In the annals of local Government, the City of Port Phillip's Spatial Economic and Employment Framework (SEEF) might be remembered as a curious artefact—a document that aimed for the stars but failed to even clear the treetops. While the framework is laden with the language of strategic planning, it conspicuously sidesteps the grim economic indicators that suggest a community in decline. This omission is not just an oversight; it's a glaring blind spot in the council's vision for the future.
The Gross Regional Product (GRP) of the City of Port Phillip offers the first clue that all is not well. After modest growth over the decade leading up to June 2019, the GRP took a nosedive during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to recover as of June 2022. This isn't a mere statistical blip; it's a red flag signalling deeper economic malaise. Yet, the SEEF, in its aspirational verbosity, offers no concrete plans to reverse this trend or to stimulate economic growth. It's as if the council is content to whistle past the economic graveyard, hoping that strategic jargon will somehow translate into economic vitality.
The employment landscape in Port Phillip further underscores the urgency of the situation. Over the past five years, the community has lost a staggering 7,372 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs). The retail sector and accommodation and food services, often the lifeblood of local economies, have been particularly hard-hit, shedding 369 and 1,685 FTEs, respectively. These aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent livelihoods lost, dreams deferred, and a community fabric that's slowly unravelling. Yet, the SEEF offers no lifeline to these struggling sectors, no roadmap for job creation, and no strategies for workforce development.
The manufacturing sector and financial and insurance services, traditionally more resilient, have also been battered, losing 1,555 and 1,301 FTEs, respectively. These losses suggest that the economic challenges facing Port Phillip are not confined to one or two sectors but are systemic. Yet, the SEEF remains conspicuously silent on how to stem this tide of job losses or to attract new industries that could revitalise these sectors.
Tourism, once a shining star in the local economy, has dimmed considerably. Over the past five years, the sector has lost 3,816 FTEs, and revenues have plummeted from a robust $2.7 billion to a paltry $1.6 billion. These figures are not just alarming; they're catastrophic for a community that has long relied on tourism as a key economic driver. Yet, the SEEF offers no blueprint for reviving this ailing industry, no strategies for attracting tourists back to the community, and no plans for leveraging the area's natural and cultural assets to boost tourism revenues.
The framework's glaring omissions extend beyond economic indicators to the very quality of life in the community. While the SEEF is replete with lofty goals about sustainability and vibrancy, it offers no concrete plans for attracting new businesses to fill vacant properties in our high streets and improving the streetscapes—better lighting, signage, greenery, and plant boxes—that could make Port Phillip a more attractive destination for both residents and visitors.
The City of Port Phillip's SEEF is a strategic vision in name only. It fails to grapple with the economic indicators that show a community in decline. As residents and ratepayers look to the council for leadership, they deserve more than a document that glosses over the harsh economic realities. It's high time the council took its role as a steward of the community seriously and revised its framework to address the pressing economic challenges. Otherwise, the SEEF will remain what it currently is—a well-intentioned but ultimately hollow exercise in governance, a paper tiger in a city that needs a lion.
Source: Port Phillip - Economic Indicators. https://economy.id.com.au/port-phillip/
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
