (SPONSOR)
Winner: Greater Shepparton City Council
Established by Greater Shepparton City Council in 1998, the Shepparton Show Me project is successfully reinvigorating Shepparton’s local commercial and retail sector and cultivating a rosy outlook for the region in the long-term.
Funded by more than 1700 businesses within the boundary of the CBD, Shepparton Show Me generates impressive annual revenues of more than half a million dollars.
The program has developed promotional strategies designed to build public awareness of the diverse range of businesses in the city hub that gather under the Shepparton Show Me banner: including manufacturing, building and transport industries, professional groups, tourist services, restaurants, retail stores and agricultural resources.
Sponsorship, marketing, advertising, promotions and a Christmas campaign have turbo-charged the use of local services, attendance at events and festivals, the restaurant trade, hotels, shops and more – keeping the dollars circulating around the local business sector. The favourable boost to the retail and commercial sector, delivered by Shepparton Show Me, was endorsed by an Economic Benefit Assessment.
Finalist: Parramatta City CouncilParramatta ’s Take Another Look campaign was developed to align external perceptions of the city with those of local businesses, and to encourage leading decision makers to visit and view the city’s evolution.
While Parramatta’s citizens regard their city as dynamic and sophisticated, their positive views appear out of synch with those operating businesses outside the city who apparently perceived the City as being unsophisticated and “a bit rough around the edges”.
However evidence also suggested that once these people visited the city for seminars, conferences and other work commitments, their views changed for the better.
Hence the Take Another Look campaign seeks to target Sydney’s top 500 companies through an integrated marketing campaign involving mainstream press advertising, direct response and events all designed to win them over to a more positive view of Parramatta.
The objective is to attract senior managers into Parramatta to meet their local counterparts, and in turn spark greater interest in choosing Parramatta as a destination for future investment and business operations.
Finalist: Gold Coast City Council
Over the past six years, the number of international backpackers visiting the Gold Coast has grown by an impressive 44 per cent. The increase has been carefully stage-managed by Gold Coast City Council, in collaboration with the local backpacker industry and Gold Coast Tourism, aimed at presenting the Gold Coast as a leading destination for backpackers.
Key recent initiatives include the development of market-specific brochure, The Backpacker Survival Guide, a new website, and Facebook page.
This practical approach was supplemented through studies and sales efforts in partnership with Griffith University as well as advertisements in backpacker publications and sponsoring journalists to visit from around the world. Since 2002, the Gold Coast’s share of the Queensland backpacker market has grown from 31 to 37 per cent. That translates into 41,000 more visitors and 814,000 additional nights stay on the Gold Coast – pumping an extra $61 million dollars in the city.
Environmental Economic Innovation Award 
Finalists: Kim Appleby [Hornsby Shire Council], Helen Ruddell [City of Yarra], Christina Singh [Sensis] SPONSOR,
Maria-Luisa Nardella [Hume City Council], Michael Pickering [Logan City Council] WINNER
Winner - Logan City Council
SouthWest 1 is best described as a leading 120 hectare integrated environmental, recreation and Mixed Industry Business Area precinct – and all the indications suggest that it sets a new benchmark for public enterprise development.
The unique project, which incorporates the latest in ecologically sustainable design and high-end communication technologies, is reputedly one of the largest commercial and industrial developments undertaken by local government authority in the Southern Hemisphere .
Attracting broad commercial interest from across Australia, SouthWest 1 - or SW1 for short - is the first sustainable-designed mixed industry development to be fully owned, developed and managed by Logan City Council in the SouthWest development corridor.
On its completion more than $100 million will have been invested in SW1, generating 2000 jobs and about $100 million annually in wages. In turn, annual business turnover is projected to exceed $220 million , boosting the region's GDP by more than 5 per cent.
SW1 is fully self-funded, with not a penny has been spent by the community. Profits from the sale of the enterprise land are earmarked to reduce council debt. The development is very much in keeping with the Smart State and Knowledge Economy promoted by the Queensland State Government and Logan City Council.
Finalist: City of Yarra, Melbourne Water and Richmond Asian Business Association
Attracting many thousands of visitors each week, Victoria Street in Richmond is renowned for its rich Vietnamese culture. The popular commercial strip has now smartened up courtesy of The Victoria Street litter prevention project, an initiative of The Lower Yarra Litter Strategy.
The project is succeeding in its quest to stimulate the shift toward environmental sustainability, with the local Vietnamese community reducing waste and improving of business operations.
Also of significance is that this is the first litter prevention project with a culturally and linguistically diverse community, namely the Vietnamese business community.
In yet another fine example of multi-faceted collaboration, the The Green Star Business program is led by the City of Yarra and sponsored by Melbourne Water, Sustainability Victoria and EPA Victoria. and supported by the Richmond Asian Business Association. Local traders feel respected and heard, and able to communicate their needs and issues clearly and with confidence.
Finalist: Hume City Council
The Business Efficiency Network (BEN) has been designed to support and assist small, medium and large businesses in Hume City and the Northern Melbourne region in adopting environmentally responsible approaches, and sustainability issues.
