Finding the ideal recipe to attract business development within a town or regional city is a perennial conundrum.
When success is reached, it is usually through good planning and execution.
This was the focus at several The Next Crop forums, and the towns achieving better outcomes were those more likely to have a combined effort from the local council and existing businesses, backed by the whole community with concerted, positive outcomes.
As there are no fixed ways or procedures for attracting new enterprise, each area is doing things differently and trying varied approaches.
Finance director for Vale View Partnership and Yass Valley councillor, Allison Harker, told the Yass forum council’s economic development officers sought six different local businesses and showcased them as examples of what can flourish in the Yass Valley.
“Council was facilitating economic growth by welcoming businesses, helping them through the red tape in setting up and showing what was available,” she said.
In another case, a Macksville/Nambucca Heads businessman took it upon himself to establish a light manufacturing hub.
Regional Australia Institute’s chief executive officer, Jack Archer, said the businessman took it upon himself to encourage local economic growth.
"He worked out his market by attracting business people in Sydney in their 40s to early 50s, owning their own factory and established business and wanting to retire,” Mr Archer said.
“That person could sell their Sydney business for $5 million, then set up on industrial land in Macksville and the council helps make it happen.
“They work with TAFE to train employees and as the area has light manufacturing with similar skill needs, an employment base was being created.”
Yass mayor, Rowena Abbey, said council could look at planning issues, have appropriately designed zoning, but economic development needed to be driven by people in the private sector who have more flexibility and work closely with state and local government to make things happen.
“Everyone thinks council is supposed to drive everything, but really, it is the people with smart ideas who aren’t sitting in council, that are making decisions.
“I think council has to stand back and work more in partnership.”
SproutAg principal, Troy Constance, Yass, said advocacy groups working with potential new business people leverage connectivity to gain positive new economic growth.
“Like in Toowoomba and Townsville, these groups have a ‘we’ll help you’ approach.”
