GROW A SUSTAINABLE VALUE CHAIN - NOOSA BIOSPHERE TRAIL

Nature-based recreation has boomed during the pandemic, and mountain bike riding is experiencing massive growth across the globe.  This has led to large increases in the use of parts of Noosa’s trail network.  New investment, thanks to a $1.6mil Australian Government Bushfire Recovery grant, is focussed on upgrading the network between Pomona and Cooran. This will spread the user load across the hinterland and create new opportunities in and around these villages.

There is potential for significant local economic benefits associated with undertaking a coordinated process to develop, enhance and better manage ‘short’ local supply chains that enhance the diversity and quality of experiences, tourism packages and products available to trail users.  Noosa’s global brand is based on its credentials as a sustainable destination, it is therefore important that any experiences, packages or products are based on the same principles.

It’s also a good time to seek the support of government to ‘grow the pie’ in a way the creates local economic opportunity and enhances lifestyles and livelihoods, including developing capacity in start-ups, micro businesses and diversification of the market offerings of current established businesses.

Pomona and District Chamber of commerce has secured a grant from the Cooroy RSL to run a series of workshops through a process of value chain analysis and management.  Watershed Australia has offered to provide 'pro bono'  facilitation , at least in the initial stages, to bring potential chain partners  together to assess the current situation, gauge interest in collaboration and develop more detail project plan to pitch to potential public and private investors. 

Value Chain Management aims to create value by ‘growing the pie’ rather than individuals within the chain simply trying to maximise their ‘slice of the pie’.  In this context the collaborative relationships between businesses and commitment to shared strategies and standards can lead to higher prices, more sales per consumer and more consumers.  There is a strong focus on adding value to target specific consumer needs and demands, identified through surveys.