Sarah Oliver
Moorabool Shire is calling out to local businesses and residents to assist in creating a new economic development strategy, and a separate visitor economy strategy.
The aim of the consultations will be to identify opportunities to maximise economic, tourism and local job prospects.
Consultation workshops and a survey will be conducted with the idea that “needs and opportunities related to economic development and the visitor economy, are often intertwined,” the shire’s website read.
Moorabool-based businesses (including tourism), the wider community and key stakeholders are being encouraged to take part and have their say by attending virtual workshops.
The council has appointed Urban Enterprise to collaborate with both strategies to ensure feedback from businesses and the broader community are heard.
Moorabool’s population is expected to increase in the coming years, with Victorians venturing further out of the city and into growth areas.
The largest contributor to annual economic output in Moorabool is construction, representing 18.76 per cent of the total output of $2.417 billion.
The second biggest contributor to the economy is rental, hiring and real estate services, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Tourism output in Moorabool is estimated at $78.627 million annually, or 3.3 per cent of the total annual output.
The largest tourism sub-sector in Moorabool is accommodation and food services, with tourist costs supporting $22.734 million.
The first strategy workshop will commence on Tuesday November 16, with the following five workshops to run until Monday 29 November.
The business and community survey is currently open and will be available to complete until November 30.
