THE CENTRAL COAST

HE CENTRAL COAST 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE CENTRAL COAST - OVERVIEW

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THE CENTRAL COAST

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Lifestyle 4

Population 5

Employment 6

Education and Health 7

Major Industries 8

Utilities and Telecommunications 10

Transport 11

REFERENCES 13 THE CENTRAL COAST 3

THE CENTRAL COAST - At a Glance

The Central Coast region of NSW covers 1,854 sq. km. It stretches along Population the Pacific Ocean from the in the south to the shores 312,184 of Lake Macquarie in the north and west to the Dooralong and Yarramalong Valleys.

Occupied Private The Region includes the local government areas of and Wyong. Dwellings The City of Gosford forms the southern half of the Central Coast, while the reaches north to Lake Macquarie. 87.0% The Central Coast is characterised by natural attractions such as Brisbane Waters and , numerous ocean beaches and Homes owned mountain forests. outright The attractive physical environment of the area and close proximity to 34.6% the major cities of Sydney and Newcastle has allowed the Central Coast to become an important residential, business and tourist hub.

AREA: 1680.9 sq kms Residential growth has resulted in the Central Coast being one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. Servicing this rapidly growing population has MAJOR TOWNS: provided many opportunities for investors and business operators. This has - Gosford especially been the case in the retail sector. However the building and - Terrigal construction, and the property and business services industries are also - Wyong significant growth areas in the local economy. ROAD: The strategic location of the Central Coast provides access to markets To F3 Freeway: along the eastern seaboard. This has assisted the region in achieving a Gosford – 15 min significant growth in industrial areas and business parks involving both Terrigal – 25 min production and distribution activities. It has also led to the development Wyong – 10 min of a successful food and beverage manufacturing sector.

AIR: The University of Newcastle and NSW TAFE, in answering the need for Gosford to Sydney educational facilities, have established a successful Central Coast Airport – 1 h 13 min Campus at Ourimbah.

Terrigal to Newcastle & Sydney Airport - 1 h & 30 mins to both

Wyong to Newcastle Airport - 1 hour

TRAIN:

Gosford to Gosford train station – 3 min

Terrigal to Gosford train station – 20 min

Wyong to Wyong Train Station – 3 min THE CENTRAL COAST 4

LIFESTYLE - Something for Everyone

Surrounded by pristine beaches, semi-tropical lush hinterland and majestic national parks, the Central Coast is a gateway to nature and

serenity but also boasts large shopping centres, parks and recreational facilities that are idyllic for family activities and events.

The Central Coast is renowned for its natural beauty, iconic swimming and surfing beaches and relaxed lifestyle.

Beaches

Some of the Central Coast’s beaches include:

Terrigal Beach - One of the Central Coast’s best -known beaches featuring magnificent pine trees, alfresco dining and a shopping strip of boutique stores. Terrigal’s harbour ‘The Haven’ is a popular place to dive, the town is a hive of activity.

Killcare Beach - One of Australia’s top ten beaches, Killcare Beach

maintains its beauty and seclusion despite it’s popularity. Family friendly and protected by a northeast and easterly swell with rock pools nearby. borders Killcare Beach on either end and offers bushwalkers a range of trails to explore, making the area a popular tourist spot.

National Parks

Bouddi National Park offers spectacular diverse landscapes – from beaches and steep cliffs through to rainforest. It is home to countless attractions, including one of Australia’s first marine protected areas, significant Aboriginal sites, unique animals and plant life.

Brisbane Water National Park provides panoramic views spread from The 100m high cliffs overlooking the Hawkesbury River at Warrah Trig and HMAS Adelaide Staples Lookouts. Aboriginal art may be seen on the sandstone landscape with engravings at Bulgandry on Woy Woy Road. that was recently sunk Wining & Dining at Avoca Beach The Central Coast is plentiful with family restaurants, romantic dining is expected to options and casual cafes. generate Seasalt - A favourite amongst locals of the Central Coast, and visitors millions of alike, Seasalt is the premier restaurant of Crowne Plaza Terrigal. dollars in Oceanfront on Terrigal beach and overlooking The Haven, Seasalt is tourism renowned for fresh seafood, attentive service and a skillful wine list.

and follow-on Manfredi at Bells - Located at the heart of the Bells at Killcare Boutique revenue for the Hotel, Restaurant & Spa, Manfredi at Bells commands a prominant position in coast’s economy the Manor House with an elegant dining room and verandah overlooking expansive manicured gardens. The restaurant menu is grounded in the core Manfredi values of authenticity, simplicity and freshness, featuring seasonal dishes inspired by the produce grown and harvested in the estate’s famous vegetable garden, known as Stefano’s garden. THE CENTRAL COAST 5

POPULATION and EMPLOYMENT

Population

In the 2011 Census, there were 312,184 people living on The Central Coast; of these 48.3% were male and 51.7% were female. The median age was 41 years. Children aged 0 - 14 years made up 19.4% of the population, and people aged 65 years and over made up 19.0% of the population.

