Grow economic resilience and diversity so new and existing industries continue to succeed in local, national and global markets
Goal: 17
Economy
Warrnambool grows its resilient and diverse economy
2040 Outcome
- Achieve Gross Regional Product growth in line with Victoria state average.
- Warrnambool attracts and trains enough skilled workers to meet the needs of local industry.
- Regional programs that help supply the skill needs of regional employers are provided and promoted.
- Achieve a minimum 15 years supply of undeveloped land (commercial, industrial and residential).
The changes we want by 2026
- Residents (and especially young people) have increased awareness of the critical skills and workforce shortages in the local economy.
- Warrnambool’s employment continues to grow across industry sectors.
- Unemployment rate in Warrnambool continues to be one of the lowest of any Regional City in Victoria and below the State average.
- Economic participation for those groups who have traditionally had low workforce participation rates (people with a disability, ATSI people, etc) has significantly increased.
- The Warrnambool Aboriginal Employment Strategy will have been developed and implemented.
- Warrnambool’s Economic Development Strategy 2015-2020 has been implemented, reviewed and updated.
Short Term Initiatives
- Council and Partners will implement and support:
Economic Development Strategy 2015-2020.
Warrnambool Destination Action Plan
Great South Coast Food and Fibre Action Plan
Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Strategic Plan. - Work with education providers, industry and government to train and attract workers to deliver the existing and future skills needed to grow our City’s economy
- implement the Warrnambool China Strategy to advance Warrnambool as a China ready city
- Deliver a business case for a business incubator/accelerator to support growth for existing companies/start-ups in Warrnambool
- continue to support and strengthen the Changchun, China and Miura, Japan ‘Sister-City’ Relationships
- Partners will actively support grassroots, start-up and scale-up businesses that show innovation and entrepreneurial behaviours.
- Partners will actively seek to employ people of different cultures, ages and abilities.
- Partners will work together to identify and develop business cases to attract new industries to the City.