There is a lot about to happen in Glen Innes Highlands and the common theme is MORE – more investment, more doctors, more hospital facilities, more infrastructure, more tourism and much more....
This aligns with the new brand campaign for Regional Australia "MOVE TO MORE" launched in March 2021 by Regional Australia Institute.
The new paradigm for Regional Economic Development is a Place Making approach, but what does that mean?
‘The most widely understood definition of placemaking is the practice of creating or enhancing a community’s assets to improve its overall attractiveness and livability. This includes large-scale projects such as the creation of public spaces and alternative transportation infrastructure, but also smallscale efforts such as pop-up retail and downtown beautification.’
‘In the New Economy, knowledge-sector jobs are faster-growing and more lucrative than professions with more routine functions. Consequently, communities are changing the way they approach economic development. Instead of differentiating themselves primarily by transportation access, low costs, proximity to natural resources, or other traditional competitive advantages, many communities today are attracting multi-generational talent by becoming desirable places to live"
Source: Big Sky Economic Development
The Glen Innes Highlands Economic Development Strategy 2020-2040 and Action Plan 2020-2025 was reviewed in 2020 by Glen Innes Severn Council. Council adopted the final strategy at the 25 March 2020 Ordinary Council meeting following extensive community consultation.
PLACE-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The new paradigm of local and regional development emphasises the identification and mobilisation of endogenous potential, that is, the ability of places to grow drawing on their own resources, notably their human capital and innovative capacities. To tap into unused economic potential that tackle questions of sustainable development and human wellbeing into the future.
GROW GLEN INNES THINK TANK
The 5-year action plan is delivered across Council resources as well as in consultation with the community through the GROW Glen Innes Think Tank which will be formed as a part of the Partnerships actions and initiatives.
This is a mechanism for continual community engagement and inclusion in the delivery of the Economic Development Strategy & Action Plan.
The final Destination Management Plan Summary 2021-2026 and Background Analysis Report was adopted by Council at the July 2021 Ordinary Council meeting.
Destination Management introduces a ‘holistic’ approach to the development, management, and marketing of tourist destinations. The approach requires that all tiers of Government, the tourism industry and business community leaders work together to develop and manage destinations.
Destination management aims to ensure that tourism adds value to the economy and social fabric of the area, is sustainable into the future, is resilient to external shocks and is responsive to changes in both the marketplace and competitive environment. It involves formulating a strong vision for the future of the destination and putting in place the framework and resources to ‘deliver’ this vision.
The DMP’s key strategic pillars are:
1. Improving Customer Experience - Improve the customer experience of GIH towns and villages as both destinations and service centres to address key customer experience constraints and provide visitors more reason to stop, explore and stay and spend longer.
2. Evolving the Brand Positioning - Evolve the brand positioning to focus on a central contextual theme to bring together all the attributes of natural and cultural heritage. Continue to strengthen marketing and promotional activity based on the evolved brand positioning.
3. Developing and Improving Existing Experiences - Continue to develop and improve the existing experience base of GIH across attractions, activities, and events. Support existing natural, human, and built assets to provide improved experiences that benefit the community’s socio-economic prosperity.
4. Creating and Delivering New Experiences - Incubate, fund, and deliver new activities, events, and attractions in context of adventure in nature, culture and history. Expanding adventure-based activity, experiences, and events in context of our natural & built environments.
GROW Glen Innes Think Tank participants are a collection of people who are interested in collaborating with Council to provide their experience, education and ideas across key elements of the Economic Development Action Plan.
Council’s Manager Economic Development will register volunteers through a process and utilise the registration information to invite members to participate in workshops and other events.
The next meeting will be a continuation of the Governance and Management Co-design workshop to finalise the governance groups.
Attract, Connect, Stay is a two-year project funded by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and auspiced by Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) - the peak body representing rural and remote allied health professionals.
Three local government areas (LGAs) in north-western NSW have been selected to participate in a research project to address their long-standing health workforce shortages. Glen Innes, Gwydir Shire and Narrabri LGAs will work with a research team headed by Dr Cath Cosgrave to establish, fund and manage a Health Workforce Recruiter & Connector (HWRC) position.
A co-design workshop was conducted to progress with defining the governance and management structure. The meeting participants agreed to nominate a working group to take this forward which includes:
Should you wish to be introduced to the working group or have any questions please email [email protected]
There are many opportunities that our community has identified that can provide the reason for you to invest in something new in Glen Innes Highlands. We're continually incubating new projects that align to our Local Economic Development Strategy that is place-based.
It’s time to lift our region, celebrate our natural and cultural assets and improve the socio-economic prosperity of our region.
With a 5-year investment of $37.2 million across 12 Local Government Areas, aligned to a collaborative regional approach, the benefit to the region’s economy will be an additional $71million in output, an additional 224 regional jobs, an additional $17million in wages and salaries and an additional $30million in value-added regional economic benefit.
This approach is not for the fainthearted, it will take dedication, resilience and persistence – something we also have in abundance in the New England North West region.
Let’s embark on this journey together, in collaboration and with a clear unwavering goal to be nominated as an Aspiring UNESCO Geopark.
The geology of the New England North West region is complex and encapsulates the geological history of the breakup of the Gondwana continent and the formation of the east coast of Australia.
