Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia
Business Activation Strategy
Keeping businesses thriving during construction.
Sunshine Coast Council is implementing a Foreshore Revitalisation Project in Mooloolaba, one of its largest investments in community infrastructure in 25 years. Ahead of Stage 2, which incorporates a new beachfront park, amenities, better accessibility and the replacement of an existing seawall, Council embarked on a Business Activation Plan to support local business during the 18-month construction period. Meck was sub-consultant to Reactivate to develop the Activation Plan, which included an extensive business engagement process and a best practice implementation framework to ensure businesses not only stayed open during construction, but thrived long after.
Door Knocking and Capacity Building
Throughout the process, we worked closely with the local business community and stakeholders to co-build the Activation Plan.
This involved long-term business engagement to assist in co-designing the activation plan with engagement ranging from door knocking, one on one meetings, a digital survey and the establishment of a business reference group that met every two months to evolve the plan.
Our ‘bottom-up’ engagement strategy provided a robust evidence base that allowed our Client to advocate for increased funding within Council, which it successfully received.
Map of businesses engaged through multi-day door knocking
Activation Framework
The Activation Framework included event, programming and activation strategies to help counter the construction impact and keep the beachfront vibrant during construction. Additionally, it included operational considerations, physical activation infrastructure, funding strategies, strategies to minimise disruptions throughout the construction process and empower local businesses through ongoing business support and capacity building programs.
Location
Mooloolaba, QLD, Aus
Scale
Medium
Client
Sunshine Coast Council
Collaborators
Reactivate Consulting