A joint initiative of Hume City Council’s Economic Development department and the Sustainable Environment department, the Network has received financial support from the Victorian Government that has allowed expansion across the northern region - and gathered support from neighbouring cities.
Focusing on resource management with a view to improving processes and reducing impact on the environment, the Business Efficiency Network’s primary focus is to facilitate sustainability among a growing network of like minded businesses ‘champions’ across multiple industries.
On the agenda’s program of initiatives are a range of ‘green’ activities that centre on efficiency, alternatives and offsetting, which can facilitate profit gains for participants.
Finalist: Hornsby Shire Council
The Hornsby Business Energy Savings Program has been structured to assist Hornsby Council to meet its community energy reduction target of 5 per cent by 2010, 10 per cent by 2012 and – all going well – a massive 60 per cent by 2050.
Working with 200 businesses over an 18-month period, the program has set its sights on slashing greenhouse gasses by 3000 tonnes.
To strengthen interdivisional working relationships and help mitigate climate change, Hornsby Shire Council is fostering collaboration between its Economic Development Unit and Environment Division. In the first two months alone 79 businesses joined the program and preliminary results indicate the program is on track to deliver a forecasted $1.4 million contribution of investment into the local economy, and reduce carbon emissions by 3000 tonnes in the first year alone.
Indigenous Economic Development Award
Finalist: Andrew Harvey, Annette Schooner [Ipswich City Council],
Robin Apted [Australian Made campaign](SPONSOR), Glenn Hickling [City of Onkaparinga]
Winner: City of Onkaparinga
In recognition of Southern Adelaide region’s Indigenous population - a significant one per cent of the total population - the City of Onkaparinga has trialled an approach to reflect the broader community by lifting its Indigenous staffing levels to one per cent.
With a total staff size approaching 600, the initial target was to employ six Aboriginal people.
The City focused on the new Aboriginal Employment Program within the emerging Aboriginal School-Based Apprenticeships model, aimed at encouraging young people into a career in Local Government.
The City of Onkaparinga was the first council in South Australia to trial this innovative approach. Now, several more Adelaide metropolitan councils are believed to be applying this Aboriginal School-Based Apprenticeship program as a basis for lifting their own employment levels of Indigenous people.
Finalist: Ipswich City Council
Playing a crucial role in engaging the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the wider community, Ipswich City Council had developed a proactive approach in engendering community goodwill and harmony.
In April 2007, the council staged the inaugural and successful, Ipswich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Expo (the Employment Expo).
Plans for the Expo were developed and implemented by Council in conjunction with the Ipswich Circle of Elders and Mission Australia Employment Services.
Building on the exceptional project, the Employment Expo was again held in March 2008 with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural entertainment as well as arts, crafts, and food and beverage stalls. Collectively these showcased and promoted the culture, while increasing social harmony and appreciation of diversity within Ipswich.
The package of information, advice and support plus employment and training opportunities help break the cycle of unemployment and contribute overall to the community’s development and economic prosperity.
Economic Development Partnerships Award
Finalists: Steve Waugh [City of Kingston], Lynda Bredin [Glen Eira Council], Trevor Sargeant [Port Macquarie-Hastings Council] WINNER, Sasha Lennon [SGS Economics & Planning] SPONSOR and Bill Millard [Warnambool City Council]
Winner: Port Macquarie Hastings Council
In partnership with its local business community, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has implemented a progressive economic strategy titled Building a High Performance Business Community.
Driven by people committed to increasing the area’s level of sustainable business activity, the focus of the strategy is on growth-oriented business that are planning to sell products and services beyond the local area and to become globally connected. The partnership currently comprises key business organisations, 25 entrepreneurial businesses, on the way to the desired target of 150 industry-based taskforces, educational institutions and a Futures Board.
Already the Partnership has produced some outstanding results for the participating businesses and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. Building a High Performance Business Community has cultivated business growth, strong flow-on and other linkage effects, membership of a supportive network and spirit of entrepreneurship.
Finalist: Glen Eira City Council and Kingston City Council
Five years ago, Melbourne’s neighbouring Cities of Kingston and Glen Eira formed a partnership to establish the Mentor Partners Program with the objective of the program being to bolster emerging businesses by tapping into the skills of community-minded business executives.
Although business profiles within the municipalities differ somewhat – Kingston is home to more small to medium manufacturing businesses while Glen Eira has more retail and service industries – they also faced similar issues with their business communities. The common bond called for a common solution which materialised in the form of the Mentor Partners Program.
The Councils jointly fund the program, and its coordinator, while the 40 participating mentors generously donate their time and expertise in assisting business people participating in the program, which has now been running five years and in that time successfully supported more than 250 small businesses.
Linkages to other business development activities and networks within the Councils add value and meaning to the now well established Mentor Partners Program. The joint activities are generating significant economic benefit for the broader community.
Finalist: Warrnambool City Council
Rapid Retail Training Program, known as RAPID, is a collaborative venture of the Australian Retailers Association, and Victoria’s Warrnambool City Council designed to enhance business.
