Wingecarribee

ABOUT THE REGION Perfectly located almost midway between and , Wingecarribee, also known as the Southern Highlands, is home to a vibrant and diverse community of urban, agricultural and natural environments working in harmony. With a population of around 49,000 people and covering an area of 2,700 square kilometres, the Southern Highlands is located at or above 640 metres above sea level. The region is made up of a number of towns, small villages and locations, with the main towns including , and Moss Vale and villages including Berrima, Bundanoon, Colo Vale, Hill Top and Robertson, Burrawang, Exeter, Sutton Forest and Canyonleigh.

MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES - MAIN TOWNS No of sales Price Bowral 2016 253 $880K 2017 187 $925K Mittagong 2016 125 $665K 2017 97 $735K Moss vale 2016 214 $588K 2017 140 $695K MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES - VILLAGES No of sales Price Bundanoon 2016 83 $680K 2017 66 $725K Colo vale DRIVING TIMES BOWRAL Colo vale 2016 27 $560K 1 hours, 6 minutes 2017 20 $650K Port Kembla 1 hours, 7 minutes 2017 20 $650K Robertson Sydney airport 1 hour, 10 minutes 2016 38 $602K Sydney CBD 1 hour, 30 minutes 2017 42 $748K Canberra CBD 1 hour, 55 minutes 7 hours, 30 minutes

Page 1 Economic Snapshot PEOPLE AVERAGE INCOME POPULATION 49,070 $1,335 pw

POPULATION GROWTH SINCE 2011 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 6% 3.1% PROJECTED GROWTH TO 2031 (SEPT 2017) 16% 18,854 LOCAL JOBS 46 GPs PER 10,000 PEOPLE 97% OF THE JOBS IN WINGECARRIBEE ARE DONE BY PLACES PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE LGA

$930K MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE (TOWNS) 14 PRIMARY SCHOOLS $795K MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE (VILLAGES) 5 HIGH SCHOOLS

5,212 BUSINESSES $60M 2016 VALUE OF BUILDING APPROVALS PRODUCTS EXPORTS 2016 TOP 3 INDUSTRIES BY $1,724M EMPLOYMENT - HEALTHCARE & - SOCIAL ASSISTANCE 12.4%* - RETAIL TRADE ) GROSS VALUE ADDED 2016 (GVA - EDUCATION & TRAINING MANUFACTURING 8.7% $2,659M ECONOMIC *HEADLINE GROSS TOURISM & HOSPITALITY 5.2% GROWTH REGIONAL PRODUCT JUNE 2015-2016 GVA AGRICULTURE 4.1% Page 2 EVERYTHING ELSE 82% $261M TOTAL TOURISM & HOSPITALITY SALES IN 2016 Competitive Advantage

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE The is identified by the NSW State Government as one of the fastest growing Local Government Areas, with an 3.1% anticipated 16 per cent population increase and target of 9,000 new jobs by 2031. It is a highly desirable tourist destination with over 1,300,000 visitors a year. (SEPT 2017) LIFESTYLE EDUCATION With 49,000 now calling the Southern A good education for all is not only Highlands. Each month a colourful array Highlands home, it is guaranteed that living desirable in the Southern Highlands it is of markets spring up in the towns and here will provide an enviable lifestyle – be it achievable, with parents being able to villages where shoppers can meet the for business or pleasure. choose from public and private options makers and purchase the labours of The Southern Highlands is close to the from pre-schools through to secondary their love such as fresh local produce, coast and the city, being approximately 1½ schools, co-ed and single sex schools. plants, flowers, patchwork, craft, wools hours from both Sydney and Canberra. The Schools range from pre-schools designed and yarns, needle craft, tapestries and region is beautiful, green, rural and relaxed. like a home away from home in many cases, fabric. The region is safe and friendly, those who to small village primary schools offering a choose to settle here can enjoy great leisure smaller overall school environment, to HEALTHCARE 14 PRIMARY SCHOOLS and transport facilities and a wonderful larger public and private primary schools Healthcare options, services and access place to study or do business. offering extensive curriculums and public are many and varied in the Southern 5 HIGH SCHOOLS Wingecarribee has four distinct seasons, high schools and exclusive secondary Highlands including a public and private amazing walks, cycling for all interests, boarding schools. hospital, medical centres and a large great schools and hospitals - both public There are tertiary options too with the component of private practice GPs and and private - country lanes, boutique Illawarra TAFE and a campus of the Specialists. shopping, market days, roadside stalls and University of Wollongong located in Moss Ancillary services include dental, optical, a real sense of community. Vale. orthopaedic, physio, chiropractic, The Southern Highlands is a place that remedial, natural practitioners, podiatry people want to live. There are locals who SHOPPING and more. There is also a wide range are born and bred in the region living The Southern Highlands abounds with an of services for the elderly, with 46% of alongside a great assortment of others who eclectic mix of fashion retail and specialty Southern Highlands residents aged 50+ have chosen to make the Highlands their shops for all tastes and ages. Shoppers years. home. It is a place you will feel welcome no will discover an array of treasures from TOP 3 INDUSTRIES BY fashion and designer accessories to TRANSPORTATION matter what. The Southern Highlands’ towns are linked artworks, vintage wares, antiques and EMPLOYMENT by bus and rail services. collectables, elegant home wares, quality Sydney Trains services link Yerrinbool, bed linen, hand crafted furniture, one-off Mittagong, Bowral, Burradoo, Moss Vale clothing, boots and locally made jewellery. and Bundanoon, offering access to and Unique purchases and shopping from Sydney. experiences could include taking home NSW Trainlink operates daily to and from an amazingly soft alpaca garment or Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. going back in time and visiting the many Buses operate to and from Moss Vale to stall holders located in marketplace style Nowra and Wollongong and link Colo Vale shopping areas. and Hill Top to Sydney Train services at And markets – they’re big in the Southern Picton. $261M TOTAL TOURISM & HOSPITALITY SALES IN 2016 Page 3 Industries & Opportunities

