Northern Inland NSW Investment Profile • Armidale Region • Moree Plains • Glen Innes Severn • Narrabri Shire • Gunnedah Shire • Tamworth Region • Gwydir Shire • Tenterfield Shire • Inverell Shire • Uralla Shire • Liverpool Plains • Walcha NORTHERN INLAND NSW Foreword The Hon. John Barilaro MP Minister for Regional Development, Skills and Small Business The NSW government Another example of support to regional businesses to invest understands that a strong NSW and create new jobs is the financial assistance the NSW requires a diverse, productive Department of Industry provided to Tomato Exchange Pty and thriving regional economy. Ltd (Costa Group) for construction of a 10ha expansion for The Northern Inland region is hydroponic glasshouse facilities at Guyra. The expansion integral to the NSW economy, involves two 5ha glasshouses and associated infrastructure contributing about $10 billion representing $48M capital expenditure and generating 171 per annum to the State’s Gross new FTE jobs. Further expansion is already being planned. Regional Product, and is home to about 180,000 people. We are also focussed on building the roads, hospitals and schools in the region that will drive future economic and jobs RDA – Northern Inland’s growth. For example, significant recent investment in the Investment Profile plays an region by the NSW Government includes: important role in promoting • Tamworth Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2 - $210M Northern Inland as one of • Keepit Dam Upgrade - Phase 1 - $78M Australia’s leading agriculture and energy regions to potential • Newell Highway, Moree Bypass Stage 2 (State and Federal) investors. Northern Inland has great capacity to produce - $30M and transport a regular and high quality supply of beef, cotton, grains, horticulture, sheep, poultry, minerals, and We continue to work with RDA Northern Inland and other renewable energy. The region also has huge potential in the stakeholders to build on the Northern Inland’s global service sector including transport and logistics infrastructure, reputation and attract more investment into the region. With education and ICT. more investment, the region’s businesses can grow and we can create more long-term and sustainable jobs in NSW. Since 2011, the NSW Government has supported projects in the region that have secured almost $370M in investment As Minister for Regional Development, I welcome this latest and created around 1,400 jobs. Businesses that have applied Investment Profile for the Northern Inland region of NSW – for payroll tax rebates through the NSW Jobs Action Plan this document both complements and supports the NSW have created more than 4,600 jobs across the State. Government’s work to promote the region and the State as a highly attractive investment destination. For example, in January 2015, Thomas Foods received support for their expansion in Tamworth to meet new supply chain requirements in the market place. This will create 204 new FTE jobs and $27.8M investment. Russell Stewart Chair of Regional Development Australia Northern Inland Regional Development Australia Opportunities abound in growing industries like agriculture, Northern Inland works with agri-business, food processing, aviation, health, mining, the private sector, local information technology and tourism. There are currently over communities and all levels $6 billion worth of projects underway or proposed for the of government to identify region across a number of industry sectors. opportunities for regional economic development in With extensive road, rail and air links, one-third of Australia’s Northern Inland NSW. population can be reached in under 12 hours by road, with a significant competitive advantage of much lower business With a growing $10 billion operating costs. With world-class telecommunications dollar economy and home to infrastructure, a strong tertiary education sector and some of Australia’s most productive the country’s most advanced agricultural research facilities, agricultural areas, the Northern innovation and capacity building are important elements of Inland boasts a strong, diverse our regional economy too. and progressive economy based around innovation and highly-skilled people who are already The Northern Inland Investment Profile presents a competing successfully in the global market place. comprehensive insight into why your business will prosper and grow in our region and we encourage you to get in touch The Northern Inland region is open for business and there to discuss any proposals. are tremendous opportunities to be made in many sectors. Contents Snapshot 1 Competitive advantages 2 Lifestyle and Affordability 3 Location 4 Facilities 4 Transport and Logistics 5 Inland Rail Link 6 Telecommunications 7 Major