Rounding Up was been engaged in 2020 by Cessnock City Council (CCC) to develop a Hunter Valley Agribusiness Cluster Action Plan (HVACAP), to accelerate new ideas for a region that has historically been reliant on mining for local employment and investment.
Duration: Three months
Proponent: Cessnock City Council
Outputs: The Hunter Valley Agribusiness Cluster Action Plan – downloadable link below.
The development of the Action Plan will help the Council enhance the focus on agriculture, food, wine and tourism to provide economic development and stimulus to the region.
With its stunning landscape including State Forests, fertile pastures, world class wineries and close proximity to Sydney (just 120km north) and Newcastle (40km west), there are many positive attributes attractive to those within a few hours’ drive that are currently struggling under interstate and international travel restrictions resulting from COVID-19.
As specialists in the agriculture and food sector, Rounding Up’s work included a review of existing agri-business activities to deliver a short to medium-term strategic framework to identify opportunities for growth, stimulate activity and provide fast results for the local population of 54,000.
The Action Plan’s long-term goals are to assist in securing future economic diversity, sustainability and social equity and improve the overall amenity, resilience and liveability of the Cessnock Local Government Area.
The CCC and Rounding Up will convene a voluntary Steering Group of key agricultural and other stakeholders for the development of the Action Plan.
If you have any comments or questions on the report and its summary findings and suggested actions, or better still, ideas on how to fund some of them happening in the short to medium term, please give Tony Eyres a call directly, on 0429 069 072.
For further information on next steps of the action plan or any funding ideas, please contact Rounding Up directly:
Tony Eyres, Executive Director: 0429 069 072 or tony.eyres@rounding-up.com
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