The Central Coast has shifted from being a retirement and holiday destination to a growing urban fringe area with the absorption and expansion of small coastal villages into urban areas. The population is dispersed and largely lives in a variety of urban settings that include towns, villages and neighbourhoods. Large centres on the Central Coast include Gosford, Tuggerah-Wyong, Erina, Woy Woy and The Entrance.

The major catalyst for population growth on the Central Coast over the last thirty years has been improvements in transport infrastructure: the electrification of the railway and construction of the freeway to Sydney; the affordability of land and housing; the attraction of a coastal lifestyle and growth pressures in the Sydney metropolitan area.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard recently joined Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Robertson MP Deb O’Neill on the Central Coast to reaffirm Federal Labor’s $600 million plan to ease congestion and cut travel times along the F3, which connects Sydney to the Central Coast and Newcastle. The Plan also funds targeted improvements to tackle congestion and improve safety along the existing F3.

As part of the Greater Metropolitan Region of Sydney, the nation’s largest city, the Central Coast will continue to experience growth pressures which are inextricably linked to the growth of Sydney. The State Government’s Greater Metropolitan Strategy ‘Shaping Our Cities’ foreshadows a continuation of rapid population growth on the Central Coast. Population growth is inevitable because the Central Coast is, and will remain, a highly desirable place to live; – and as Sydney continues to grow, the Central Coast will accommodate some of this increase in population. THE CENTRAL COAST 6

Employment

The Central Coast offers advanced infrastructure, skilled workforces and

attractive lifestyles, making the area a viable business alternative to Sydney for many major industries.

Major sectors include:

»» Warehousing and logistics »» Food processing »» Manufacturing

»» Building and building products »» Health and community services »» Tourism »» Information communications technology (ICT)

Continuing high population growth will place increased pressure on the Wyong Shire need to generate local employment. The number of jobs required for the Council has Central Coast as a whole has been estimated to be 42,600 in the period endorsed 2001 to 2021. The growth in employment for Wyong Shire residents has a major planning been estimated as 35,000 over this period and 7,600 for Gosford City.

proposal Industry at Warnervale For employed residents living and working in the Wyong Shire, the key with the potential industries include retail trade (18.5%), manufacturing (12.7%), construction to create (10.7%) and health and community services (10.00%). Compared to Sydney more than and NSW, the region has a higher proportion of residents employed in these 1300 jobs areas and a lower proportion in finance and insurance, property and business, transport and wholesale trade industries. and provide Occupation $1 billion Intermediate clerical, sales and service workers are the highest worth of investment occupation category for employed people on the Central Coast, to the area accounting for 17% of the workforce. This is consistent with Sydney. ______The region is largely represented by people employed in trades related occupations (14.5 %), intermediate product and transport (8.2%), Plans include labourers and related occupations (8.7%) and elementary clerical sales a new and services (11.0%). business park Tuggerah Business Park is a landmark development by Sydney-based which will provide Terrace Tower Group and is regarded as the region’s foremost business a significant location. The Business Park covers an area of 75 hectares and provides number of jobs the ideal environment for light manufacturing, warehousing and for residents distribution as well as office operations. The Park is strategically living on the positioned to take full advantage of the nearby Tuggerah Railway Central Coast Station, the Sydney-Newcastle Expressway and Westfield Shopping town and is central to all areas of the region. THE CENTRAL COAST 7

EDUCATION and HEALTH

Education

The Central Coast offers a diverse range of education options, including TAFE facilities at Gosford, Ourimbah and Wyong and The University of Newcastle campus at Ourimbah. These facilities deliver a selection of courses that offer a choice of qualifications, industry areas, learning styles and durations to suit all needs, including vocational qualifications, higher education qualifications, short courses, apprenticeships and traineeships.

Ourimbah TAFE Campus is a joint Hunter TAFE and University of Newcastle facility that offers many courses that articulate directly into university degrees. Ourimbah Campus is located on the Central Coast close to public transport, approximately halfway between Sydney and Newcastle.

There are a number of different public and private schools on the Central Coast, including co-educational, primary and secondary, special education, selective, as well as schools catering from kindergarten to year 12 on the one campus.

