the right place for Business Mayor’s message
The City of Whittlesea is Our vision is underpinned by the committed to supporting following five key directions, which makes up our broader economic MAYOR CR LAWRIE COX our existing businesses, development strategy: small and large whilst 1 Strive to build a healthy, prosperous encouraging new and resilient community businesses to start, grow 2 Foster an environment that and prosper in the region. encourages the development of a vibrant local economy 3 Capitalise on the city’s human, Attracting new jobs for our growing natural and built resources to population is critical to improve maximise local employment the prosperity and liveability of 4 Promote the municipality as an our community. attractive destination to invest To ensure the local economy and work in, visit and enjoy reaches its potential, we aspire to 5 Collaborate with community, attract investment to provide the businesses and government to best possible foundation for our deliver resources and opportunities community to thrive. In order to create a vibrant Our vision is clear – to attract economy and local employment 10,000 new jobs to the City of opportunities, we must match Whittlesea over the next five years. job growth with residential It is an ambitious goal and one that growth – today but also for future provides clarity of purpose for our generations. However we’re also Economic Development team. Our aware that to create employment team have a big opportunity to growth, we must support it make a big contribution to the scale with the right infrastructure and size of employment growth development. within our municipality. This prospectus is designed to Everything we do is about helping assist you to make a well informed to sustain and grow local jobs in a decision to support the success of strong local economy – it’s our your business and your investment road map to success. opportunities in the municipality. We’re excited about the opportunities for the City of Whittlesea and we hope you’ll join us on this journey.
1 Contents
4 City snapshot 12 Access to a skilled and growing workforce Demographic profile 12 5 Future population growth Workforce profile 12
6 Whittlesea’s competitive advantage 14 Opportunities for investment Current and planned infrastructure Epping Central 15 commitments 6 Cooper Street Employment Precinct 16 Cooper Street West Employment Precinct 17 Thomastown Industrial Area 18 Join our existing businesses 8 University Hill 20 Plenty Valley Town Centre 22 9 A Council that works with you Priority development assessment process 9 24 Future developments Case management 9 Mernda Town Centre 24 Commitment to buy local 9 Wollert 24 Business education and networking Donnybrook / Woodstock 26 opportunities 9 Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal 26 Links to local workforce 9 Technology 9 29 Agriculture – an emerging industry in the City of Whittlesea 10 Economic Profile Regional – North 11 Local – City of Whittlesea 11 30 Visitor economy Key industries 11 Local employment profile 11 32 Contact us today
2 3
City snapshot Future population growth
The City of Whittlesea is located in Melbourne’s CITY OF WHITTLESEA AT A GLANCE PROJECTED POPULATION northern suburbs, about ‘… a culturally diverse community’ 2018 - 2040 20 kilometres from the city centre. It is one of Melbourne’s largest 2018 municipalities, covering a 34 years – median age of residents 223,566 27.2% of population aged 0-19 years land area of approximately 16.3% of population aged over 60 years Total Population(2018) 490 square kilometres. 3.8% growth in 2017-18 Males 49.4% / Females 50.6% It welcomes more than 223,566 Rural Balance Estimated resident 7,000 new residents 3,207 3,664 % % % population every year. 82.9 42.3 21.6 Beveridge of residents of households of households are Humevale live in detached are couples with couples without Eden Park houses children children The majority of the City of Whilesea Township Kinglake and surrounds West 2040 Whittlesea population live in 5,535 6,943 urban areas. This is split across The most common the major established suburbs of % % languages spoken other Donnybrook Bundoora, Epping, Lalor, Mill Park 35.5 44.1 than English include 194 55,761 Woodstock and Thomastown; establishing of residents born of residents speak a Macedonian (5.1%), Yan Yean overseas language other than Arabic (5%), Italian (5%), 377,033 areas of Mernda, Doreen, South English at home Greek (3.7%), and Estimated resident Morang and Epping North; and Punjabi (3.2%) population
the future growth precincts of Doreen Wollert Wollert, Donnybrook, Woodstock 25,191 29,817 280 35,346 Mernda and Whittlesea township and % % % 24,240 32,197 surrounds. 8.8 6.2 6.7 of population in of population in of population in primary school secondary school tertiary or technical Epping North The rural areas of the municipality, institutions 32,621 57,115 making up just over 60 per South Morang 24,269 30,536 cent of the city’s landscape, are Epping characterised by farming, forested 15,681 21,060 areas and historic township % Lalor Mill Park communities including Whittlesea. 7.2 30,833 31,391 24,712 28,729 Unemployment 2018 2040 The Wurundjeri Willum people Thomastown Bundoora were the original inhabitants of 21,893 26,973 14,909 17,501 the area and are the traditional owners of this land.