Projects in the Region 8 Business Competitiveness 10 Skilled Migration 11 Industry Structure and Opportunities 12 Agriculture 14 Renewable Energy 16 Aviation 18 Education and Training 19 Health Care 20 Information Technology and Advanced Manufacturing 22 Mining 23 Tourism 24 Industrial Land and Commercial Real Estate 26 Workforce 27 Contacts 29 Version 2.3 Published August 2016 Snapshot Reliable, legally secure and adequate water Large expansion in regewable energy resources for large-scale farming and investment - over $1.4 Billion already value-added processing underway or planned Culturally diverse, capable and Strong relationships with State and skilled workforce, grow your business Commonwealth Governments = Investor without compromising lifestyle certainty and priority assistance Strategically aligned to take advantage of growing demand in Asia and the Middle East Economic development a priority. Growth and emplyment opportunities TENTERFIELD Brisbane MOREE PLAINS GWYDIR INVERELL GLEN INNES SEVERN Sydney NARRABRI ARMIDALE REGIONAL URALLA TAMWORTH GUNNEDAH REGIONAL WALCHA LIVERPOOL PLAINS Home to Australia’s most productive agricultural areas Strong educational opportunites in the region (over 40,000 enrolled university students internal and external plus Investment ready and supportive the TAFE Network) makes businesses local government and communities prosper Abundant land and industrial Agriculture, Health, Manufacturing IT and sites for businesses Health growing at a strong rate RDANI Investment Profile 2016| 1 Competitive Advantages Location & Lifestyle Capabilities • Half-way between Sydney and Brisbane • Skilled, educated workforce • Growing major centres of Tamworth, Armidale, Guyra, • Abundant and legally secure irrigation water Inverell, Gunnedah, Moree, Quirindi, Tenterfield and • Affordable housing Uralla. • First NBN rollout site (high-speed broadband) • Easy access to the growing markets of Sydney • Good transport links and freight access by road and (5 million) and South East Queensland (3 million) rail • Affordable real estate • Direct daily flights to Sydney and Brisbane from most • Diverse geography, stunning landscapes major centres • Excellent education facilities • Choice of urban or rural lifestyles Strong communities • Specialist health services Economy • Family friendly • Strong and diverse economy, particularly the • Tertiary education – University of New England, agricultural, manufacturing, healthcare and education University of Newcastle and TAFE New England sectors • Quality rural lifestyle opportunities • Expanding mining sector • Minimal commutes to work • Skilled labour force with competitive wage rates • Relaxed country lifestyle • Highly competitive commercial real estate and rental • Affordable residential, commercial and industrial land prices • Low business costs Key Industries Investment Opportunities • Agriculture (cotton, cropping and livestock) • Agriculture – servicing, value adding • Health and Aged care • Agriculture - Beef, lamb, cotton, grains, dairy • Manufacturing • Mining - servicing • Retail • Renewable energy • Education and training (University of New England, • Aviation industries TAFE Campuses, Private & Public schools) • Horticulture - ‘Clean and Green’ food for export • Tourism • Rail freight infrastructure • Aviation training • Ageing population facilities • Aircraft maintenance • Health and Aged care • Poultry • Construction services Emerging Industries • Residential and commercial development • Information Technology • Mining • Eco-Tourism & Hospitality • Renewable Energy (solar, wind, bioenergy) • Equine industry • Advanced Manufacturing • Information technology 2 23%businesses Lower wage costs World Leading $133 Per m agricultural research in cotton, beef, average price of industrial land compared to Sydney sheep and poultry RDANI Investment Profile 2016| 2 Lifestyle and Affordability Residential real estate prices in the Northern Inland Median region are very attractive compared to major capital Median Monthly Median cities. In most locations, $300,000 would secure a 3 Location Weekly Rent Mortgage House Price bedroom family home on a large block (1,000m2), while 2 ($) Repayment ($) brand new 4 bedroom homes on a 800-900m block ($) can be purchased for less than $500,000 – often with Armidale 330 1,585 298,500 a rural outlook. Glen Innes 230 1,347 187,500 Homes on small acreages are also readily available for Gunnedah 300 1,416 270,000 similar prices to homes within the town boundaries. Guyra 275 1,285 220,000 Travel times to work are usually just a matter of Gwydir 220 1,307 168,000 minutes for town dwellers, and usually less than 15 Inverell 280 1,298 235,000 minutes for those living on small acreages around town Liverpool Plains 155 1,364 215,000 boundaries.