a city transformed

ADVANTAGE Investor Prospectus advantagewollongong.com.au Connectivity from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, and South Coast 7.6MW Economy

Location TIER 3 DATA CENTRE Wollongong, ’s City of Innovation, The University of Wollongong continues to expand and grow, with 36,180 enrolled students studying at 12 locations in 5 countries $11.9B is a city transformed. Wollongong has across the world. UOW is rated in the top 1% for graduates as 80KMS GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT superb liveability, a supportive business rated by global employers and the top 2% of world universities. FROM CBD NBN LIVE 36,180 environment, is globally connected and Wollongong recently welcomed the opening of the new $16.5 million WHICH OFFERS ENROLLED STUDENTS* is home to a world-class university with iAccelerate Centre, which will house 280 entrepreneurs. POPULATION *consolidated entity a focus on encouraging innovation. Wollongong is a superior business location, making it a great place <2 MILLISECOND for businesses seeking to establish, grow or invest. A recent report DATA CONNECTIVITY Wollongong is NSW’s 3rd largest city and lies on the narrow by Deloittes found that in relation to the Shared Services sector 208,875 strip between the Illawarra escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, in Wollongong, salary costs are 85% of Sydney costs, rental costs 1HOUR approximately 80km south of Sydney. are 50% of Sydney CBD costs and staff retention rates are 95% Wollongong’s economy is diversifying and experiencing strong growth compared to 75% in Sydney. SOUTH OF 15,819 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS with key sectors driving this change including Knowledge Services, SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL I encourage you all to take a look at what Wollongong has to offer ENROLLED IN AUSTRALIA & ABROAD Trade and Logistics, Advanced Manufacturing and Defence. and what it can do for your business. AIRPORT & PROPOSED BADGERY’S CREEK AIRPORT $1.3B CITY CENTRE INVESTMENT The Wollongong City Centre has seen a $1.3 billion investment Gareth Ward MP Culture over the past 4 years, with a further $300 million in the pipeline. Member for Kiama IN THE PAST 4 YEARS Wollongong will also see a 150% increase in the city centre Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, $300M IN PIPELINE $ population over the next 2-3 years, as a result of the current Illawarra and South Coast construction underway, which will significantly add to the vibrancy 671M ANNUAL OPERATING and life in the city centre. 20,000 % CITY CENTRE 60 NEW REVENUE WITH APPROX. HIGHLY SKILLED WORKERS SMALL BARS & CAFÉS 150 POPULATION COMMUTING TO SYDNEY INCREASE IN NEXT 3 YEARS OPENED IN LAST 3 YEARS 2,700 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES Australia’s most Australia connected regional city: Sydney Sydney International Airport RATED IN THE Distance 80kms, 1hr by road HOUSES & UNITS Property % ARE PRICED Wollongong Distance 5kms, 5mins by road TOP 2 80,000 WORLD UNIVERSITIES Canberra Canberra 35-40% Spotlight Distance 240kms, 2.5hrs by road $630,000 SQM OF MEDIAN HOUSE VALUE DA APPROVED Wollongong is likely to be home LESS % THAN THE GREATER OFFICE SPACE to around half a million people $471,000 IN THE CITY CENTRE TOP 1 SYDNEY AVERAGE FOR GRADUATES AS RATED MEDIAN UNIT VALUE (RESIDEX) by 2050. Metro Wollongong is at (CORELOGIC, JUNE 2016) BY GLOBAL EMPLOYERS the heart of this urban area and will drive the economic growth, employment and diversification of the region’s economy. Source: Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan, 2016 Wollongong is a city transformed. Renowned for its world class steel making and coal mining industries, Australia’s City of Innovation is today an important knowledge services centre, international trade hub and a leading university city. The Wollongong

