NSW regions

Mid North Coast

Population: 257,170
Area: 14,810 sq km

Major cities

• Coffs Harbour
  
• Port Macquarie
  
• Taree

Regional overview

• manufacturing sector with gross output of A$958.5 million
  
• tourism industry worth over A$1.58 billion, supporting 12,000 jobs
  
• home to wide range of niche industries including specialist manufacturing, information technology, arts and craft

Major sectors

• vehicle component and petro-chemical products manufacture
• timber products
• construction
• tourism
• health and education

Midway between Sydney and Brisbane, the Mid North Coast stretches from Taree in the south to Woolgoolga in the north.

The coastal position provides a mild maritime climate.

Major competitive advantages

• substantial educational infrastructure
• significant natural resources
• easy access to major markets for burgeoning manufacturing industry
• wide array of natural features to attract tourists
• innovation in industry

Industries

Traditional agricultural industries of dairy farming, beef cattle and forestry are supplemented by extensive manufacturing and tourism sectors.

Tourism and conferences

Tourism is an important part of the region’s economy. Visitors spent A$61.4 million on the Mid North Coast in 2009/10 and tourism accounts for 11,118 jobs.

Along with its natural attractions plus sporting and entertainment facilities, the region offers a wide range of accommodation options for visitors. The region is also popular for business travellers with large modern facilities available for conferences.

In addition to traditional tourism operations, the Mid North Coast is starting to develop niche markets in areas such as arts and crafts, ecotourism, food and wine tourism and adventure-style holidays, with training and education themes for city-based professionals.

The region will feature prominently in Australia's international tourism destination marketing as part of the Legendary Pacific Coast Touring route.

Agriculture

The economy of the Mid North Coast has a solid, yet diverse, agricultural base including dairy, beef cattle, fruit, aquaculture and herbs.

Emerging industries include organic production, hydroponic vegetables and cut flowers.

Produce from the region is exported nationally and internationally.

Manufacturing

Along with the production of value-added timber and meat products, regional centres such as Taree, Kempsey, Macksville and Coffs Harbour produce automotive parts, vehicle bodies, steel products, rail and transport equipment and pyrotechnics. In addition, a strong composites and boat building industry add value to the Hastings and Taree areas.

Infrastructure

Transport

The Pacific Highway, together with modern rail and road freight facilities and air links in Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Taree, put the Mid North Coast in an ideal position to access both national and international markets.

Regular air services to Sydney operate from Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Taree, while 40 to 50 super coaches stop in Coffs Harbour every day.

Coffs Harbour’s all-weather harbour and marina regularly cater for large yachts and fishing boats.

Extra port and shipping facilities at Yamba (to the north in the neighbouring region of Northern Rivers), together with effective links to the Brisbane and Newcastle port systems, assist the region’s international transport capability.

Communications

The Mid North Coast communication services are expanding rapidly to include:

• internet, wireless and high speed broadband services
• mobile phone services
• video-conferencing services.

Major educational facilities

• Southern Cross University – Coffs Harbour
• The University of Newcastle – Port Macquarie Campus
• North Coast Institute of TAFE across region.

Labour

The region’s labour force is skilled in the retail and wholesale trades, tourism and hospitality, recreation and personal services, agriculture and manufacturing.

Manufacturing activity is broadly based including heavy engineering, furniture, fabricated metal products, boat building, vehicle body building, automotive equipment and building related products. Timber processing and value adding to primary produce are also important sectors.

For more information contact

NSW Department of Trade and Investment
Port Macquarie Office
Suite 1, 133-137 Gordon Street
PO Box 2537
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Tel:  (02) 6583 5647
Fax: (02) 6583 5285

or

NSW Department of Trade and Investment
Coffs Harbour Office
Suite 5, Level 1, City Square, Harbour Drive
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Tel: (02) 6650 3140
Fax (02) 6650 3139


Regional Development Australia - Mid North Coast
www.rdamidnorthcoast.org.au
Tel: (02) 6583 5647

Related Documents

• Regional Profile - Mid North Coast [PDF File - 338.1 KB]