4 5 Whittlesea’s competitive advantage
Melbourne’s north is Current and planned
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a O’HERNS ROAD WIDENING key infrastructure and land
e AND INTERCHANGE availability, it provides n
businesses with a unique EDGARS ROAD EXTENSION M3 competitive advantage.
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23
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YAN YEAN ROAD DUPLICATION rn S 80 Road Networ – Kurrak Road to Bridge Inn Road an Ring Road Train Lin and urbanisation to Arthurs s a Metropoli d Creek Road G el ng 20km Melbourne CBD 6 & Port 7 Join our existing A Council that businesses works with you
Whittlesea is home to a large The City of Whittlesea Priority Development New investors and existing number of businesses and has a strong Assessment Process businesses are further supported organisations including: by additional Council initiatives commitment to partner Council has introduced the including: and collaborate with Priority Development Assessment MELBOURNE WHOLESALE Process for developments that Case management FRUIT, VEGETABLE AND FLOWER businesses. You will trigger jobs and investment. The MARKET have access to a strong streamlined process fast-tracks a A case management model for network, advice and planning application if it increases business enquiries that provides MISSION FOODS investment and employment a seamless, centralised and support through outcomes in the municipality. integrated liaison process. MAINFREIGHT relationships with The process will deliver a NORTHERN HOSPITAL AND NORTH Link, Department streamlined, case management Commitment to buy local NORTHPARK PRIVATE HOSPITAL of Jobs, Precincts and approach with timely decisions Council is committed to increase within six weeks. Regions and northern the number of local businesses COSTCO and suppliers providing goods and region Councils. services to Council by 10 per cent WESTFIELD by 2021.
PACIFIC EPPING SHOPPING Business education and CENTRE networking opportunities ENERSYS Council continues to support our business community in a MUSHROOM EXCHANGE coordinated way with the right programs, events and networking TURI FOODS opportunities. BERTOCCHI SMALLGOODS Links to local workforce MELBOURNE POLYTECHNIC Highly skilled and diverse community and employment SERCO programs readily available to support the growth and success of WESTPAC AND ANZ BUSINESS your business. BANKING CENTRES
VIC ROADS Technology Access to Australia’s largest RMIT UNIVERSITY Internet Of Things (IOT) network.
8 9 Economic profile
Doing business in the Regional – North KEY INDUSTRIES City of Whittlesea has Melbourne’s north is an economic Growing Emerging powerhouse producing over $40 billion a number of economic % and lifestyle advantages. 17 worth of goods and services every year and growing by 4.7% per annum Rapid population growth, a skilled local workforce, • A robust and growing economy with over 75,000 businesses supported Health care and close proximity and by over 360,000 local jobs and social assistance Professional Largest increase in hospitals access to major roads The North supplied adding approximately 5,000 new and infrastructure and businesses every year educational institutions, • Priority sectors include Agritech and % Food Tech, Digital and Professional are among the many 60 Services, Food, Fibre and Beverage, Retail trade advantages of the region. of Melbourne’s new Freight and Logistics, Health and Largest increase in Tourism/Visitor 23% industrial floor space Wellbeing, Advanced Manufacturing food retailing Economy and Visitor Economy The North supplied 60 per cent of in 2018 Melbourne’s new industrial floor • Home to over 1 million residents with an annual population growth space in 2018 with the lowest cost % of non-residential land per square 60 of 2.8 per cent, compared to the national average of 1.6 per cent. Manufacturing metre. It also offers competitive Food and advanced Agriculture office rentals. manufacturing Local – City of Whittlesea South-East • Gross Regional Product $7.59 billion, grew 2.9 per cent from 2017 West • Number of businesses – 13,600 Construction North plus (increase of 8.5 per cent) Construction services
With the lowest cost of non-residential land ($sqm) And competitive office rentals
Melbourne’s North $300 South $1,316
SouthSt Kilda Road $400 Local employment profile West $1,275 • Health care and social assistance • Number of total jobs as at June • Employed residents at June Southbank $495 is the largest employer, generating 2018 – 69,000 plus (increase 2018 – 108,500 plus (increase 10,100 plus local jobs in 2016/17. of 4.27 per cent from 30 June of 3.88 per cent from 30 June 2017) 2017). North $1,203 This is followed by retail trade, CBD (A Grade) $545 manufacturing and construction
0200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 0100 200 300 400 500 600
10 11 Access to a skilled and growing workforce
Demographic profile • Over 42,600 people in the City of Whittlesea held a tertiary qualification in 2016 • There were more professionals in the City of Whittlesea in 2016 than any other occupation • Top three occupations of residents are professionals, technicians and trades, and sales workers.
