What do we want business in Byron to look like in a decade’s time and how will we get there?
These are among the key questions that Byron Council must consider if it wants to develop a useful economic strategy, the Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce says.
Chamber President, Matthew Williamson, made the comments during last week’s Byron Council meeting, where the attempt to develop an economic strategy once again came up for discussion.
More than two years after Council first resolved to develop a plan for supporting the local economy, it effectively went back to the drawing board again last week, following feedback that it’s draft Business Industry and Visitor Economy Strategy (BIVE) was missing several key elements.
Previously, it was called The Enterprising Byron Economic Development Strategy (EBEDS).
‘Strategy documents are, in part, a map to a destination,’ Mr Williamson said during the public access section of the meeting.
‘But what was completely absent from the previous draft was, in fact, a destination.
‘What we would like councillors to come forward and talk about is what do they think Byron is going to look like in ten years’ time vis-a-vis a business strategy.’
Mr Williamson also said that the strategy lacked an acknowledgment that many of Council’s basic functions impacted business, including making and enforcing regulations, administering development applications (DAs), and building basic infrastructure.
‘They were completely absent, and we’d like to know how we can have those elements included [in the strategy],’ Mr Williamson said.
Who takes responsibility?
He said someone at the Council needed to take responsibility for its failure to develop a strategy and to support local business during the last term of Council.
‘There’s an opportunity cost from not having a strategy,’ Mr Williamson said.
‘We’ve got empty shops, we’ve got visitor numbers down, we’ve got lower occupancy rates. We’ve got a downturn in our local economy that’s quite significant.’
‘Would a strategy have helped? It certainly wouldn’t have hindered. It’s been two years and we’ve now got a proposal for another strategy.’
Missing elements
In their report on the latest draft strategy, Council staff acknowledged that the feedback in relation to the latest draft strategy was not favourable.
‘A lot of the feedback suggests that the community viewed the draft BIVE as missing key elements that a comprehensive economic development strategy would have.’
‘As a result of a review of submissions, and feedback from the business community, along with the need to respond to our changing economic climate, we have identified the need to adjust our approach to supporting and advocating for business and industry.
‘This has led to the need to transition the BIVE to a vibrant economy strategy.’
Councillors voted unanimously to pursue this course.
The new strategy will reportedly provide a ‘clear and comprehensive vision for a vibrant economic future in Byron Shire’.
The strategy will be supported by multiple sub-plans to provide for specific needs. These include a: Visitor Economy Action Plan, Business and Industry Action Plan, Events Action Plan and a Night-time Economy Action Plan.
Greens Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said the revised draft strategy would be an ‘opportunity to invigorate our economy in a way that supports us’.
‘We can support business more as a Council, and I’m looking forward to doing that in this space, so that not just our brand but our story gets told.’
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