From holding our first ever event in the Shoalhaven, to celebrating Property Council turning the big 5-0 and then attending our annual Property Congress with 750 of our members – September has sure turned out to be a great, very insightful and celebratory month!
Attending Property Congress provided a fantastic opportunity to network with members, meet new people, hear from some excellent speakers and attend some really insightful sessions. Some of the highlights included attending the National Industrial Roundtable and hearing from The Hon Julia Gillard AC, The Hon Christopher Pyne, Professor Ian Harper, Dr Richard Harris OAM and a whole range of property experts of all sectors across the industry. All in all – a wonderful experience!
It was also great to hold our very first event in the Shoalhaven which was a great success, attended by over 120 people. It was clear to me from talking to attendees at the event and listening to our fantastic speakers that the Shoalhaven region is a region on the move, and with clear support from Shoalhaven City Council for further growth and investment into the region, the future is definitely looking bright and we look forward to hearing more.
Lastly, we have some great Member Briefings coming up in October, with UOW on the 3 October on their new Health & Wellbeing Precinct and with ANZ on 23 October on Illawarra’s property outlook so please take the opportunity to register for these events. On 8 November, we are also teaming with the UOW Innovation Campus to hold the Illawarra Design Excellence Symposium which is being delivered by the University with the key theme being ‘Enrich – People, Place & Community.’ This free event will explore how great design creates great places and I encourage you all to attend.
As always, if you have any questions or would like to know more about the Property Council in the Illawarra Shoalhaven, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Shoalhaven Event: Future of the Shoalhaven – What’s Next for this Growing Region?
On Friday 6 September, Property Council held its first ever event in the Shoalhaven which focused on the future growth of the region, as well as the major infrastructure and transport projects, planning strategies needed to support growth and opportunities for the region’s growing economy. The event was attended by over 120 people from across the property industry in the Illawarra Shoalhaven.
With major upgrades of roads and infrastructure currently underway, booming residential and industrial markets, and a big vision from Shoalhaven City Council’s CEO Stephen Dunshea who delivered the keynote address, the Shoalhaven is a region is on the rise and the Council has expressed their interest in working closely with industry to enable this growth. 
Thank you to our excellent speakers including Stephen Dunshea, Leanne Taylor – CEO, ISJO, Peter Russell – Integrity Real Estate, Paul Veckovski – Senior Project Development Manager, RMS and Jennifer Macquarie – Fountaindale Group who moderated the discussion. Thank you also to our sponsors for the event, Shoalhaven City Council, Cardno and the Fountaindale Group.
If you would like to know more, please feel free to reach out to Greg Pullen, Economic Development Manager at Shoalhaven City Council. Read more in the South Coast Register story here.
Wollongong’s Economic Strategy & Western Sydney Illawarra Shoalhaven Roadmap
Wollongong Economic Development Strategy 2019-2029
Wollongong City Council’s Economic Development Strategy 2019-2029 has been officially endorsed, with its key focus being on creating more jobs in Wollongong by generating an innovative and more sustainable local economy through:
- Generating 10,500 additional jobs in the decade to 2028 to reduce the jobs deficit, this will be more than double the 4998 net new jobs created in the decade to 2018
- Lifting median incomes by generating new industries that are higher paying, have a greater share of full-time jobs and are expected to grow in the future
- Targeted sectors and industries to align with the existing talent pool, in particular commuters and graduates of the UOW to create more local job opportunities for residents.
There are a number of mechanisms that will be implemented to achieve the strategic objectives and ‘game-changers’ that if delivered would have a positive impact on the local economy. Council has advised of their intention to advocate for these projects which include critical transport projects, increases to office capacity in the CBD, development of unused and underutilised employment lands, major tourism attraction and delivery of the Port Kembla container terminal project.
Property Council has had an active role in providing input to the strategy and representing the industry to ensure any opportunities or challenges are addressed. Engagement was also carried out by Wollongong Council directly with a number of developers, agencies and other stakeholders from the industry to gain their feedback. Property Council also provided a formal submission to the strategy, you can view the endorsed strategy here.
Western Sydney Illawarra Shoalhaven Roadmap to Collaboration
On 19 September, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (ISJO) in partnership with RDA Illawarra, University of Wollongong and the NSW Government launched the Western Sydney Illawarra Shoalhaven Roadmap to Collaboration.
The roadmap is a formal recognition by Illawarra Shoalhaven and Western Sydney Councils committing to work together to improve the social, economic and employment connections between the two regions.
The eight local government areas encompassed by this document include Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Wollondilly, Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Wollongong. Input was received by a range of representatives from NSW Government agencies, local councils, RDA Illawarra, NSW Ports, UOW and Destination Sydney Surrounds South.
It identifies six key priority areas that benefit both regions – advanced manufacturing, education, freight and passenger transport, smart city technology, visitor economy and the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis. These areas for collaboration have been selected on the basis that they present significant opportunities for mutual and ongoing benefits enabling future stimulation.
ISJO will continue to play a key role in continuing the cross-regional collaboration to ensure the agreed initiatives progress, together with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils and other cross-regional working groups. View the roadmap here for more information.
Wollongong Draft Community Participation Plan
On 23 September 2019, Wollongong City Council resolved to exhibit the Draft Community Participation Plan (CPP) to enable community comment. If adopted by Council the Plan will replace Appendix 1 Public Notification and Advertising Procedures of the Wollongong Development Control Plan 2009 which currently explains how Council exhibits Development Applications. The new plan will also outline the exhibition requirements for draft Planning Proposals and draft Planning Policies.
The Draft Plan and Council report can be viewed on Council’s website here, submissions can be made until Wednesday 23 October 2019 via email to [email protected]
New Members: Kells Your Lawyers and Innovatus Projects
Kells Your Lawyers
We officially welcome Kells – Your Lawyers as members of Property Council of Australia. Kells has been delivering outstanding services and legal expertise to commercial and personal clients in Sydney and the Illawarra region for more than five decades.
With more than 65 people working from 5 offices across Sydney and the Illawarra, Kells strongly believe in treating their clients fairly and with respect and offer personalised attention and dedication to their clients while still having the leading-edge infrastructure and professional depth.
Kells has always understood that their business is part of the community in which they operate and are conscious of giving something back whenever they can. They support a range of not-for-profit charities and fundraising initiatives, provide a monthly free family law information clinic on weekends and are the only firm in the Illawarra to offer law students a paid cadetship program.
See below a photo of Kells Property Team specialising in property litigation and matters. For more information on Kells Your Lawyers, read more here.
Innovatus Projects
We also officially welcome Innovatus Projects as Members of the Property Council of Australia. Innovatus Projects are an interior Fitout & Building Refurbishment Company who are located in Wollongong. Their business offers the professional service you would expect from large Sydney company, but the main difference is that they are locally based and owned in Wollongong.
Some key things to note about Innovatus Projects includes:
- They are the only Interior Fit Out company who is accredited by JANZ- ANZ in Work Health Safety Environmental and Quality standard in Wollongong
- They are registered & certified contractors with NSW government
- They provide a project team on every project and provide services from construction management, design & construct, lump sum pricing and value engineering to their clients.
The team consists of:
- Nick Halakatevakis – Project manager & Director
- Peter Hofman – Business development manager industry experience 30 years
- Richard Walters – Senior Site Manager
- Chris Padovano – Qualified Construction Management, Shopfitter
Read more about Innovatus Projects here.