Health

Gosford Private The largest private hospital on the NSW Central Coast, Gosford Private has eight operating theatres, five delivery suites, a dedicated Day Surgery Unit and Day Oncology Centre. With two co-located major medical centres, a radiology practice, a pathology laboratory, and the first private hospital to provide neurosurgery, it offers a health precinct second to none. Central Coast residents can be confident of the high quality of care on offer for private or self-insured patients, with 24 hour on -site medical cover, a four bed Intensive Care Unit and the support of more than 200 accredited visiting medical staff.

Wyong Hospital Wyong Hospital provides inpatient, outpatient and emergency services for the northern sector of the Central Coast. This year saw a significant enhancement to inpatient services with the opening of the 50-bed Mental Health Centre and an additional 14 beds in the Emergency Department.

Gosford Hospital Gosford Public Hospital is a 484-bed hospital and provides a range of medical, surgical and maternity services to the Central Coast region. THE CENTRAL COAST 8

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Tourism Known for its relaxed lifestyle, mountain forests, unspoilt beaches and waterways, the Central Coast boasts a thriving tourism industry catering to holidaymakers from around the world, host to over 4.5m visitors annually, 3.2m domestic overnight visitors and a total regional expenditure of $762m.

Warehousing and Logistics The Central Coast’s logistical advantage is its strategic East Coast location, excellent transport links, available land, skilled and motivated workforce and supportive planning regime. Alliance Distribution Services, Toll and Woolworths have established distribution and logistics centres within the region.

Information Technology The Central Coast boasts an IT industry that is known for its innovation, research and development, production and software support. The region’s advanced educational infrastructure continues to develop and support the necessary skills for this dynamic industry.

Call Centres The region’s variety of choice in property options and low occupancy costs continues to attract call centre operators. Industry sectors such as banking, insurance, telecommunications and government have established centres on the Central Coast.

Manufacturing Because of its easy access to ports, close proximity to Sydney and the consumer markets of the eastern seaboard, the Central Coast has attracted a strong manufacturing sector including leading manufacturers such as Borg, Halley & Mellows and Open Shutters. There is also a successful food and beverage manufacturing industry, which includes some of Australia’s best-known brands such as Sanitarium, Sara Lee, Master Foods Kelloggs and Bluetongue Brewery.

The region is also home to a new and dynamic precision engineering cluster. Firms such as Gibbens Industries, Pall Australia, Avoca Engineering, ADC Krone, Aalborg Industries and Precision Engineering Group are now all operating on the Central Coast.

Agriculture The Central Coast plateau produces some 14.6% of agricultural production in the Sydney region with poultry, farming, plant nurseries and cut flowers the most important industries on the plateau.

Business and Community Services Growth is particularly strong in the property, business, health and aged care services, construction and retail sectors. The highest proportion of Central Coast employment is within the knowledge based service industries (30%) and the person based service industries (27%). THE CENTRAL COAST 9

Retail

The Central Coast boasts some of the busiest centres and comprehensive shopping facilities.

Erina Fair is the largest non-metropolitan shopping centre in Australia and the largest single-storey shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere. The centre contains over 330 stores, including Target, Coles, Woolworths and Myer. It is the biggest shopping centre on the Central Coast, significantly larger (by an excess of nearly 100 stores) than its closest competitor, Westfield Tuggerah.

Westfield Tuggerah is approximately 5 km south of the Wyong CBD. The complex was constructed in 1995. The centre completed a large upgrade in 2005 and is now host to 245 stores plus an 8 cinema Greater Union complex. A Homemakers precinct was recently proposed by Westfield. The development will be located in the Tuggerah Town Centre and is expected to create 3,000 jobs during construction and 1,200 jobs ongoing. The precinct is set to be 30,000m2 and will include bulky goods and a homemaker’s warehouse. The development is subject to land rezoning by the State Government.

Lake Haven Shopping Centre is a single level sub-regional shopping centre located approximately 10km north-east of Wyong. It is around a 90 minute drive north of the Sydney CBD. The facility includes Coles, Woolworths and Kmart.

Charter Hall – Bateau Bay Square Bateau Bay Square is located at Bateau Bay and is anchored by Coles, Woolworths, and Kmart and includes over 90 specialty stores and services. Bateau Bay Square was redeveloped in 2006 with bright wide malls, more fashion, food and convenience. Bateau Bay Square has 1,300 parking spaces, with nearly 200 of them undercover.