1 Globally connected 2 Superb liveability 3 City of Innovation 4 Supportive business environment

Wollongong offers a competitive base for Wollongong provides an enviable coastal Home to a sophisticated and well developed Wollongong provides a supportive environment businesses to benefit from access to domestic lifestyle for people of all ages. innovation eco-system that supports industry with considerable advantages for businesses and global markets. collaboration and excellence. located in the area. Affordable living: Houses and apartments across Digital: Most locations in Wollongong offer double Wollongong are currently priced around 35-40% less University of Wollongong: The University of Competitive costs: With competitive rents and and triple fibre redundancy options. To complement the than the Greater Sydney average (Residex). Residential Wollongong has earned a place among the top 20 wages compared to Sydney and higher than average already existing high quality broadband technology, NBN is choices range from coastal villages in the north, beachfront modern universities in the world through world-class staff retention rates, Wollongong provides significant currently being rolled out across the city. apartments in the city centre, spacious family homes in research and teaching, and routinely rates among the top cost savings in an increasingly competitive and global leafy suburbs to rural acreages further south. Australian universities in key areas including graduate commercial environment. Road: Wollongong is located just one hour south of satisfaction and starting salaries. Consistently ranked Located just south of the Royal Sydney International Airport and connected to Sydney Coastal lifestyle: in the top 2% of universities worldwide, it is also an Industry base: A significant strength is the size National Park, Wollongong’s spectacular natural by the M1 motorway, as well as being close to the Hume international centre of research excellence that ranks in and diversity of the economy with a number of large environment includes 17 patrolled beaches framed by Highway corridor and the proposed Badgery’s Creek the top 1% for research quality. national and multi-national companies already part of Airport. the backdrop of the Illawarra escarpment, offering an the business landscape. Supporting these businesses are abundance of recreational activities to enjoy. Innovation Campus: The University of Wollongong’s a range of professional services including leading legal, Port: Situated just 5km south of Wollongong, Port Kembla Innovation Campus is an award-winning research, financial, accounting, human resources, marketing and IT The city has experienced a burst of is NSW’s largest motor vehicle import hub and grain export Bar/café culture: technology and commercial precinct. Set on 33 hectares companies. activity within its bar and café scene with 60 new venues terminal, and second largest coal export port. by the beach, the $600 million site encourages innovative opening in the past three years. organisations from around the world to co-locate with UOW’s Skills: Wollongong has a large, experienced, multilingual Rail: Wollongong is part of the Sydney train network which workforce, with skills ranging from traditional Wollongong offers relatively leading research institutes, with 1,500 people currently helps to transport the majority of grain and coal coming Quality infrastructure: manufacturing expertise to high technology and short journey to work times and reduced costs, while working on the campus. into the port. knowledge-based capabilities. Around 20,000 Wollongong also being well-connected to Sydney. Its quality health The iAccelerate Centre, the region’s first residents commute to Sydney each day for work, providing infrastructure includes a major teaching hospital and a iAccelerate: purpose-built business incubator, provides a permanent an attractive pool of potential employees for any business number of private hospitals. home for 280 entrepreneurs across 4,000 square metres. operating in the city. With the aim to foster the next generation of entrepreneurs and grow new businesses, the centre is the first of its kind in Australia, being both a business incubator and accelerator that are connected to a world-class, research- intensive university.

image: Above Down Under photography Wollongong’s Key Assets Wollongong’s Key Assets

of Wollongong

The Wollongong City Centre Spotlight The University of Wollongong is a research The Wollongong City Centre is the employment hub of the region, intensive university with an outstanding reputation RATED IN THE providing employment for over 20,000 people and home to over 3,000 for its learning environments across a broad range businesses. It is the region’s business and administrative centre The Crown Street Mall is now home of disciplines. % with the majority of knowledge service businesses in ICT, financial TOP 2 services and shared services choosing the City Centre as their base. to the Friday Forage Markets and The University’s commitment to its students is evident in their Thursday’s Eat Street Markets - graduates, who are recognised for their capability, quality OF WORLD The Wollongong City Centre is undergoing a significant economic UNIVERSITIES which attract up to 8,000 people and success in the global workplace. Locally, the University transformation. Over the past 4 years, the City Centre has seen of Wollongong is a vital part of the Wollongong economy, over $1.3 billion worth of investment in major development projects contributing over $2 billion in gross economic output and completed or currently underway, with a further $300 million in the H&M opened in September 2016 providing highly-skilled graduates for local businesses. pipeline. Globally, the University’s research agenda is working to solve Major highlights recently completed include: 38 facades have been upgraded some of the biggest problems facing the world today with key research institutes including the Illawarra Health and Medical • the $200 million upgrade to by GPT, which in the City Centre through Wollongong City Council’s Façade Research Institute, the SMART Infrastructure Facility and the included an additional 18,000m² of specialty stores, a new Australian Institute for Innovative Materials. supermarket, department store and 650 car spaces; Rejuvenation Program • the $120 million Wollongong Private Hospital, operated by Ramsey Innovation Campus Health Care; and The City Centre has seen the fast The University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus encourages • the $134 million expansion of the Wollongong Public Hospital. tracked roll out of the NBN innovative organisations from around the world to co-locate with Adding to the revitalisation is the growth of the café and small bar leading research institutions in a collaborative environment. The culture with over 60 new establishments in the City Centre over the Innovation Campus is home to over 15 organisations that work last three years. alongside a number of research institutes. iAccelerate The region’s first business incubator and accelerator opened in July 2016 with space for 280 entrepreneurs. iAccelerate provides bright minds with the infrastructure, mentoring and education programs to help them succeed. Entrepreneurs are connected to a world-class university, potential investors and high quality business advisors. 60 NEW SMALL BARS & CAFÉS OPENED IN LAST 3 YEARS 5,580 GRADUATES IN 2015-16 Wollongong’s Key Assets Wollongong’s Key