INDUSTRY MIX Since the mid 1980s, population growth, urbanisation and other changes have led to declining numbers of people working in primary industries and to the development of secondary and tertiary industries. More recently there is more of a trend towards trade manufacturing, health care and social assistance, construction, education and training and accommodation and food services. Anticipated population growth within the Sydney to Canberra corridor up to 2031 will present significant opportunities for future economic development and employment creation in the area. ENVIRONMENT Wingecarribee Shire is rich in biodiversity with large areas of high conservation value including part of the World Heritage Greater Blue Mountains area and two declared wilderness areas. Environmental features include cold climatic conditions, rugged topography and significant areas of state forest, national park and other protected lands that form part of the Sydney Water Catchment area. Eastern parts of the Shire are bounded by the Illawarra Escarpment and . The north abuts Nepean and Avon dam catchments and is comprised of rugged eucalypt bushland. In the west, the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee rivers flow through deep sandstone valleys which form part of the catchment. Southern reaches of the Shire are bounded by Uringalla Creek and comprise sandstone plateau dissected by deep gorges. The Southern Highlands is a biodiversity hotspot, with 1,558 native plant species and 374 native animal species identified within the Shire. Of those species, 40 of the plant species and 42 of the fauna species have been classified as endangered or threatened. The Southern Highlands is also home to the largest koala population in southern NSW. While tourists and residents are drawn to the area because of these environmental features, environmental factors such as the many different micro climates in the region, climate change and food security are also increasingly significant for people who live, work and run businesses in the area. Specialised sectors include:

The Equine Industry- From stud farms to specialist equine veterinary services and industry trainers, the region is well known for horses and horse related services and activities. Agriculture, food- Wingecarribee is home to many diverse food producers and the location close to Sydney provides for massive growth opportunities. Agribusiness- With such diverse agricultural opportunities, collectively and individually, many people and businesses in the area have developed substantial skills in operating, ser- vicing and supporting sustainable agricultural businesses.

Agri-tourism- a new and fast growing industry sector.

Page 4 Industries & Opportunities

TOURISM Due to the Southern Highland’s numerous attractions, tourism continues to offer prospects for economic growth. The level of tourism expenditure is one the highest, of any non-coastal local government area in NSW. The area has developed some niche tourist businesses and expertise, such as conferencing, that build on the location so close to Sydney. Some of these businesses are also leveraging off the strong agricultural base of the area to create ‘paddock to plate’ tourist experiences.

CONFERENCING

Along with tourism, conferencing in the Southern Highlands attracts a huge number of companies and government departments every year with the region being the perfect location for business gatherings outside the city limits. This then allows conference organisers to think outside the square and the normal meeting room, with options including: rustic barns, wineries, paddocks, national parks, fine dining establishments and even BBQs. Team building choices include fly fishing, bush walking, wine making, cricket, cooking schools and even ghost hunting. Of course the Southern Highlands can also provide the professional standard meeting essentials for those just wanting to escape their city environs. Venues are many and varied and all pride themselves on providing congenial and efficiently run establishments, with competent and professional staff providing the essence of country hospitality.

AGRI-TOURISM

The area is home to nine agri-food cluster groups based on location and “paddock to plate” food promotions are well established in the Southern Highlands. The Southern Highlands Food and Wine Clusters represent more than 130 regional growers and producers. Each cluster offers an authentic taste of the local lifestyle; sublime produce, historic ambiance and gastronomic delights for which the region is renowned. Visitors to the region can download the cluster map to start an adventure and shop like a local, eat where the locals eat, meet local growers and discover some of the Highlands’ more closely held secrets.

Page 5 Case Study

GRAND BISTRO is a welcome newcomer to the Bowral food scene. Grand Bistro is the latest venture of Damien and Justine Monley, a Sydney couple formerly of Woollahra’s sleek Flat White cafe. Sydney’s loss is Bowral’s gain, with the popular bistro operating inside the old Grand Hotel building just off the town’s main street. Mittagong’s Howards Lane wines, which the Monley’s also bought as part of their wholesale tree-change, proudly line the shelves behind the counter.