Workforce profile The City of Whittlesea workforce continues to diversify supporting the establishment of new business and existing business growth • Growth in the professional sector i.e. school teachers, midwifery and nursing professionals and medical practitioners • Growth in community and personal services workers, technicians and trades, labourers and managers.
12 13 Opportunities for investment
The City of Whittlesea is the Epping Central right place for businesses ridge Inn Road • It is a designated Metropolitan Activity Centre MAJOR BUSINESSES to thrive with a number of and recognised as an area of significant growth prime locations ready for for employment, new housing, services and
Craigieburn Road East E (Proposed investment, now and into entertainment • Less than 20 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD the future. H u m and is strategically located close to the major arterial e F Road Epping e Road Edgars road network linking to Melbourne Airport, the As industry hubs e Pacific Epping a Port of Melbourne and the agricultural producing organically develop, Shopping Centre regions of Victoria and the northern states opportunities present • Proximity to Northern Hospital and medical precinct, themselves for growing and ’ erns Road retail and entertainment precinct (including Pacific
emerging sectors, including M Epping) and Melbourne Polytechnic 3 professional, agriculture, McDonalds Road • Services an established community and a large Cooper food and beverage, Street 1 catchment area in Melbourne’s outer north including the Epping North/Wollert and Mernda/ Costco construction, energy and 6 Doreen growth areas, in addition to the growing waste, health and tourism. 2 Donnybrook and industrial hub of Campbellfield
Plenty Road Plenty • Access to major regional road infrastructure and (Proposed E public transport including Epping train station, with H u plans for future road and rail expansion to Wollert m
e
F Edgars Road e • Epping Central will continue to create jobs and e igh Street Melbourne Polytechnic
a business opportunities in retail, logistics and
5 light industries. M 0 4 Me li an Rin R a
Road Network Northern Hospital Train Line
Epping Central Thomastown Industrial Area
Cooper Street Employment University Hill Precinct Plenty Valley Town Centre Cooper Street West Employment Precinct Quest Apartments
14 15 Cooper Street Cooper Street West Employment Precinct MAJOR BUSINESSES Employment Precinct • Significant employment area expected to generate • Proximity to Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and over 25,000 jobs Vegetable Market presents opportunities for related businesses • Serviced by excellent transport links including the Hume Freeway, Cooper Street, Edgars Road • Proximity to the broader Cooper Street Employment and future O’Herns Road interchange Melbourne Wholesale Fruit, Area, (state significant Northern Industrial Area Vegetable and Flower Market as identified in Plan Melbourne) and Epping • Location of Northern Hospital, Melbourne Metropolitan Activity Centre Wholesale Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Market and Mainfreight • Serviced by excellent transport routes including Hume Freeway, Cooper Street and future • Major industry clusters of food and beverage and O’Herns Road interchange advanced manufacturing, medical, transport and logistics Mainfreight • Cooper Street’s (Epping) role as a state significant waste and resource recovery hub as identified • Employment estates such as Alliance Park, in the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Biodiversity Business Park, Connect North, Infrastructure Plan. This precinct will continue Northpoint Business Park, and Riverlee’s Epping to provide a service to the local community Renewal mixed use precinct and support initiatives to increase recovery • Located close to current and future residential Mission Foods and improved management of waste, in the growth areas providing access to local employment medium term opportunities. • Large greenfield employment land coming to market including the Frasers Property industrial precinct of over 60 hectares, the Vearings property approximately 140 hectares and the area south of Comdain Infrastructure Biodiversity Business Park
Mantra Hotel
New Age Caravans