Port Kembla is an important international gateway, a key • Deep water shipping channel and berths that require minimal While Health, Education, Manufacturing, Tourism and Retail are Trade and Logistics infrastructure asset for NSW and an economic driver in the maintenance dredging. the top employing sectors within Wollongong, there are a number Illawarra region. • Capable of handling large cargo vessels. of emerging sectors in the local economy. Port Kembla is an important international gateway, being Australia’s • Short shipping channel that minimises vessel transit time and largest vehicle import hub, largest export grain terminal and the Port Kembla is home to NSW’s largest motor vehicle import hub contributes to port efficiency. Knowledge Services second largest coal export in NSW. An international gateway for and grain export terminal, and is the second largest coal export • Excellent stock of well-connected nearby industrial land to agricultural and mining industries, Port Kembla provides significant Wollongong has a strong footprint in key sectors including Shared port in NSW. The Port handles a range of dry bulk, bulk liquid and support key trades and port-related activities. opportunities for companies operating in the logistics field. Services, ICT and Financial Services. With over 75 locations general cargo. • Operates 24 hours per day, seven days a week. employing 5,200 in this sector, Wollongong also boasts some of the Defence Port Kembla is also a key link in the logistics chain for a number As outlined in Navigating the Future – NSW Ports’ 30 Year Master lowest staff turnover rates within Australia with most reporting an of local, Australian and international companies operating in the Plan, the proposed Outer Harbour Development provides for average rate below 5%. The region has a strong record of providing innovative defence global economy. Port Kembla provides significant opportunities for additional trade capacity at Port Kembla. NSW Ports’ has planning technology and services to the Australian and global defence companies operating in the logistics field, including: approval to develop a container and multi-purpose facility at Port Advanced Manufacturing industries. The region has a unique range of capabilities in design, • Connections throughout NSW, including freight rail connections, engineering and manufacturing that are applicable across joint Kembla’s Outer Harbour, which envisages new wharves, berths and Advanced Manufacturing is an important growth sector for the local to support agriculture and mining. land, sea and air domains. Many Wollongong companies supply terminal facilities for NSW’s second container terminal. economy with a large number of organisations using advanced • Proximity and access to the growing population and employment specialised services and products to defence primes and contractors, methods and technology to compete in both a domestic and areas of south-west Sydney, the Illawarra and the hinterland. with several world class research institutes at the University of global scale. Key to their success is the strong skills base in the • Capacity to handle new trades and increased volumes of existing Wollongong further enhancing the region’s defence credentials. region; access to the latest research conducted at the University of trades. Wollongong’s Australian Institute for Innovative Materials; and i3net, which promotes the region as a manufacturing and engineering centre of excellence. Spotlight

Wollongong welcomed NEC Australia, a leading Australian ICT solutions and services firm in 2016. NECs new corporate office will create more than 130 new technology jobs for Wollongong. NEC’s $25 million Spotlight investment in the region will support major customers of NEC across the country. Port Kembla opens up to tourism, with Royal Carribean’s Radiance of the Seas making its maiden voyage on 30 October 2016.

