10 best reasons to live & work in Port Macquarie-Hastings Region

i0

BEST R E A S ON S

To live and work in Port MacquariE - hastings region

1.

A climate of opportunity not just sunshine

Consider the $21 million expansion of the Port Macquarie Airport; the recent completion of the dual carriage Pacific Highway from Sydney to Port Macquarie; the $110 million expansion of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital and the new Charles Sturt University campus catering for 5,000 students by 2030.

These and many more initiatives are

jobs were created and these new jobs continue

strengthening the diverse economic base of

to grow.

Port Macquarie-Hastings and injecting a strong sense of optimism into the local economy.

With a population approaching 80,000 and servicing a wide region, Port Macquarie-

From primary industries to tertiary service

Hastings provides outstanding opportunities

providers, Port Macquarie-Hastings offers

for many professional, personal and commercial

abundant employment and business

services. Accountants, lawyers, health

opportunities. Local knowledge of these many

professionals, tradespeople, teachers and

opportunities has spawned many a successful

consultants in a wide range of disciplines, are all

business operator and is waiting to do so again.

in high demand.

It is already a major destination for tourism, has

And remember, all these challenging and

a rich agricultural heritage now transformed

exciting work opportunities come packaged

into a vibrant food and wine sector, a strong

in the laidback charmed lifestyle that is Port

manufacturing base and is positioning itself

Macquarie-Hastings.

as the centre of a “smart� region, expanding its tertiary education base and seeking out innovative opportunities.

Travel time to work? 10 minutes for most, 30 if you become a country dweller working in town. Traffic snarls? Unheard of. Parking? Often

We are one of the best performing areas for

right where you work. And think how more

increased jobs and employment. Today our rate

enjoyable your workday would be if at the end

of unemployment is in line with the NSW state

of it all - nature’s playground is just waiting for

average. Between 2006 and 2011 6,118 new

you to enjoy.

2.

N ature ’ s playground

Summers are brilliant, winters warm and autumn and spring, well, they’re simply too good to miss. Our magnificent climate is the perfect encouragement to take to the great outdoors.

While we don’t mean to brag and you may have already been here for a holiday, let’s just remind you of some of the features that have created our laidback and relaxed lifestyle.

•

S eventeen pristine beaches dotted up

and do w n over 6 2 kms of coastline .

There is a beach for everyone, from safe beaches for families to the best fishing and surfing spots around.

No wonder we host the Australian Surf Festival, the Port Macquarie Festival of Bodyboarding and the

• We

have over 4 0 , 0 0 0 hectares of

N ational parks and S tate F orest

for bush

walking, camping and panoramic views. Native flora and fauna abounds and not only out of the city.

Port Macquarie is the home of the only Koala Hospital in the world, just one example of our love

NSW Long Board Championships, the Golden Lure

and care of our environment.

Fishing Tournament and many other aquatic events.

These are just a teaser of the magnificent landscapes

• Y ou

nature has provided us - the perfect backdrop to

can e x plore our beautiful

hinterland , forests and mountain ranges

only minutes away dissected

by the majestic Hastings and Camden Haven rivers and inland waterways.

create a lifestyle envied by so many. It could be yours. It might even create a business opportunity.

3.

L ive the life of your dreams

So many choices of where to live and whether you’re buying or renting, you get so much for your money. Unlike many city locations, coastal living is still within reach to many parts of our region.

Imagine spectacular ocean or river views to wake up to every morning from a cottage by the sea or a contemporary apartment.

Perhaps even marina living with your own jetty and boat moored right at your front door.

Maybe you dream of a place in the bush or the country, a hobby farm or room for a pony for the kids. Perhaps a Victorian cottage in the heritage village of Kendall or a farm house in Wauchope. Our towns and villages are full of character just waiting for you to add your own charm. Whatever and wherever you choose, you will still be within 30 minutes of the vibrant regional centre that is Port Macquarie today.

4.

A real sense of community

Most conversations in the city start with “what do you do?”. Most conversations around here start with “how are you?” There is a sense of self-reliance, resilience and independence you do not find in the city and we have developed strong connections and alliances to support our community.

Whichever part of Port Macquarie-Hastings you may

south of Port is the Camden Haven with a number

choose to live you will find a community known for its

of picturesque villages (Dunbogan, Kendall, Kew,

sense of belonging and participation with over 500

Laurieton, North Haven and West Haven) nestled

community groups active across all areas of endeavour

along serene inland waterways and magnificent coastal

and interests, for all ages and for all people.

parks and beaches. Twenty minutes west of Port is

At the heart is our largest town, Port Macquarie, affectionately known as Port, an increasingly diverse regional business and commercial centre. Framed by a stunning coastline of beautiful beaches and the majestic Hastings River, it has for many years been a major destination for holiday makers. Thirty minutes

the agricultural centre of Wauchope, gateway to our rich rural hinterland and communities (Comboyne, Long Flat, Beechwood, Byabarra, Pappinbarra, Ellenborough, Hollisdale, Bellangry, Rollands Plains and Ballengarra).

The choice is yours!

5.

At your leisure

First class sporting facilities cater for every talent and interest including football ovals, hockey and cricket pitches and indoor and outdoor netball and basketball complexes.

We have 18 sports fields with associated facilities.

We have six golf courses, countless bowling clubs and four swimming pools. Yes, we are the home of and proud of “the missile”, James Magnusson, 2012 World Swimming Champion.