16 17 Thomastown Industrial Area • Home to 1,800 businesses, and Meridian MAJOR BUSINESSES Business Park • Contributes approximately $1.1 billion to the economy and employing close to 11,000 people • Excellent access to the regional, metropolitan and national freeways and metropolitan rail and bus services Bertocchi Smallgoods • Located 16 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD • Access to major economic assets such as Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, Melbourne Airport and Port of Melbourne • Proximity to a range of major tertiary institutions including RMIT University (Bundoora) Melbourne Polytechnic, La Trobe University Turi Foods • Low vacancy rate (5.7 per cent) across the wider industrial area (industrial precincts typically averages 6 to 12 per cent) • Opportunities available for a variety of businesses with a range of sites and buildings formats • Area offers redevelopment and expansion Victorian Trailers opportunities • Council and developers continue to invest, improving amenity and local transport networks, increasing business and employment activity • Situated within an area that has an established residential community with a growing catchment of Enersys workers providing job opportunities close to where people live.
That’s Amore Cheese
18 19 University Hill • MAB’s flagship award-winning mixed use MAJOR BUSINESSES development combining retail, office, commercial, light industrial and residential uses • Located on Plenty Road, with direct access to the M80 Ring Road
• Opposite RMIT and public transport networks Westpac including Tram 86 • 13 kilometres from the airport and 18 km from Melbourne CBD • $1 billion investment to date
• 45,000 m² of commercial space and 27,000 m² ANZ retail floor space upon completion • Creation of 4,000 jobs within 200 plus businesses upon completion • 400 panel solar installation within the commercial precinct, reducing grid energy consumption by VicRoads 10 per cent.
Quest Apartments Bundoora
Uni Hill Factory Outlets
RMIT University
20 21 Plenty Valley Town Centre • Plenty Valley Town Centre has been identified by MAJOR BUSINESSES the Victorian State Government as a major activity centre supporting a vibrant mix of uses and activities including the Civic Precinct • Well situated with connections to Plenty Road and Findon Road (future arterial), the South Morang Train Station and Transport Interchange, shared path network linking to the nearby Quarry Hills and Plenty Gorge Parkland Westfield Plenty Valley • The centre builds upon the natural amenity of the area and delivers high quality urban design principles • The centre is home to the City of Whittlesea offices, Westfield Shopping Centre, DPV Health and Serco • More than $150 million investment expected • Creation of up to 5,000 jobs within 100 plus businesses Serco • Major redevelopment and greenfield development opportunities • Opportunity for further development of community and civic uses with complementary commercial and employment forming uses within and adjacent to the civic precinct • Major focus for future office development • Development opportunities lend further support DPV Health of a transport hub to create an integrated and efficient multi-modal transport interchange • Structure Plan currently awaiting approval which seeks to unlock the mixed use development opportunities of the precinct.
22 23 Future developments
Mernda Town Centre Wollert • Directly services the suburbs of Mernda and Doreen • The Wollert area is expected to accommodate (of up to 60,000 people) around 35,000 to 40,000 people over the next several decades, and approximately 8,000 job • Mernda is anchored off Plenty Road and Bridge Inn opportunities will be created Road, utilising the Mernda Train Station, shared path network linking to the nearby Quarry Hills and Plenty • An employment hub is located along Epping Road Gorge Parkland and the future Outer Metropolitan Ring Road/ E6 corridor. The area is zoned for development • The centre will build upon the natural amenity of and within proximity to utility services the area and deliver high quality urban design principles • A major town centre expected to accommodate retail and community needs as well as • Land has been set aside for a mix of retail, opportunities for entertainment, employment commercial, residential uses and civic facilities and accommodation • Mernda Junction Shopping Centre, Mernda Police • The town centre is focused around a future rail Station and Ambulance Victoria have recently station and corridor linking from Lalor/Epping established in the Centre to the south • Permit issued for the Woolworths development • Cafés and small offices will be encouraged adjacent to the train station. This will include a with scope for apartments and commercial supermarket and specialty stores (approximately office development on the upper floors $50 million of proposed investment) • Multiple community centres, sports reserves • Opportunities to partner to deliver Mernda Health and facilities and Wellbeing Centre – incorporating health and outreach facilities, a youth centre and Mernda • Multiple primary and secondary schools Library and Community Facility • Sporting reserves, local parks and a strong • More than $100 million investment expected conservation are network. • 80,000 m² of commercial space and 30,000 m² retail floor space upon completion • Creation of up to 5,000 jobs within 100 plus businesses.
