Project summary

The project report examines factors influencing regional population retention and growth strategies, including the unexpected impact of the coronavirus pandemic, through the case of South Australia’s Limestone Coast region.

Project report

The project report examines factors influencing regional population retention and growth strategies, including the unexpected impact of the coronavirus pandemic, through the case of South Australia’s Limestone Coast region.

The report observes that international immigration may no longer offer a primary short-term strategic solution to regional population and workforce concerns.  It advises that, at least for now, it makes sense to focus regional population strategies on other important elements.  These include structural issues constraining the availability and affordability of housing in the regions.  There is a need for a better understanding and management of workforce vacancies, and an imperative for vocational education and training to be more region-sensitive.  There is an opportunity to attract and support a larger number of students who need work-placement opportunities to complete their pre-professional studies. There is also scope for attracting more retirement-age people.

The report pays close attention to the governance structures which contextualise the strategic process across the Limestone Coast region.  It appraises each of the region’s seven constituent local Councils and the major regional bodies as well as examining the impact of State and national policy settings.

The report concludes that, whatever the strength and balance of external and internal factors at play at any particular time, regional leaders and stakeholders need to reinforce their appreciation that strategic initiation, and subsequent strategic momentum, must be primarily region-driven.

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