FAQ

Under the Local Government Act 1999, councils are required to promote their area and to provide an attractive climate and locations for the development of business, commerce, industry and tourism.

The City of Victor Harbor provides a number of direct and indirect functions to support economic development outcomes, these can include town planning, infrastructure development, business services, festivals and events, and visitor services.

To assist Council to deliver the best economic development outcomes for the community, it has prepared a four year draft strategy that  outlines a coordinated approach to growing our local economy and attracting investment that leads to local job creation.

Without intervention, the trajectory of economic dependency in the Victor Harbor economy is forecast to continue. While the population is expected to continue to grow, the composition of the population will continue to age, meaning lower incomes, higher percentage of welfare dependency and lower levels of workforce participation (income producing). These affects will diminish the ability of local businesses to improve employment opportunities.

In order to change the current entrenched pathway, Victor Harbor will need to increase its appeal to those businesses and individuals who are creators of economic activity.

The predominant competitive advantage that Victor Harbor has is its lifestyle appeal, coupled with low cost of living and its proximity to a major capital city. Victor Harbor will need to use these strengths to attract and grow an aspirational culture that generates economic activity.

The draft strategy centres around four pillars that have been designed to guide how the Council and community deliver action. The four pillars include:

1. Investment attraction that creates economic activity
2. Investment in infrastructure that enables business growth
3. Education, skills and entrepreneurship that supports job creation
4. A destination of choice to live, work and visit.

Each pillar includes actions, indicative budget, Council’s role, and specific measures of success.