Within the next six months we will have seen a state election run in March and a federal election likely held sometime around mid-May. Current polling shows tight and unpredictable contests for the helm at both levels of government, and so as a region we need make our priorities clear and consistent.
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Investment in infrastructure to better connect the Wollongong local government area is imperative, as we know too well that the city has been left behind while other parts of our region and the state enjoy an unprecedented investment boom.
While the Illawarra is dotted with busy and productive central business districts like Shellharbour, Nowra, Kiama, Bowral and Moss Vale, the infrastructure and capacity of Wollongong supports our entire region.
Continued efforts to revitalise the Wollongong city centre are essential in attracting businesses from outside our region to relocate here, as well as in allowing new start-ups to flourish. Our highly skilled workforce, diverse economy and lower cost base are the other factors that play in our favour.
Advantage Wollongong is a commendable initiative that works to promote these strengths and attract businesses from beyond our regional borders.
The Wollongong CBD is a key business hub for the state, employing over 25,000 people and experiencing 20 percent growth in jobs over the last seven years.
The ongoing revitalisation of Crown Street is important, and we applaud initiatives like Renew Wollongong, which utilises empty office space and encourages creative enterprises to move in, rent free. The resulting increase in activity will benefit existing retailers and businesses, bringing more foot traffic to the area, thereby breathing life into parts of the city centre.
The commercial core has been completely rejuvenated by the development of Wollongong Central, which just this year has welcomed Critinis and mini-golf cocktail bar Holey Moley to an existing mix of thriving outlets.
The Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan are predicting Australians to spend more than $51 billion over the Christmas trading period from November 9 to December 24, 2018 – a predicted 3.1 percent growth over 2017 in pre-Christmas sales across NSW.
The Wollongong CBD is a key business hub for the state, employing over 25,000 people and experiencing 20 percent growth in jobs over the last seven years.
We’ll be monitoring holiday trading closely, but already see the signs of record Christmas season for our retail sector as we know that consumers still prefer face-to-face service and the ability to see, touch, feel and try.
A lack of quality commercial office space is a challenge for Wollongong. We see a lot of commercial property being retrofitted, but new developments need to be encouraged to provide a greater incentive for the relocation of white collar jobs to our city.
Further afield, the Wollongong local government area is also in need of more commercial and light industrial precincts, and underutilised land owned by BlueScope is viewed as being part of a solution to this. Undoubtedly this area will be of economic benefit into the future.
Similarly the port of Port Kembla will soon become Western Sydney’s port and the state’s next container terminal. Growth of the port is key to our economic future, and we look forward to exploring how it can support the Aerotropolis at Badgerys Creek through better connectivity in more detail next year.
Wollongong does not receive an appropriate share of the proceeds of the state’s commendable asset recycling program, which total $32.9 billion, and the sale of our share in Snowy River Hydro Scheme, which totals $5.754 billion.
We recently outlined our transport priority list for the Illawarra, which contains five key projects that are needed to keep our economy open for business.
Disinclined to make asks of government without a solid evidence base, we can point to the economic benefits in dollars to justify each project.
Other than the Mt Ousley interchange, the F6 Extension is the only other one of the five that has been committed to by the government, and a welcome project so long as stages one, two and three from Arncliffe to Loftus are constructed. The other four projects all begin or end in the Wollongong local government area, and are yet to receive a complete commitment from government, so there is a huge opportunity there.
Regional and rural areas across NSW rely on the road, rail and port infrastructure of Wollongong in order to do business.
Clearly there is much to do in 2019.
Adam Zarth is the Executive Director of the Illawarra Business Chamber
