Economic Resurgence Plan
  • Last updated:
  • 16 Oct 2020

The region, now more than ever, must continue to respond to external demand, introduce new wealth and new careers so it can recover rapidly from this economic crisis and continue to achieve a quantum shift in investment, employment, infrastructure provision and community prosperity.

The focus of all economic intervention and support outlined in the Sunshine Coast Council Economic Resurgence Plan is to stimulate economic activity in the Sunshine Coast over the next 12-18 months to return the regional economy to the level of economic growth experienced in 2019/2020. View the plan[2254KB]. 

To help the region bounce back, we will review our council strategies and focus on actions that will:

  1. Win back consumer trust and confidence
  2. Connect the labour market and opportunities
  3. Support business assistance and renewal
  4. Enhance digital connectedness, and support supply chains.
Two key components of the Economic Resurgence Plan are the Economic Resurgence Taskforce and digital skilling collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The role of the Sunshine Coast Economic Resurgence Taskforce (SCERT) is to provide advice and guidance to council on how to deliver the highest value results in the shortest timeframe in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

SCERT members

Name  Organisation Rationale
Cr Jason O'Pray Economic Development Councillor, Sunshine Coast Council  Link to Council decision-making and portfolio Councillor
Cr Terry Landsberg Economic Development Councillor, Sunshine Coast Council
 Link to Council decision-making and portfolio Councillor
Roz White Chair of SCBWN and owner of White’s IGAs
 Prominent small business owner,Chair of major Chamber and links to USC and other institutions as well as various pathways and HVIs
Feda Adra CEO, Be and developer behind Vitality Village
 Prominent business person, successful track record and link to Health and Wellbeing HVI
Heidi Walker CEO, Walker Seafoods Prominent business person, successful exporter, link to Local to Global Connection pathways
Kris Carver CEO, ENTAG Prominent business person, technology connection, business solutions and networks, connection to various pathways, Knowledge industries and submarine cable
Andrew Squires Area Manger - Sunshine Coast, ANZ Largest small business lender on Sunshine Coast, connections to pathways and all HVIs
Will Wilson Regional Manager - Sunshine Coast, Master Builders Australia Large membership based organisation for building and construction
Terrianne Foale Owner/operator of Mondo Floral Designs Dedicated wedding florists and involved in industry magazines. Great representative for tourism and hinterland.

The digital skilling component of the collaboration with AWS was created to offer digital training, available on-demand, to our community. This will enable continual education and build new skills in cloud computing, machine learning, and data analytics. 

“This suite of training, combined with our region’s global connectivity through the International Broadband Submarine Cable Network, makes the Sunshine Coast the perfect choice for remote workers to upskill themselves in the current climate, and for companies looking to on-shore their services and systems.” Iain Rouse, Country Director for Public Sector, Australia and New Zealand at AWS, said access to a pool of tech talent, the opportunity to facilitate work-life harmony for staff, and infrastructure that supports productivity, are critical factors in location-based investment decisions.