At its February meeting, council received an update regarding economic development activities across the shire for the final quarter of 2021.
These included: EOI's for a Dungog Shire Caravan Park, the final phase of the VIC Renewal Project, continuation of council's Strategic Property Review, and the launch of three strategic planning processes: Cultural Plan, Open Space and Recreation Plan and Economic Development Plan.
- Presentation of recommendations to council, following Expressions of Interest to develop and construct a caravan park in Dungog, for which proposals from prospective developers were received and reviewed by an appointed Review Panel. This information is to be considered by the newly elected council.
- Commencement of the final phase of the Dungog Visitor Information Centre (VIC) renewal project, aimed at updating exhibitions and information provided by volunteers and staff to visitors.
Training on these new information tools is expected to be completed this month, with a roll-out to begin shortly after. This project is being jointly implemented and co-funded by Dungog Regional Tourism.
- Active participation in the Dungog District Chamber of Commerce and Dungog Regional Tourism activities and board meetings to strengthen collaborative economic development ties across the region.
- Continuation of council's Strategic Property Review, which evaluates council's existing property portfolio against a set of revenue generating attributes and criteria contained in Council's Property Development and Investment Policy.
This process also involves identification and acquisition of properties identified as having a future potential benefit and use to council and the community at large.
- Assistance in the launch of three strategic planning processes: the first related to the development of a new Cultural Plan for the Dungog Shire, a second aimed at developing council's next 10-year Open Space and Recreation Plan, and the third involving the development of Dungog Shire's next 4-year Economic Development Plan.
The implementation of these strategic planning processes will take place during the next two quarters and are all expected to be completed by June 2022.