$760M 5,200 JOBS ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION TO PER$935K VESSEL VISIT CONTRIBUTION THE NSW ECONOMY CONTRIBUTION TO TO NSW GSP DUE TO PORT OPERATIONS NSW ECONOMY

image: Dee Kramer photography Wollongong’s Tourism Wollongong’s Property Market TOURISM Population CONTRIBUTES MORE THAN

20,000 HIGHLY SKILLED WORKERS $ TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY COMMUTING TO SYDNEY 1B Wollongong is experiencing broad confidence in the residential West Dapto Urban Release Area Economy property sector, with the best year-on-year performance of any OVER 5 MILLION regional location in the country with house values increasing by The West Dapto Urban Release Area is the largest single land release in NSW outside the Sydney Northwest and Southwest Top 5 by industry: VISITORS ANNUALLY 15% and unit values increasing by 14% annually. Coupled with POPULATION strong yields and expectations of solid performance throughout growth areas and is located at the base of the Illawarra escarpment. Once complete, the release area will include 19,000 Employment Output (Gross Revenue) FORECAST TO 2017, Wollongong provides an attractive alternate option for INTERNATIONAL lots and house around 50,000 residents over the next 30-40 INCREASE BY OVER Sydney residents who find themselves increasingly priced out of 1 Health 11,118 jobs 1 Manufacturing $5.9B OVERNIGHT VISITORS the market. years. Stages 1 and 2 of the West Dapto Urban Release Area have commenced with a number of major greenfield developments 2 Manufacturing 8,572 jobs 2 Real Estate $2.4B Wollongong City Centre either underway or completed. 3 Education 8,167 jobs 3 Construction $2.1B The Wollongong City Centre is seeing an explosion in demand for Wollongong is also home to Calderwood Valley, a 609 hectare land 45% inner city living with the construction of a number of residential subdivision currently underway that is anticipated to provide around 4 Retail 7,529 jobs 4 Finance & Insurance $1.9B 20% towers in and around the city centre. It is estimated that the 4,800 homes for nearly 12,500 residents. DOMESTIC DAY Wollongong City Centre will see a 150% increase in the inner city 5 Food & Hotels 5,456 jobs 5 Mining $1.7B BY 2036 TRIP VISITORS population over the next three years. Source: Remplan, September 2016 16% Comparitive costs HOUSES & UNITS ARE PRICED Spotlight Salary costs Average net lease cost Staff retention rates 1MILLION 35-40% LESS $630,000 Salary costs in Lease costs in Retention rates in THAN THE GREATER MEDIAN HOUSE VALUE Wollongong are 15% Wollongong are 50% Wollongong are 95% DOMESTIC SYDNEY AVERAGE (RESIDEX) (CORELOGIC, JUNE 2016) Wollongong median house less than Sydney less than Sydney compared to 75% in Sydney OVERNIGHT VISITORS prices increased by 15% and apartment prices by 14% over MAJOR EVENTS $471,000 $470/WEEK the last 12 months. CONTRIBUTED MEDIAN HOUSE RENT MEDIAN UNIT VALUE (IRIS, 2016) Source: CoreLogic, June 2016 Wollongong $40M (CORELOGIC, JUNE 2016)

Sydney ANNUALLY

Source: Deloittes, 2015 Source: Destination NSW Illawarra subregion, March 2016 Spotlight Wollongong’s Property Market Leasing demand is expected to gain further momentum in 2016/2017 with positive overflow demand from Sydney, local employment growth and positive business confidence. Source: Knight Frank, 2016.

Advanced manufacturing continues to play a vital part in the Average A-Grade industrial core market yields Wollongong economy. Industrial market indicators (prime) Wollongong vs Sydney industrial regions, June 2016. Following a difficult transition period as a result of some key Market Gross face rents $/m² Market yield range Land values $/m² Capital values $/m² changes within Bluescope, the market has diversified and Illawarra $115-$150 7.50-10% $150-$225 $1,000-$1,350 adapted with the next 12 months forecast to be a period of strong 10 growth, with particular focus on smaller to mid-sized efficient South Sydney $170-$385 4.75-6.75% $1,300-$4,450 $2,500-$4,800 9.5 warehouse tenancies. Most of the activity in the industrial market North Shore $200-$400 6.25-8.75% $440-$900 $1,500-$4,300 is being driven by the Port of Port Kembla with logistics a rapidly 9 developing sector, particularly in new vehicle transportation. Outer South West $120-$160 5.00-10% $140-$260 $1,200-$1,600 8.5 Industrial net rents in Wollongong broadly range between $115- Source: Herron Todd White, 2016. $150/m² for A-Grade premises. Due to low interest rates and the 8 Note: Land values are based on 2,000 to 5,000 square metre lots. high yield metrics on offer, Wollongong represents a significant NB - Market yields and capital values will vary according to level of occupancy, quality of tenants, lease expiry profile, relative level of investment opportunity. 7.5 rents (at, below or above market) building age/capital expenditure requirements, motivations of purchaser (owner occupier v investor Investment will continue to be strong in 2016-17 for functional v developer), location and price range. assets, as the business outlook remains positive with local 7 firms expecting trading activity to improve, coupled with positive 6.5 Total area and number of parcels by land use zoning, Wollongong LGA overflow from Sydney. Further site specific information is available from Advantage Wollongong. 6 1200 5.5 1000