Funded under an AusIndustry grant, it delivers an inaugural Nationally Accredited Training and Mentoring Program for independent small retailers who lack the necessary business skills or strategies to succeed in a highly competitive industry.
To date, RAPID has trained and mentored 100 retailers nationwide, including 15 in Warrnambool – which happens to be the only non-metropolitan setting so far for the program. The Retailers Association provided training and mentoring while Warrnambool Council promoted RAPID to the local business community and assisted in the selection of participants, provision of venue and other logistics.
Comprehensive industry specific training is delivered through individual on-site mentoring and structured workshop-based training in Merchandise Buying and Stock Management, as well as financial skills, Store Layout and Visual Merchandising, Advertising and promotions and more.
Economic Development Leadership Award (Elected members)
Finalists: Bill McDonald [Caloundra City Enterprises], Ian O'Loan [Reg Dev South Australia](WINNER),
Clr Paul Pisasale [Ipswich City Council], Nick Brisbane [Essential Economics] (SPONSOR)
Winner: Ian O’Loan
Epitomising the role of the dedicated public servant, Ian O’Loan has worked for more than two decades in serving his community, region, state and the nation in the economic development field.
Ian was in the middle of negotiations for this year’s new Five-year Resource Agreements between Regional Development Boards and the Department of Trade and Economic Development in South Australia. He was the guiding impetus behind a new marketing program in his community of Mallala, and led the Yorke Regional Development Board in its successful quest to attract $2.5 billion worth of development to the region.
He is the Chairman of Regional Development South Australia, the Yorke Regional Development Board, and Mallala Economic Development Board. He also finds the time to be the Presiding Member for the District Council Mallala Development Assessment Panel; President of the National Association Saleyard Service Organisation. More recently he was appointed Chair of the Development of Horticulture Industries on the Adelaide Plains.
These public responsibilities carried out by Ian on behalf on the wider community come on top of an already busy schedule – he has a family farm and manages his own business as a Livestock Biosecurity Auditor.
Finalist: Paul Pisasale
Councillor Paul Pisasale, who is Mayor of the City of Ipswich, won the Leadership – Elected award last year. He’s been renominated this year to promote the tangible value of these awards and to demonstrate the benefits to Ipswich City stemming from t he increased profile resulting from the awards.
Requests to relate the story to communities all over Australia is testament to the value of the EDA awards and the lessons that can be learned by others. Unbeknown to many, Paul was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis back in 1999. He only recently announced this, in order to raise awareness of MS as a means to help others afflicted by the disorder.
Paul has indeed been a guiding light and inspirational to many people who have been encouraged onto greater endeavours. And that, they say, is the ultimate definition of Leadership.
Finalist: Bill McDonald
Planning for sustainable growth on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is a significant challenge for civic leaders.
But it is self-evidently a role taken quite seriously by Bill McDonald, the Chair of Sunshine Coast Enterprises, previously known as Caloundra City Enterprises. Bill has demonstrated an active and long-term commitment in leading the collaborative efforts between government, industry, education and community.
Testament to Bill’s volunteer leadership of the regional development company is the new economic development programs, processes and resources. Bill’s tireless pro bono work and strategic leadership has enabled Caloundra and surrounds to achieve greater levels of sustainable development. Through his strategic input, Bill quietly influences the direction of economic development, ensuring a triple bottom-line outcome in one of Australia’s highest growth regions.
Economic Development Leadership Award (Employee)
Finalists: Gerrie Carr-MacFie [Sunshine Coast Enterprises], Lisa Pollard [Queensland Dept of Tourism, Regional Development & Industry] (SPONSOR), Jeff Bothe [City of Greater Bendigo] (WINNER)
Winner: Jeff Bothe
Jeff Bothe is the Industry Development Officer in the Business Development Unit of the City of Greater Bendigo, which is Victoria’s third largest urban centre.
With a population of more than 100,000 and industries that pump around $8 billion into the economy each year , Bendigo has won a reputation for dynamism in reshaping its industrial life in the past decade.
Jeff has been a key driver of developments. He has created new forums that have unified industries and reached out beyond municipal boundaries to build strength and unanimity in lobbying. With an eye for detail, a networker’s skills, and an impressive ability to quote figures and recall information with conviction, Jeff’s understanding of business is reflected in his passionate advocacy on behalf of Bendigo’s business community.
Finalist: Gerrie Carr-MacFie
While there is one single project that marks Gerrie Carr-MacFie as a candidate for recognition as an outstanding economic development practitioner, it can truly be said that her reputation has been forged in the many initiatives, strategies and projects he has developed and delivered over more than a decade in regional development.
Gerrie has consistently assisted in the delivery of millions of dollars of public and private investment into rural communities.
And she has leveraged more than investment and dollars. Her enthusiasm for enhancing community and business leadership has seen Gerrie nominate and mentor winners in major business awards, as well as within Young Achievement Australia, and an Australian Human Rights Silver Medallist.
Gerrie is a business coach, a mentor and an advocate. Her impressive pro-bono work includes the KIDS Foundation, the Burns Survivors Network, and The Caroline Taylor Trust.