COUNCIL has written strategies and action plans through which it hopes to drive economic and employment growth in the Redlands.
Redland city acting mayor Wendy Boglary said the Education and Training and Health Care and Social Assistance Industry Sector Strategies and Action Plans were a key part of the city’s economic framework and would deliver untapped economic opportunities.
“In 2015 council endorsed the Redland city economic development framework, which identified eight key industry sectors as drivers of our city’s future growth,” Cr Boglary said.
“We are in the process of delivering action plans for eight industry sectors to implement the framework at an operational level.
“These action plans focus on areas where council has the capacity to act, or provide influence, at a very practical level.
“With the tourism sector action plan already being implemented, the education and training and health and social assistance industry sectors were identified as priority areas by the Economic Development Advisory Board.”
Cr Murray Elliott questioned part of the education plan at last week’s general council meeting, saying that there was little prospect for a university at Redlands and that the emphasis for council should be to have proper planning in place for all businesses.
Cr Boglary said officers had three months to report back to council on the strategies, outlining the delivery and implementation schedules.
Education and training is the Redlands’ fourth largest industry by employment, with its industry sector plan focusing on five key strategies to encourage further growth and investment.
“Redland City already has a number of first-class education providers with strong international reputations and the report received today makes recommendations on how we can further strengthen this sector,” Cr Boglary said.
“This will include growing the international education market and cultivating a local university sector.
“The strategy also identifies the need for a centre of excellence in education for the ageing, the importance of engaging the community in lifelong learning and the development of a health and education precinct.”
The second strategy and action plan focuses on health care and social assistance, the city’s most productive industry, growing strongly primarily due to the city’s ageing population.
“The Health Care and Social Assistance Industry Sector Strategy and Action Plan centres around facilitating the creation of health services to meet our growing needs; capitalising on Redland being a destination of choice for retirement living; and ensuring we support the efforts of disability and aged care networks and service providers in our inclusive community.
“We are looking forward to working with stakeholders to ensure we are successful in meeting our City’s economic ambitions.”
The Redland City Economic Development Framework charts a course to achieve 30,000 new jobs and increase the city’s gross regional product to $6.8 billion by 2041.
Key sectors are:
1. Construction
2. Education and training
3. Financial and Insurance services and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
4. Health Care and Social Assistance
5. Manufacturing
6. Retail Trade
7. Rural enterprises, and
8. Tourism.