Draft MidCoast Rural Strategy

bringing $570.4 million in annual revenue, tourism is one of the most important industries in the region. Estimates show the MidCoast tourism industry has the potential to grow to over A$1.55 billion by 2030. In addition to tourism, the region has a long-established agribusiness sector including beef cattle and dairy farming. Beef cattle production and processing employs over 1,000 workers in the region while there are over 150 separate dairy farms utilising coastal and hinterland pastures ideal for dairy cattle. The region is well suited to aquaculture activities including oyster farming and commercial fishing with many prosperous commercial operations in place. Other major economic industries in the region include manufacturing, retail, construction, education, health, aged care and community services. Health care and social assistance is the largest industry employer in the MidCoast Council area making up 18.5% of total employment. These industries are well supported by the eight local business chambers across the MidCoast region. Major investment opportunities exist for businesses that complement the area’s environmental values and relaxed lifestyle attributes. MidCoast Council has undertaken a number of key projects to advance the economic opportunity of the area including the development of the Taree Aviation Business Park. 6 Finally, the third key initiative of the RDA Hunter is the preparation of a Smart Specialisation Strategy for the Hunter which aims to boost regional competitiveness for economic growth and job creation by identifying Strategic Actions to deliver innovationdriven growth and implementation programs to support the Region’s seven Strategic Growth Areas, as illustrated below: Figure 3. Strategic Actions for Priority Growth Industries in the Hunter 7

Draft MidCoast Rural Strategy

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Table 10. Recommended E3 Environmental Management Zone Criteria

Table 9. Recommended E2 Environmental Conservation Zone Criteria

Figure 18. NSW Planning Legislation Framework

Figure 17. Current Planning Controls, from Local Strategic Planning Statement

Figure 16. Coastal Zone of the MidCoast, Coastal Management SEPP 2018

Figure 15. Priority Drinking Water Catchments and Aquifer Catchments in the MidCoast

Figure 14. Broad Catchment Areas of the MidCoast from the Rural Waterways paper

Figure 13. Hunter Regional Plan 'Proposed Biodiversity Corridors'

Figure 12. The MidCoast LGA - Location, Infrastructure and Natural Assets

Figure 11. Location of MidCoast centres, from Local Strategic Planning Statement

Figure 10. Experiences available across the 'Green Grid' of the MidCoast

Figure 9. Destination Barrington Coast, statistics from December 2020

Figure 8. Our Growing and Changing Population, from MidCoast Housing Strategy

Figure 7: Typical mine or quarry project life cycle

Figure 6: Location of underground resources in the MidCoast

Table 8. MidCoast Tourism Destination Management Plan SWOT of Rural Tourism

Figure 5. MidCoast contribution to NSW economy by agricultural industry (ABS 2011

Table 7. MidCoast LSPS Planning Priorities relevant to the Rural Strategy

Table 6. MidCoast 2030 Goals and Actions relevant to the Rural Strategy

Table 5. NSW Government Priority Actions relevant to MidCoast Rural Strategy

Figure 4. Location Quotients and Employment Growth for MidCoast Industries

Figure 3. Strategic Actions for Priority Growth Industries in the Hunter

Figure 2. Hunter Regional Development Investment Prospectus, Local Government Areas

Table 4. Data Gaps identified in Background Reports to Rural Strategy

Table 1. Non-Urban Zones from the Standard Instrument Principal Local Environmental Plan available to use across the rural landscape of the MidCoast Local Government Area

Table 2. Strategic Centres and Centres of Local Significance, Hunter Regional Plan 2036

Table 3. Major legislation, policy and strategies influencing the Rural Strategy

Figure 1. Rural, Environmental and Waterway zoned land considered in the Rural Strategy

1 Strategic Goals and Local Planning...................................................................................64

1 Data Gaps – Challenges and Opportunities......................................................................19