Economic Strategy
Victor Harbor Economic Development Strategy 2030
In 2020, the Council adopted a bold and progressive vision and strategic approach to economic development that has sought to drive a renewed view of Victor Harbor as a destination of choice for visitors, investors, while supporting a resident mix that creates and generates economic activity driving local jobs growth.
The ten-year Economic Development Strategy, the first of its kind for Victor Harbor, sets out a blueprint for a sustainable future economy. It outlines a vision for a thriving economy that creates opportunity and lifestyle.
To achieve the 2030 economic vision for Victor Harbor, the plan includes a number of actions under four distinct pillars:
- Investment attraction that creates economic activity
- Investment in infrastructure that enables business growth
- Education, skills and entrepreneurship that supports job creation
- A destination of choice to live, work and visit
The Economic Development Strategy highlights and seeks to address the primary economic challenge that Victor Harbor faces, specifically an ageing population resulting in lower incomes, a high percentage of welfare dependency and lower levels of workforce participation. These factors continue to constrain economic growth in Victor Harbor, and the sustainability of local business. To address this challenge the strategy talks to changing entrenched negative perceptions of Victor Harbor as a place leading to economic opportunity.
To achieve change the Council accepts that it needs to approach economic development differently, by building strong relationships and connections with local business and industry. The Council has subsequently formed a multi-year funding partnership with Business Victor Harbor to empower the local business community to meet challenges facing local business plus work with the Council on the delivery of this economic reform.
The strategy highlights the need to drive investment in the City while seeking to influence the attraction and growth of industry sectors that contribute to the re balancing of the Victor Harbor economy. A key action of the Economic Development Strategy is to develop an Investment Attraction Strategy.
View the Victor Harbor Economic Development Strategy 2030
Victor Harbor Investment Attraction Strategy
The Council has worked closely with Business Victor Harbor to develop an Investment Attraction Strategy that maps out a pathway for successfully attracting the investments needed to grow Victor Harbor’s economy. It also aims to strengthen Victor Harbor’s position as the regional centre of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
The four-year Investment Attraction Strategy is the first of its kind for Victor Harbor, and sets out a pathway against a vision: Where investment is rewarding, easy, well informed and supports Victor Harbor as a place of prosperity and sustainable growth.
The strategy provides greater clarity on the various roles of the stakeholders that have an interest in attracting investment to Victor Harbor, while articulating these roles against the various actions identified.
The success of the Investment Attraction in Victor Harbor has been aligned to four sectors of the local economy:
- Health Services
- Construction
- Professional Services
- Visitor Economy
The above sectors have been identified on the basis of the competitive advantage that Victor Harbor possesses in these areas, along with their potential to create higher than average wages and local jobs. Increasing local household incomes is expected to drive increased levels of local consumption supporting a thriving local business community.
The strategy also seeks to address impediments to local investments, both perceived and real. Actions in this area focus on development pathways and supporting investments in growing local talent and skills, enabling local businesses to deliver on their aspirations.
View the Victor Harbor Investment Attraction Strategy