24 25 Donnybrook / Woodstock Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal • The broader Donnybrook and Woodstock area will • Long term freight, logistics and related industry be home to approximately 60,000 people at full precinct build out • The site is strategically located to maximise • Employment precincts are nominated as part of links to the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane rail line, the English Street Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) Hume Freeway and proposed Outer Metropolitan and within the future Shenstone Park PSP Ring Road • Five future town centres are planned and • Over 1,000 hectares of land east of the will include schools, community facilities, Melbourne-Sydney rail line and north of the parks/sporting, reserves, retail and office E6 reservation is identified for the proposed employment space intermodal freight terminal and associated freight and logistics based industrial area • Multiple community centre sites, including a library • This terminal will also be supported by an • Multiple primary schools and secondary schools extensive employment area. • Sporting reserves, local parks and a strong conservation area network.
26 27 Agriculture – an emerging industry in the City of Whittlesea
The rural areas of Whittlesea’s rural the municipality offer areas have: a great opportunity • Productive and viable farming for the development land on our urban fringe of a peri-urban • Access to local buyers and strong food and beverage sector agribusiness industry • Dedicated agribusiness support cluster. The agricultural • Ongoing Council support sector has strong to investigate and unlock Council support as well agricultural potential. as tertiary partnerships Future opportunities with Deakin University include: and the locally based • Protection of high quality Melbourne Polytechnic. farm land • Promotion of horticultural intensification • Defining the adaptation pathways for agriculture in the City of Whittlesea • Matching land capability to production systems for increased food production • Increased industry links • Pilot projects for the utilisation of recycled water, partnering with educational and community organisations • Growth of agritourism (farm gates and events).
28 29 Visitor economy
Visiting family and relatives (VFR) market is a thriving In 2016/17, the total tourism In the last 7 years the total industry within the City of and hospitality sales in tourism and hospitality sales City of Whittlesea was in the City of Whittlesea have Whittlesea, encouraging $197.2 million, the total increased by $66.5 million, the community to support local value added was total value added increased by businesses and enjoy our natural attributes. $ 96.1 $37 million million Major attractions include Funfields Theme Park, Toorourrong Reservoir In 2016, there were more than For 2016/17, there were more than Park, cycle/path networks, dining and entertainment precincts at Westfield Plenty Valley and Pacific 2,500 638,000 Epping Shopping Centres plus people international visitor nights heritage restaurants and cafes. who make up the tourism in the City of Whittlesea, Future opportunities and hospitality workforce in accounting for 45.8 per cent include: the City of Whittlesea of the total visitor nights • Increased opportunities in Health and Agri Tourism • Delivery of regional events attracting day trip tourism 52 per cent of visitors to the % City of Whittlesea state their • Population growth to further 52 main purpose of travel is to visit support an emerging sector. of visitors relatives and friends (VFR)
Implementation of Council’sHave Partnership opportunities you Heard campaign promoting through Destination Melbourne local operators to the community, initiatives Discover– Your Own creating awareness of the local Backyard and Melbourne Now attractions and establishments on offer and encouraging community to support local businesses
30 31 Contact us today
The Economic Development team look forward to working with you to support your investment and contribution to the local economy and community.
Contact details P 9217 2278 E [email protected] W whittlesea.vic.gov.au/business LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/city-of-whittlesea
32 whittlesea.vic.gov.au/business
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