Deepwater Plaza Shopping Centre – Woy Woy Deepwater Plaza opened for trade in April 1984, the centre created a revolution on the Central Coast as to how people did their shopping. Anchoring the Shopping Centre was a Super Kmart. A number of the centres original retailers are still trading today including Deepwater Surf, Peters Meats, Suzanne Grae, The Greater Building Society. In 1994 Deepwater Plaza expanded to include a Franklins Supermarket, Lowes Menswear, Bakers Delight and Lady Anne Handcrafts. In 2005 Deepwater Plaza undertook another redevelopment and refurbishment that has seen the arrival of Best & Less, The Reject Shop, Millers, The Newcastle Permanent Building Society, The Commonwealth Bank and Passion Hair and Beauty.

Imperial Shopping Centre – Gosford Imperial Shopping Centre is located conveniently in the Gosford central business district, there are excellent shopping facilities, including Aldi, Woolworths, and Best and Less, also smaller retail shopping, hair and beauty, cafe’s, fashion, banks, and fresh food. The centre has easy parking and relaxed shopping with over 60 specialty stores and services, with convenient access to taxi, train and bus. THE CENTRAL COAST 10

UTILITIES and TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Electricity Water supply

Energy Australia owns and manages the Central The Central Coast is serviced with its own water Coast’s extensive electricity distribution network. supply system which features pristine catchment The region’s yearly growth in demand for electricity areas for its three dams - Mardi Dam, Mooney has exceeded expectations, reaching 4%. In parts Mooney Dam and the . This of Wyong Shire, the increase is as much as 18% supply is augmented by a pipeline connection to and in Gosford City more than 14%. the Hunter Water supply system and groundwater from seven borefields spread Gas throughout the region.

The main natural gas pipeline, which passes Sewage and Waste Management through the Central Coast, is part of the National Grid and a network of high pressure mains ensures The region is serviced by a reticulated sewerage a guaranteed supply to industrial, commercial and system to all non-rural residential, commercial residential users throughout the region. and industrial areas. Gosford City and Wyong Shire Council operate their own independent Telecommunications sewerage systems which are relatively new having been extensively developed over the past Following joint lobbying from the Central Coast twenty to thirty years. Both Councils adopt highly community (including both Council’s, Regional responsible policies in respect of sewage and Development Australia, Central Coast Tourism, trade waste. the education sector, government agencies and the business community) the federal government and NBN Co announced (during October 2011) that the region would be one of the first locations in Australia to have access to The federal government and NBN the National Broadband Network (NBN). Co announced that Central Coast Work commenced early 2012 on two initial roll-out region would be one of the first locations within the region, being the areas served locations in Australia to have access to by the existing exchanges at Gosford and Long the National Broadband Network Jetty. This will result in more than 22,000 premises (NBN) having fibre broadband connection by mid-2013. ______This roll-out plan has now been supplemented by the NBN Co three year roll-out plan, which will see This will result in more than 22,000 work commenced on connecting approximately 80% premises having fibre broadband of the Central Coast region to the NBN within the connection by mid 2013 next 36 months.

Major network providers Telstra and Optus have installed high capacity telecommunications backbones that extend throughout the Central Coast as part of their east coast networks. This backbone supports a regional network that is focused around the core business areas - Gosford, Mount Penang, Erina, Tuggerah, Woy Woy and Ourimbah university campus - for those industries reliant on high capacity networks. THE CENTRAL COAST 11

TRANSPORT

Air

The Central Coast’s accessible location and Newcastle Airport is located in the Port Stephens impressive transport infrastructure provide it Local Government Area (LGA) at Williamtown, with a competitive edge in accessing Australian approximately one hour north of the Central Coast. and international markets. Qantas Link, Virgin Blue, Jetstar, Brindabella Centrally located on Australia’s eastern seaboard Airlines and AeroPelican operate daily services between Melbourne and Brisbane, and within one from Newcastle to Melbourne, Brisbane, hour’s drive from Sydney, the Central Canberra, Coolangatta (Gold Coast), Coffs Coast is ideally situated to access the millions of Harbour, Port Macquarie and Sydney. people living in these cities.

The state Government is investing more than In December 2005, Newcastle Airport Limited $73 million dollars on roads in and around the completed an $8.25 million expansion of their Central Coast at present: passenger terminal and in 2006 expanded their car parking facilities to accommodate a fast »» Upgrading the F3 south of the Hawkesbury River growing market. As a result passenger numbers »» Upgrading the Pacific Highway for the Tuggerah have soared from 214,000 in 2003 to more than to Wyong and Lisarow to Ourimbah sections 1 million in 2010.

