The case for the Illawarra

The case for the IllawarraNew South Wales is less than two weeks out from the State Election and now, more than ever, the Illawarra deserves our piece of the investment pie.There is change taking place in the Illawarra – and we can all agree, it’s a change for the better! It’s a change driven by local entrepreneurs and the big end of town alike. It’s a change that is both physical, with over $1 billion dollars’ worth of investment taking place in the Wollongong CBD alone. And it’s a change in people’s attitudes and how we feel about living in this great region.The big players like GPT have decided that the Illawarra is worth investing in – and invest they have with GPT’s $200 million expansion of Wollongong Central already open and trading. Stockland has refashioned its Shellharbour shopping centre and is investing in West Dapto. The likes of Lend Lease are building homes in the Illawarra with projects like Calderwood Valley near Albion Park to provide around 5,000 much needed homes over the next 20 years. Local entrepreneurs are putting their money where their collective mouth is and creating jobs and lifestyle opportunities with the many new small bars, cafes and restaurants popping up all over the Wollongong CBD. Business is coming to the party now it’s up to the State Government – whichever side of politics it may be after March 28 – to come to the party too and get serious about building prosperity, jobs and strong communities in the Illawarra. The Illawarra region has built a compelling case for greater State Government investment. The region is the state’s third largest economy and given the current levels of investment in property and port projects, our strong potential for future growth, linked with our proximity to Sydney – we are a region worthy of stronger investment. There are some encouraging announcements being made in the lead up to the election by both sides of politics. A re-elected Baird Government has promised $5 million to build the Albion Park Rail Bypass – the much needed 10km extension of the M1 Princes Motorway to bypass Albion Park Rail between Yallah and Oak Flats. And a newly elected Labor Government is promising $35 million to upgrade Win Entertainment Centre to a convention facility supporting more than 200 new jobs and an extra $12 million in economic activity. These are great projects for the region and it’s good to see both sides support worthwhile projects.But if the potential of the Illawarra is to be realised then we need bolder infrastructure investment, clearer growth plans and put simply – better connections to Sydney. Transport connectivity of the Illawarra to Sydney falls well behind other similar regions in NSW, Victoria and Queensland and it is holding us back. We need government investment in key transport projects to reduce travel times to Sydney’s closest regional city, Wollongong, and to unlock the Illawarra’s growth potential. That means faster roads and faster rail. Faster roads by making the M1 Princes Motorway a continuous motorway between St Peters and Albion Park to enable commuters, businesses, freight movers and visitors to travel between the Illawarra and Sydney more quickly, safely and reliably.Faster rail by resolving the structural problems of the South Coast railway between Wollongong and Sydney to achieve a minimum 60-minute trip that will improve access to employment and tourism opportunities and encourage population growth in the Illawarra. And completing the construction of the Maldon to Dombarton railway as a dedicated freight rail corridor is needed to facilitate growth of the Port Kembla Port and contribute to the economic prosperity of the Illawarra region. Now is the time for our policy makers to think beyond the electoral cycle and set the Illawarra up for strong growth with these game-changing infrastructure projects. You lay the foundations and we’ll do the rest.