In 2013, Justine and Damien Monley were based in Sydney and thinking about having a fourth child. The couple were cashed up, having just sold their two Sydney restaurants and wanting to move somewhere they could have a bit of space, as well as potentially starting a new business. Damien’s sister had recently moved to a farm in the Southern Highlands and the family found themselves spending more time in the region, so it seemed logical to make the move. In 2014, the Monley’s bought Howards Lane Vineyard, a 35 acre property in Mittagong. Visitors look forward to slicker-than-your-average refreshments at the property’s cellar door and can stay in the recently expanded accommodation on the property. But one business is never enough, so two years after their initial move, the couple opened the Grand Bistro in Bowral. Justine says, “we are very happy with our move and we absolutely love living in the Southern Highlands”.

Justine also says “I didn’t know any of my neighbours in Sydney, but the community in the Southern Highlands is very strong and we have made great friends”.

The Monley’s have a great balance between the business and family life and the couple says there are so many options for the kids and great schools in the area. The wedding and catering side of the business is an added bonus that comes from the area being such a popular place to hold an event.“The location of the Southern Highlands, so close to Sydney makes a huge difference”, says Justine.

The Monley’s couldn’t be happier, not only are the businesses going well, they also have had that much wanted fourth child.

Page 6 Case Study

CHEESE ETC. runs out of a small retail space in ‘The Mill’, a refurbished 1850s building housing an interesting mix of retail, a strip of food stalls and office spaces in Bowral. Cheese ETC. sells a large range of artisan cheeses as well as cheese platters for weddings, conferences and events.

When business owner Hugh Nichols and his Swedish wife, Emily (who is also a chef), arrived back in Australia after many years of living in the ‘cheese university’ that is France and Europe in 2012, his immediate thoughts were to use his hospitality and sales expertise to set up a food based business in Sydney. The couple did so, running a successful wine business on the North Shore until 2015. With a growing family bursting out of their Paddington terrace, and priced out of the housing market anywhere they looked, the couple decided it was time to make a move. They started looking for a new location that would give them the lifestyle and space they needed and potential food based business opportunities. The Southern Highlands presented the perfect mix for the Nichols family and their business ideas - a rural, yet cosmopolitan lifestyle, locals and visitors with high expectations and expendable incomes and an affordable, yet attractive rental space. On top of this, the climate and landscape appealed to Hugh’s wife (who also wanted to be somewhere where work as a chef might be available when she was ready to return to the workforce). The European feel of the Southern Highlands also worked well with their business concept, as did the region’s reputation for food based tourism, with events such as weddings, weekends away and conferences. Hugh says, “We are very happy with the move, we are not too far from family and friends in Sydney (although we try to avoid going to Sydney) and we have a great quality of life. Our current house is 8 times the size of the land we had in Sydney”.

Page 7 Notes, photo credits, references, contacts & acknowledgements

NOTES FAST FACTS, REGIONAL SUMMARY AND ECONOMIC SNAPSHOTS Current population. These estimates for Local Government Areas (LGAs)are prepared by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)to correct for the Census under count and are updated annually. These are the closest to official estimates of resident population and are often used by State Government in allocating per capita funding to LGAs. Population Growth since 2011. Based on ABS Census data 2011-2016. Projected population growth to 2036. Estimates are to 2036 and are prepared by ID and available under the Joint Organisation of Councils subscription. Median house & unit price. This data comes from local real estate agents and is based on property sales over the previous 12 months (January 2017-January 2018). Other data in the Economic Snapshots the Joint Organisation of Councils subscriptions to ID profiles or directly from 2016 census data. PHOTO CREDITS WINGECARRIBEE images courtesy of Southern Highlands Food Clusters, Cheese etc., the Grand Bistro and Wingecarribee Council REFERENCES (2007)http://wfss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Highlands-Child-Directory-2015.pdf (2018) https://economy.id.com.au/wingecarribee (2017) https://www.goodschools.com.au (2018) http://www.serree.org.au/ (2017) https://www.realestate.com.au (2018)https://www.southern-highlands.com.au/news-and-media/facts-and-figures (2018) http:// www.grandbistro.com.au (2018) http://www.southernhighlandsfoodandwineclusters.com.au (2018) http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/Home/2016%20Census%20Commu- (2018) https://www.southerntablelandsmedia.com/ nity%20Profiles (2018) http://www.cheeseetc.com.au (2018) http://www.economyprofile.com.au/illawarra/ (2018)http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Plans-for-your-area/Regional-Plans/South-East-and-Table- lands/Resources CONTACTS

Wingecarribee Shire Council Regional Development Australia Southern Inland Civic Centre, 68 Elizabeth St Shop 5, Central Arcade, 158-162 Auburn Street Moss Vale NSW 2577 Goulburn NSW 2580 Phone: 02 4868 0888 Phone: 02 4822 6397 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.wsc.nsw.gov.au www.rdasi.org.au Postal Address: Postal Address: Wingecarribee Shire Council PO Box 775, Goulburn NSW 2580 PO Box 14, Moss Vale NSW 2577 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Regional Development Australia Southern Inland (RDASI) would like to thank the NSW Government for their funding assistance in producing this report. We also thank the Wingecarribee Shire Council for their assistance. RDASI is an Australian Government Initiative. Prepared by Strategic Economic Solutions May 2018.

Page 8