A thriving economy is an important component of sustainable development since it enables people to meet their needs, through employment and the availability of services.
The SmartGrowth Strategy has an important role in planning for the provision of business land and services to support investment.
SmartGrowth research has identified the low-skill, low-wage makeup of the local economy. Strategies to address this issue are beyond the scope of SmartGrowth and are dealt with through the linked SmartEconomy Strategy (Sub-regional Economic Development Strategy) completed in April 2004 and Smart Tourism Strategy adopted in 2006.
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Changing the path of future economic activity and the associated migration and employment prospects for the sub-region will require interventions to achieve a different industry, occupational, and skill mix in the longer term. With the right sorts of interventions, the Western Bay could become an economy with higher incomes, a broad range of satisfying jobs, strong employment, and a wide choice of recreational, cultural, and artistic opportunities.
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