Neighbourhood and community parks provide playgrounds, skating ramps and the ideal surrounds for barbecues, picnics, and quality family time. Or take a walk along our 9 kilometre coastal walk linking seven of our beaches or explore

6.

nature reserves such as Sea Acres Rainforest Centre or the 52 hectares at Kooloonbung Nature Reserve right in the commercial heart of Port Macquarie. And who could resist a picnic on the lawn at historic Roto House and then a one minutes stroll to the world’s only Koala Hospital, a must visit for all.

There are neighbourhood centres, historic halls and club rooms in every community and a library network second to none.

A healthy place to live

Living in nature’s playground makes it that much easier to adopt a healthy lifestyle but inevitably we all have to call on health facilities from time-to-time.

In Port Macquarie-Hastings you’ll find no shortage of health professionals, doctors, specialists and facilities.

We have three major hospitals with the Port Macquarie Base Hospital undergoing a $110m expansion to increase the regions clinical service capacity. The hospitals are backed up by a broad range of diagnostic and Allied Health services including Radiology, Ultrasound, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Social Work and numerous medical specialists. There are also a number of quality aged care facilities and nursing homes in the region. For more day to day health matters the area has seen an increase in the last couple of years of both GP and dental services while there is also a range of health related services and natural health practitioners ensuring access for all to quality health services. Not surprisingly the health and community sector is one of the largest employers in the area.

7.

E ducation .

O ur passport to the future

Your children will thrive here and fulfil their potential.

There is a choice of well-resourced facilities from kindergarten to year 12 with over 30 schools, both public and independent, delivering a standard of education equal to if not better than the city.

There is also quality childcare and after school care, allowing you to work to your full potential, knowing your children are happy, safe and secure.

Subject choices in the senior levels are continually expanding linking to the increased range of vocational opportunities being provided by an expanding tertiary sector. Charles Sturt University opened its doors to its first intake of students in 2012 and has a major campus for up to 5,000 students to start construction next year. The University of Newcastle has also increased the range of courses offered and is growing it’s longstanding presence in our town. The University of NSW Rural Clinical School offers a part time medical degree with plans to extend it to the full 6 year program from 2015. There are also many other distance education programs offered by other universities for our area while the North Coast Institute of TAFE has campuses in both Port Macquarie and Wauchope.

Nor should we forget the Community Colleges in Port Macquarie, Wauchope and the Camden Haven and a very active University of the Third Age. This range and diversity in education and training options for families, career and personal development now sets us apart on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales.

8.

Where I nspiration surrounds creativity abounds

Any community relies on more than bricks and mortar, it requires a heart and a soul and in Port Macquarie-Hastings art and culture is around every corner. Yes, that can be taken literally with over 40 public art works situated at great picnic sites, parks, beaches, popular walking paths and city streets.

These varied and at times very original designs reflect and form the very identity of our place.

Our showcase of the creative industries is the Glasshouse, the regions premier arts and cultural centre, named Australian Performing Arts Centre of the year in 2012. In the last year it has hosted performances by many of Australia’s leading companies including: Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance, Sydney Symphony, Circus Oz and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Different insights were offered by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow and Flickerfest, Australia’s only Academy and BAFTA recognised short film festival while a unique partnership with Sydney Opera House brought some very unique

shows. The Regional Gallery has also hosted 26 major art exhibitions. Who needs to go to the city to see the best?

The Glasshouse also presents the works of many local artists and performers and simply reflects the creativity that abounds in local theatre and dance groups, design and film students, musicians of every instrument and style. And they are not just Port Macquarie based. The Camden Haven stages events of national importance such as the Kendall National Violin Competition and the Watermark Literary Muster while Wauchope is home to Bago Magic, a very special performance group which focuses on ensuring accessibility for all people, enabling people with a range of disabilities to participate.

9.

L ocation . L ocation .

L ocation

Should you ever need to leave temporarily, or more likely friends and family come to stay, we are now so easy to get to, connected to the world.

It’s an easy 4 hours drive north of Sydney, now dual carriage all the way, 2.5 hours from Newcastle and 5 hours to the Gold Coast. Port Macquarie Airport is serviced by 6 direct daily flights from Sydney with QantasLink and Virgin Australia and a daily direct service to Brisbane with Virgin Australia. The airport expansion to be completed in 2013, will expand the capacity to service even more flights and destinations. There is also the XPT train service 3 times a day between Sydney and Brisbane stopping at Wauchope and also Kendall on request.

10.

C ity style w ith country smiles With increased population has come an increasing sophistication in our retail areas. The main shopping streets in Port Macquarie are alive with fashion boutiques, popular chain stores, quirky homewares and a number of specialist and lifestyle outlets.

Also in the heart of town are Settlement City Shopping Centre and Port Central Shopping Centre, both open 7 days a week. These centres provide a complete shopping experience, with a range of local and national fashion retailers, banks, department stores, supermarkets and food courts. For something truly unique, you can take a wander through the eclectic mix of shops, boutiques and galleries in the village like ambience of Wauchope and the Camden Haven. The regions food and wine scene is also flourishing offering a huge variety of popular cafes, restaurants, bars and hotels. A major shift is also underway as our chefs embrace the paddock to plate philosophy and our hinterland farmers lead the way with an array of fresh

produce and products.

What is common to all these outlets is that they offer service with a smile, for everyone has the time to linger and to enjoy. The continuing expansion of both the retail and hospitality industries offers both jobs and business opportunities. There are a variety of full-time, part-time and casual jobs to suit a persons’ work life balance needs, whether that be accommodating education and study, or working around a busy family schedule. Your business skills may also be honed by starting a business, either servicing our local markets, or expanded markets online. You could even start off at a variety of our local arts and scenic foreshore markets.