The Central Coast has a temperate climate, with daytime temperatures averaging 27 degrees Celsius in summer and 17 degrees Celsius in winter.
Its location, advanced infrastructure, skilled workforce and attractive lifestyle make the Central Coast a viable business alternative to Sydney for many major industries.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
- highly skilled and motivated workforce
- centralised and cost-effective market access
- broad range of industrial and commercial property options
- affordable commercial rent
- high-speed and capacity telecommunication links.
INDUSTRIES Tourism Known for its relaxed lifestyle, mountain forests and unspoilt beaches and waterways, the Central Coast boasts a thriving tourism industry catering for holidaymakers from around the world. For the past eight years, the Central Coast has experienced the highest annual growth of visitor nights in regional NSW.
Warehousing and Distribution The Central Coast's logistical advantages include its strategic east coast location, excellent transport links, available land, skilled and motivated workforce and supportive planning regime. Alliance Distribution Services, Linfox, Toll and Woolworths have established distribution and logistics centres within the region.
Information and Communications Technology The Central Coast boasts an ICT industry that is known for its innovation, research and development, production and software support. The region's advanced educational infrastructure continues to develop and support the necessary skills for this dynamic industry.
Call centres The region's variety of choice in property options and low occupancy costs continues to attract call centre operators. Industry sectors such as banking, insurance, telecommunications and government have established centres on the Central Coast.
Manufacturing Because of its easy access to ports and its close proximity to Sydney and the consumer markets of the eastern seaboard, the Central Coast has attracted a strong manufacturing sector. Leading the way is a successful food and beverage manufacturing industry, which includes some of Australia's best-known brands such as Sanitarium, Sara Lee, Master Foods, Kelloggs and the new Bluetongue Brewery.
The region is also home to a new and dynamic precision engineering cluster. Firms such as Gibbens Industries, Pall Australia, Avoca Engineering, ADC Krone, Aalborg Industries, Precision Engineering Group and RR Taylor now all operate on the Central Coast.
Business and Community Services Growth is particularly strong in the property, business, health and aged care services, construction and retail sectors. the business services sector now accounts for 42 per cent of the region's workforce (2006 Central Coast Research Foundation).
INFRASTRUCTURE Transport The Central Coast is linked to Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne and Brisbane by both the F3 Freeway and the Main Northern Railway.
Travelling time from Gosford to Sydney Central train station is around 60 minutes.
The regional airport at Warnervale is suitable for light aircraft.
Major education facilities
- University of Newcastle: Central Coast Campus, Ourimbah
- Wyong Technical and Further Education College (TAFE)
- Gosford Technical and Further Education College (TAFE)
Telecommunications
The Central Coast has fibre optic cable and advanced switching technology that offers the same range of telecommunications amenities as any major metropolitan centre in Australia.
Communications to the capital cities and into the national fibre optic trunks are provided via high-capacity transmission systems.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Gosford CBD redevelopment: opportunities to develop new commercial, retails and residential projects.
- Industrial lands: new 400ha Wyong Employment Zone, complementing existing greenfield sites at Somersby, Berkely Vale and North Wyong
- Mt Penang Parklands: development of a new 26 hectare business park adjacent to the F3 and 30 minutes from northern Sydney
- Supplier Park: a unique food and beverage cluster located near major food retail distribution centres at Warnervale.
LABOUR The Central Coast is home to a skilled and motivated labour force that has played an integral role in establishing the region as one of NSW's emerging information services centres.
The region's exceptional quality of life is attracting increasing numbers of 'sea changers' who are typically highly skilled, experienced and adaptable.
RESEARCH The Central Coast Research Foundation provides research services to business, government and the community. Email
ccrf@hvrf.com.au or
www.hvrf.com.au.