Our region has the opportunity to build on its abundant natural and cultural assets in order to leverage an emerging global trend in geotourism and attract international visitors.
By embracing the National Geotourism Strategy and aligning product and experience development with it’s wholistic framework, New England North West has the potential to embark on a journey to be nominated as an Aspiring UNESCO Geopark.
We know that natural assets are often the primary drivers of visitation to a region and are the catalyst for jobs and economic growth.
We know that 68% of both domestic and international visitors are increasingly wanting a nature-based experience. We know that international visitors will return over the next five years and beyond. We can confidently predict additional international visitor growth from 7% YOY to 11% YOY with the addition of the UNESCO branding.
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We're on the move and we're on the pulse to ensure our community prospers into the future. We're all about:
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PEOPLE
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Check out the latest ED reports here
Housing is fundamental to the future growth and well-being of our community. The Glen Innes Severn Local Government Area Housing Strategy 2022 - 2041 identifies a series of ways in which Glen Innes Severn Council can work with State Government, the private sector, community housing providers and local industry to improve the quality and supply of local housing in the future.
The strategy is based on an assessment of current land supply, development, and construction activity, as well as engagement with housing providers and community groups.
Attract Connect Stay is aimed at strengthening and stabilising Australia’s health workforce in regional, rural and remote communities.
A Healthcare Workforce Recruiter Connector has been appointed to deliver these services for the Glen Innes
This position aims to build and strengthen the local healthcare workforce by identifying and attracting healthcare professionals to relocate to the region and then support them and their families in the process of encouraging them to stay.
The vision is to develop a museum dedicated to power generation and powered machines (as opposed to road-going equipment) from past to present to future.
A concept proposal and business case is in development to understand the viability of the project. A unique opportunity exists for Glen Innes to re-establish the former Powerhouse into a nationally significant asset in the heart of regional NSW.
The project has the potential to create future regional prosperity, economic resilience and jobs to contribute to diversifying the local economy.
The SKYWALK is a concept that was developed as a part of the Centennial Parklands Master Concept Plan and Plan of Management. The $2 million project has been fully funded under the NSW Public Legacy Program.
The Skywalk will create a new regional tourism and local active participation attraction integrating Celtic and Ngoorabul cultures and Geo-Tourism aspects around an elevated walk and view platform at a high-vantage point overlooking Glen Innes.
The ongoing economic benefits for Glen Innes businesses from increased tourism from this project will be an indirect positive outcome.
The New England Rail Trail has been part-funded by the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund for the Glen Innes to Ben Lomond section.
This project is in partnerships with Armidale Regional Council, the community and the New England Rail Trail Group.
Armidale Regional Council have a funding application submitted to the Building Better Regions Fund awaiting a decision in September 2021.
A Facebook page launched on 8 July 2021 where you can find more information and complete a survey.
Health Infrastructure is in the early planning stages to redevelop the Glen Innes Hospital to provide improved health services for the Hunter New England community. The NSW Government is investing $20 million to redevelop the Glenn Innes Hospital. The project will:
• Offer contemporary facilities to support best practice models of care
• Provide patients, families and carers a first-class facility to meet the health needs of the community now, and into the future.
The scope for the project is under review as part of the clinical services planning.
A new purpose build Regional Netball and Sporting Facility has been fully funded and in the construction phase. This new two court indoor stadium will facilitate the growth of netball in Glen Innes and the surrounding region, and also have the capability to accommodate other sporting, recreation and community uses through co-location and shared use of facilities.
The Project responds to identified needs across a range of sporting and recreation uses, and will benefit people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities by making Glen Innes residents more active, more often.
The Centennial Parklands, home of the Australian Standing Stones by the end of FY18/19 have a Plan of Management and a Master Plan for the future use and development of the recreational area.
An ambitious plan to utilse the area to bring together Ngoorabul and Celtic Heritage, provide a system of pathways linked to the shared pathways throughout town and provide a facility that can attract the conference market, build the Australian Celtic Festival and improve services to the community and tourists.
The overall aim of the Glen Innes Sporting Facilities Review and Master Plan study is to determine the most effective and efficient development of sporting facilities for the LGA into the future. The overall result will be a suite of facilities and spaces that will actively encourage and support increased participation in sport and recreation by LGA residents.
The report provides an overview of the study process to prepare nine master plans, including the research and consultation undertaken, the key findings from the study, the new vision for eight sporting and recreation sites (two options for the Wilson Park precinct), and a costed and prioritised project implementation plan for each site.
The existing Soccer & Rugby is being upgraded through NSW Government funding.
The upgrade to the sporting infrastructure includes:
1. Resurfacing the sporting fields and upgrading the amenities block which includes storage
2. A Rebuilt doorway to allow separate access to showers and toilets, expanded canteen and a new verandah and roof for an undercover area
3. The Rugby clubhouse will also be upgraded including storage, dressing rooms, new toilet and showers, baby change room and a disabled toilet; A concrete walkway will be installed from the car park to the clubhouse.
Acknowledgement of Country
Glen Innes Highlands acknowledges and pays respect to the Ngoorabul people as the traditional custodians of this land, their elders past, present and emerging, and to Torres Strait Islander people and all First Nations people.
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