From the Lord Mayor's Office
Putting strategy into action
At Monday night’s Council meeting, Council endorsed two strategic documents that will help guide the future success and prosperity of Wollongong and our region.
The first of these documents was the draft Economic Development Strategy. This essential document builds on our previous strategy that was released in 2019 and sets an ambitious target of 20,500 net new jobs by 2035.
It is a bold target. However, so was the previous one set in the 2019 strategy that we beat four years earlier than originally planned! Since the global pandemic we’ve seen the continued diversification of our local economy in innovating and exciting ways, including through the growth in the clean energy sector. After hearing of many cutting-edge projects underway at the recent i3Net Industry Showcase, including the big plans for BlueScope’s Port Kembla Land Transformation, I am confident the jobs target can be achieved.
We know through our data and research that Wollongong draws employees from our local government area, but also from our neighbouring local government areas like Shellharbour, Wingecaribee as well as from southern and western Sydney.
We’re working proactively with our neighbouring councils through the establishment of the LG8 and forging closer links with South-West Sydney.
Read more in: Forging positive pathways for Wollongong’s Strategic Relationships
The city’s strategic location and strong economic ties to Greater Sydney and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis require efficient and reliable transport connectivity for locals, visitors and freight. We will continue to advocate for increased transport infrastructure investment across the mega region, particularly as Port Kembla continues to be a significant driver of our economy and I certainly hope this will include cruise in the future.
This brings me to the second of the key strategies discussed at Monday’s meeting. The Wollongong Transport Strategy 2025-2035 was also endorsed at the meeting. This Strategy will guide how we plan and invest and advocate for transport infrastructure and services across the Local Government Area and region. The aim of this document is to provide a roadmap to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable transport choices for residents and businesses because connectivity is essential for the success and liveability of our City.
I’d encourage people to read through these strategies which are available on Council’s website, particularly as we will shortly be seeking community input into the draft Economic Development Strategy. These thorough documents provide an excellent insight into the opportunities and challenges for Wollongong, and Council’s goals and targets we’re working to achieve. By working collaboratively with business, neighbouring Councils and other levels of Government, I believe our future is very bright.
