The Hills Shire is experiencing an intense period of change and is a key player in the growth of Greater Sydney.

The Hills Shire is experiencing an intense period of change and is a key player in the growth of Greater Sydney. This significant growth is transforming the way we think, plan and act. Council understands the transformation that is underway and is planning for the opportunities this change will bring to ensure an excellent quality of life for the community. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the Shire’s identity and reputation as a business destination.

The Shire’s economy is aligned to industries such as retail trade, healthcare, education and construction. It is important that over the next 20 years we reduce our reliance on population serving industries and focus on high value-adding industries, exports and innovation that can take advantage of our skilled and educated residents.

The Economic Growth Plan provides a clear direction for economic development within the Shire and sets out actions to progress this vision. It has been developed with insights from local businesses, chamber of commerce and industry associations.

Our objectives are to:

• Be investment ready.

• Revitalise employment centres.

• Preserve employment lands.

• Foster innovation and diversification of industry.

• Increase economic resilience.

• Advocate for, and partner with, our business community.

At a strategic level, insight is provided into the current and emerging conditions as well as the strategic opportunities and risks that are shaping the local economy. At an operational level, Council’s role in economic development is defined, including how Council can work to improve economic prosperity for residents, businesses and workers.

We want to continue the success story and growth trajectory of The Hills over the next decade, by harnessing the economic benefits associated with this growth, attracting new jobs and business activity to serve the local population and strengthening the role of The Hills Shire as a place of productive and diverse employment.

The Plan identifies opportunities to attract new investment and create jobs aligned to our local labour force, while building on the many successful businesses that already call our Shire home.

The development of the Plan evolved during a historical event, the COVID-19 Pandemic, which will change many aspects of our lives and lifestyles. The Pandemic has highlighted the need to have a strong and resilient local economy that has the capacity to remain diverse, flexible and offer opportunities to work closer to home and in vibrant locations with high levels of amenity.

The goal is not simply to grow the local economy, but to transform it as a recognised powerhouse for investment and the growth and success of businesses.

Our Goals by 2041 include:

• 56,000 New Jobs;

• $24 Billion Economy; and

• 42% of Working Residents Live and Work Locally.

Economic Snapshot

The Hills Shire is a dynamic and well-resourced location in the north-west of Sydney. It has a large quantity of rural land that provides a distinct landscaped backdrop to the expanding urban area in Sydney’s North West. We are part of the Metropolitan Area, approximately 30km from the CBD at our nearest point and connected to Sydney via a Metro rail and the M2 & M7 corridor. Approximately 70% of the land area of the Hills is within the Metropolitan Rural Area, with the remaining 30% spanning urban areas of varying densities and character. For the foreseeable future, development within the Shire will be contained to this urban area.

Key Indicators

Building

Employment

Where 84,157 workers come from

Where 101,770 residents work

31.2%

Of

The

Have in area but work outside

Key Employment Locations

The majority of our local jobs are located in the urban parts of the Shire, where there are several defined employment areas and centres catering for different types of businesses. These employment locations are in different stages of evolution and have substantial capacity to accommodate a range of new business opportunities, driven by our population growth. Opportunities also exist outside of the centres and precincts, dispersed throughout The Shire.

Key Employment and Residential Growth Areas

LGA Boundary

Urban Growth Boundary

Box Hill Business Park

Annangrove Road Employment Area

Rouse Hill Strategic Centre

Norwest Strategic Centre

Norwest Service

Norwest Central

Norwest Innovation

Castle Hill Strategic Centre

Winston Hills Employment Area

Baulkham Hills Town Centre

Metro Station

Metro Line

Agribusiness Cluster Zone

Housing Development in the North West Growth Areas

Outer Sydney Orbital

Pages 10-13 of this brochure provide an overview of the Strategic Direction set out within the draft Economic Growth Plan. This is focused on four key outcomes - Place, Business, People and Partnership - each with a range of strategies and initiatives to be pursued. For further detail on these refer to Section 10 and 11 of the Draft Economic Growth Plan

Outcome

A Shire that attracts new business, development and visitors

Description

Investment attraction is an important element of Council’s objective to generate sufficient jobs to match the forecasted population growth. The investment attraction process includes a range of activities to promote and market investment opportunities in a broad and/or targeted fashion. It also includes facilitating investment outcomes once a project is identified.

The overall process depends on maintaining a wide variety of relationships and working with a range of partners. Attracting investment provides a significant economic stimulus, as new businesses in the community provide new jobs, and can also bring in new technology, encourage innovation, build depth within a cluster and stimulate additional investment and job creation through supply chains and diverse employment options.

Strategies

1. Positioning and promoting the Hills Shire as a destination for business, investment and visitors.

2. Develop a suite of information and tools that will facilitate decision making for investment in the Hills Shire.

3. Consider planning outcomes to facilitate business development and accommodation.

4. Establish a whole of Council approach to support business attraction.

5. Pursue opportunities with government, institutional and industry partners in key industry sectors of professional services, education, medical, hospitality and business start-ups.

Key Initiatives

A. Pursue the four identified key industry sectors and their supply chains to facilitate business investment into the region.

B. Position the Region as a destination for business, investment and visitors through a business marketing campaign.

C. Develop a suite of information and tools that will facilitate decision making for investment.

D. Survey lead firms to identify the factors affecting their operation, impediments to relocation or investment in The Hills and their importance to the local economy's supply chain.