»» Upgrading The Entrance Road at Newcastle Airport has the capability to provide Wamberal and Erina international flights with an alternative entry to Sydney and a secondary regional tourism »» Upgrading Sparks Road between destination. Warnervale and Hamlyn Terrace

»» Ongoing bus priority lane construction Newcastle is now being seen as an aerospace centre. BAE SYSTEMS is currently building 33 An $18 million project which consisted of a new aircraft for the RAAF Lead-in Fighter Project in roundabout at the southbound entry-exit ramp the industrial precinct while in 2005 JetStar and a new set of lights at the northbound entry- established a Heavy Maintenance Base at the exit ramp at the intersection of Wyong Road was airport investing $29 million. completed in February 2013. In early 2013 Newcastle Airport announced it A new northbound freeway on-ramp looping under hoped to add direct flights to Perth, Adelaide and the existing Wyong Road bridge has improved traffic Cairns within 12 months as it pushes to become flow and reduced queues on Wyong Road. Wyong an international destination in its own right. state Liberal MP Darren Webber said the work would ease congestion and provide for future growth and Port Stephens Council, a joint stakeholder in the development in the area. airport with Newcastle City Council, has applied for $11 million from the Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund to help the airport tap into The Central Coast is one of the fastest New Zealand - it’s biggest international market - and potentially other global destinations. growing regions in NSW, and that is why

The airport also hoped to add a direct route to the Government has heavily Cairns. Cairns services Asian Airlines and is invested in road and transport actively tapping into the burgeoning tourist projects right across the market. The potential new routes are in line with region the airport’s push for more infrastructure to boost domestic and international business. THE CENTRAL COAST 12

Roads

The Central Coast has a highly developed Between Sydney and Newcastle the State Rail network of highways and arterial roads. Authority operates an electrified heavy rail This combined with over 100 national and system. regional transport companies operating in The rail network is also linked to the Port of the region, allows for fast and efficient Newcastle, providing a smooth transition between movement of freight. sea and land for the movement of bulk items The Sydney to Newcastle F3 Freeway is part of such as coal, alumina and wood chips, and the National Highway network. It is the main containerised cargo. Much of the agricultural corridor linking Newcastle to Sydney, providing a produce from the North-West regions is exported driving time of less than two hours between the through the Port of Newcastle via the rail links to two cities. The F3 also connects Newcastle with these areas. Brisbane, regional Queensland and North The Main Northern Railway Line from Sydney Western NSW. It has links to the New England passes through Cardiff / Glendale, Broadmeadow and Pacific Highways and carries 60,000 cars and (where it links into the Newcastle City Centre), 7,000 freight vehicles each day. and then on to Maitland and the northern Work has begun on the extension of The Hunter tablelands to Tamworth. Expressway to Branxton and Singleton in the lower The North Coast Rail Line commences at Hunter region, giving dual carriageway from Sydney Maitland and passes through Dungog, Gloucester to Singleton. Planning is also underway for the F3 and the coastal towns through to Brisbane. extension to Raymond Terrace, providing faster access to Newcastle Airport from the Upper Bus Hunter and Central Coast. Busways operates route and school bus services The Pacific Highway runs from Sydney to in NSW communities as far north as Illuka and as Brisbane along the NSW coast, passing through far south as Wollongong. the centre of Newcastle. The New England Highway provides passage to Brisbane and to the The two major Central Coast passenger coach north-west of NSW via the New England region. services are Red Bus Services and Busways, with Coastal Liner providing links in the hinterland Rail areas of Dooralong and Yarramalong.

A comprehensive rail network operates within the region. Passenger and general freight train services link the Central Coast with Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane and North Western NSW A one hour including Tamworth and Moree. Express Service for rail commuters

between Gosford and Sydney

within a decade and work to start on The Hunter Expressway Project the F3-M2 link will provide a within 5 years NEW DUAL CARRIAGEWAY between the were key recommendations in F3 and the New England Highway the new NSW infrastructure plan THE CENTRAL COAST 13

REFERENCES

»» http://www.investcentralcoast.com.au/lifestyle-events#.UJc-s29aySo

»» http://www.visitcentralcoast.com.au/

»» http://www.mycentralcoast.com.au/my_dining/index.htm

»» http://www.investcentralcoast.com.au/education-further-education#.UJsW-m9aySo

»» http://gosfordprivate.com.au/about.asp?entityid=1

»» http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/invest-in-nsw/regional-nsw/nsw-regions/central-coast

»» http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/ quickstat/102?opendocument&navpos=220 »» http://www.adamsbusinessinsight.com.au/the-business-environment

»» http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/invest-in-nsw/regional-nsw/nsw-regions/central-coast