South 800 Sydney Sydney Sydney Sydney Northern 600 Outer West South West Wollongong West Sydney Spotlight Inner Central 400 Source: Knight Frank, 2016. Wollongong has 2,931 industrial 200 land parcels comprising 2,001.8ha. 0 1,681ha is occupied, while 321ha is Park unoccupied. Source: Cardno, 2014. Other Corridor IN2-Light Industrial Industrial Industrial IN3-Heavy IN1-General B7-Business B6-Enterprise

Number of Parcels Area (ha) Source: Cardno, 2014. Wollongong’s Property Market

Wollongong’s office market is experiencing strong growth. rate has been inflated through the vacancy of the 5,700m² former Low interest rates have made it more attractive for tenants to ATO site at 93 Burelli Street, however, once the new building is become owners, while the development of several large strata tenanted to the SES headquarters in early 2017, Wollongong’s titled mixed-use projects in the Wollongong City Centre may A-Grade vacancy rate is expected to fall to around 1%. convert some existing and potential tenants to owner occupiers. Wollongong has faced strong rental levels in recent years. Over the last 12 months, there has been an upturn in the market, Wollongong A-Grade office space averages around $425m², from existing businesses wishing to expand and new businesses while secondary assets range between $250-$380m². relocating to Wollongong. Gross face rents are considerably below that of major non- Wollongong has a total of 154,119m² of total office space, with CBD Sydney office markets, currently discounted by up to 22% around 48% of this stock classified as A-Grade stock. A-Grade depending on comparable market. office space is currently experiencing low vacancy rates and good Wollongong offers reduced occupancy costs for prime and demand. Wollongong’s A-Grade office vacancy rate is currently secondary grade office space compared to Sydney’s North Ryde, sitting at around 8.5% (from 74,626m² total A-Grade stock). This Parramatta and North Shore markets.

Office market indicators (prime)

Market Gross face rents $/m² Market yield Capital values$/m²

Wollongong $375-$450 8 – 10.5% $2,000- $4,000 Macquarie Park/North Ryde $390-$450 7.50 – 8% $3,000-$4,800 Parramatta $430-$500 7.25 – 8.5% $3,500-$7,000 North Shore $450-$800 7 – 7.75% $6,500-$10,500

Source: Herron Todd White (2016), note: rents are based on a circa 1,000 square metre floor size. NB - Market yields and capital values will vary according to level of occupancy, quality of tenants, lease expiry profile, relative level of rents (at, below or above market) building age/capital expenditure requirements, location and price range.

Record sale Spotlight

The recent sale of 90 Wollongong is not short Crown Street Wollongong for on development ready $43.9M sites. Currently there is saw a new record set for 80,000m2 the Wollongong commercial of DA approved property market, achieving a commercial space in the rate of $4786 per square metre. Wollongong City Centre.

image: office of LBPR Looking to invest in Wollongong? Advantage Wollongong is committed to assisting investors and businesses interested in Wollongong. If you’re considering investing in Wollongong, we can help.

Mark Grimson Economic Development Manager Wollongong City Council Phone 02 4227 7166 Email [email protected] www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/city/economicdevelopment

Nigel McKinnon Regional Director NSW Department of Industry Phone 02 4222 8338 Email [email protected] www.industry.nsw.gov.au

Canio Fierravanti Director Government Relations University of Wollongong Phone 02 4221 5931 Email [email protected] www.uow.edu.au

Acknowledgements

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