Office Address: Contact Details: Suite 7, River Arcade Phone: (02) 6551-2299 214 Victoria Street Email: [email protected] PO Box 805 Website: www.manningvalleychamber.com.au Taree NSW 2430 ABN 29 382 318 6 48 Incorporating: Taree, Wingham, Harrington, Old Bar and Hallidays Point Chambers 10th March 2017 We write as the combined Manning Valley Business Chamber (MVBC) to present our formal submission in reference to the Senate enquiry into Decentralisation of Commonwealth Agencies. By way of background The MVBC is the combined Business representative group overarching the villages of Taree, Wingham, Old Bar, Harrington & Hallidays Point. (Plus all points in between) We are a progressive group of business people passionate about innovation in our region and finding ways to grow and support local business. Our membership base stretches over 200 business members and many more corporate and affiliate members. In recent years MVBC has operated under a Memorandum of Understanding with the former Greater Taree City Council (GTCC) on Economic Development. This ceased at the end of December 2016 with a new partnership being formed with MidCoast Council now embracing a wider group inclusive of Gloucester, Forster Tuncurry, Bulahdelah & Tea Gardens. At the time of writing this partnership is still formative, hence MVBC is the local voice for the combined region. MVBC are in full support of the push for decentralisation of Commonwealth Agencies. Over recent years The Manning Valley – with Taree at the hub – has lost over a considerable number of jobs and seen our social economic standing slide dramatically. Our Unemployment rate in mid-2016 was over 10.5% or more than double the national average. This figure has continued to blow out as traditional industry left the region and the opportunity to reignite new jobs and sectors failed to occur. Our Economic Development Manager over these years has opened a large funnel of projects with the potential for hundreds of jobs, however, at this stage we have been unsuccessful in attracting the key stake holders to the region. The following is a brief summary of job losses in the past 5 years within the former Greater Taree district. • Manning Base Hospital Over 60 FTE • NSW State Forests Over 30 FTE • Hunter Central Rivers CMA Over 30 FTE • Manning Valley Smash & Paint 20 FTE • Gunnebo Safes 45 FTE • Taree Community College 100 FTE and Lecture staff • Go Lo 11 FTE • Kmart 10 FTE • Schaffenacker 200 FTE • Ardarg Group 20 FTE • Office Data Systems 25 FTE • United Rail Group 150 FTE • Wingham Beef 15 FTE • Beta Electrical 5 FTE • Fotheringhams Hotel 15 FTE & PTE Office Address: Contact Details: Suite 7, River Arcade Phone: (02) 6551-2299 214 Victoria Street Email: [email protected] PO Box 805 Website: www.manningvalleychamber.com.au Taree NSW 2430 ABN 29 382 318 6 48 Incorporating: Taree, Wingham, Harrington, Old Bar and Hallidays Point Chambers • Hickmans Nursery 10 FTE • Pizza Hut 15 FTE • Masters Numerous casual This equates to 761 individual job losses. We must preface that some of these like Wingham Beef have fluctuated with now a higher number of casual employees. Likewise, we believe most of Masters casual workforce were absorbed by the Woolworths group but it did not stimulate any growth and many are in a worse position. True numbers would reach over 1,000 in job losses as our traditional manufacturing base has been eroded and new opportunities remaining unfulfilled. Our region is conveniently located just 3 hours north of Sydney with easy Pacific Highway access. Only 1 and a half hours to Newcastle which has a major domestic Airport and 45 minutes to Port Macquarie which also has strong transport links. With good transport links north and south and being one of the more easily accessible access points for transport companies coming via the New England this means we are perfectly located to take advantage of a number of new industries. We also have a strong new council that will be proactive in seeking to finalise a number of long standing Economic Projects to help grow our economy. Our Real Estate from a commercial position is very strong and we do have well priced land for development. We are switched on for NBN and provide Fibre to the Premises ability in most of the Taree area. This is an added advantage over many other regional areas who only go fibre to the node. Such connectivity would be a major benefit for Government Agencies. Living costs in Capital Cities put stress on working families whereby purchasing a 4-bedroom home on a quarter acre block near The Manning River will only cost around $450,000 - $520,000. With strong links to Sydney, an improving Health system and many public and private school options we are perfect for those seeking to relocate. By way of example I – the writer President Jeremy Thornton – relocated my family to Taree in 2009. We left South East Queensland to work in Professional Services and ultimately start our own business. We purchased a home for less than we sold on The Gold Coast but have double the land and a far superior dwelling. Costs for everyday services are also lower making our quality of life far superior then when located in a larger area. Costs for Commercial Leases and associated services can be as much as 50% - 60% less in our region then Capital Cities. This on the back of a better lifestyle for families firmly supports our submission that The Manning Valley is perfectly positioned to be a centre for Commonwealth Agencies. We welcome further discussion on Decentralisation through our member Dr Gillespie or yourself. MVBC works closely with all levels of Government and supports your Senate enquiry. We have attached our most recent Economic Brief as a supporting document to our submission. This is compiled independently by Regional Development Australia (RDA) and has now been done over a 3-year period. This further demonstrates the fragile nature of our region and would not be dissimilar to others in Regional Australia. We trust this is well received and shows our support for Decentralisation and openness to be an advocate and beneficiary of such a policy. Yours Sincerely Jeremy Thornton President – Manning Valley Business Chamber Economic Update Manning Valley April 2016 Introduction The Manning Valley Business Chamber and Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast have produced this Economic Update to provide key economic and social indicators for the Manning Valley. References to the ‘Manning Valley’ refer to Greater Taree LGA and ‘Mid North Coast’ refers to the combined LGA’s of Greater Taree, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey Shire, Nambucca Shire, Bellingen Shire and Coffs Harbour. Summary . Annual population growth of 0.4%, (June 2015) taking the estimated population to 49,095. Over 65 year olds forecast to grow from 22% of population (2011) to 34% in 2031 – a net increase of 6,550. Gross Regional Product (GRP) of $2.17b (June 2015), contributing 17.13% towards the GRP of the Mid North Coast. Total economic output of $4.08b (June 2015), representing 17.40% of the total Mid North Coast regional output. Exports out of the Manning Valley of $1.19b (June 2015) with the Manufacturing sector producing 57.22% of exports. Tourism revenues of $150.21m (June 2015), an increase of 4.23% from 2014 and employing 6.1% of the Manning Valley workforce. Median property price of $255,875 for houses and $187,500 for units (March 2016). Rental yields of 6.1% (units) and 5.8% (houses) at December 2015. 10.2% unemployment rate - a 1.7 percentage point increase in 12 months. Contents 1. Population ...................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Gross Regional Product ................................................................................................................ 2 3. Economic Output ........................................................................................................................... 3 4. Exports ........................................................................................................................................... 5 5. Registered Businesses ................................................................................................................. 6 5.1 Number of Employees .......................................................................................................... 7 5.2 Turnover ............................................................................................................................... 8 6. Tourism .......................................................................................................................................... 9 7. Employment ................................................................................................................................. 11 8. Unemployment Rate .................................................................................................................... 13 9. Housing & Construction ............................................................................................................. 14 9.1 Dwelling Approvals ............................................................................................................. 14 9.2 Median Property Price ........................................................................................................ 15 9.3 Rental Yields .....................................................................................................................