The Central Coast

Key Industries Manufacturing PRO-ALI Design at North Gosford specialises in stainless steel food grade conveying and material handling systems for size businesses in Australia and New Zealand Photo: Beef processing plant designed and built by PRO-ALI The manufacturing sector on the Central Coast accounts for a diverse range of products from small, medium and large companies operating throughout the region. In 2020 there were 941 registered businesses operating in the sector (Source: ABS Counts of Australian Businesses). In 2019/20 total value add of the manufacturing sector was $915.2 million while the total number of people employed was 8,681. Food processing and metal and allied metal products companies make up a significant part of the region’s manufacturing industries. The manufacturing sector is supported by Central Coast Industry Connect an active industry group that works collaboratively across the sector. (See also Food Processing). Global companies such as Aalborg Industries, Baltimore Aircoil (Australia), Komatsu Australia, CSR-Hebel, Donaldson Australasia, Pacific Labels and FMC all have a significant presence on the Central Coast. Food processing The Central Coast is home to some fifty food manufacturing and processing companies from large to small. In 2019/20 the total value add of the food and beverage sub-sector was $259.1 million. In addition, the region’s hinterland is well known for its agricultural and horticultural products, particularly poultry, fruit and vegetables. Major food companies include: Mars Food Australia, Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing, Sara Lee, Inghams Enterprises (Chickadee further processed chicken facility), Agrana Fruit Australia, The Cordina Food Co. (further processed chicken facility), Tip Top Bakeries. Central Coast Food Innovation Initiative The Central Coast Food Innovation Region initiative is a critical economic development initiative developed and led by RDA Central Coast. The initiative was developed to leverage the NSW Central Coast’s underlying existing strengths and realizing economic benefit through growing and innovating the local food, beverage and agricultural industry. The overarching objective of this initiative is to grow jobs, build regional business competitiveness, develop export opportunities and encourage national and international trade through innovation, education and research and by utilizing a best practice innovation model developed by Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER). In 2018, a formal partnership between RDA Central Coast, the University of Newcastle (including NIER) and Central Coast Industry Connect was established to build the Central Coast’s reputation as an internationally renowned center of excellence in food innovation. University of Newcastle The Faculty of Science at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast Campus opened a new $1 million kitchen and laboratory facility in March 2020 aimed at supporting the region’s food industry Australian Food and Agribusiness Doctoral Training Centre In March 2021, Regional Development Australia Central Coast hosted the official launch of the first ever Australian Food and Agribusiness Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) at the University of Newcastle’s Ourimbah Campus as part of the Central Coast Food Innovation Region Initiative. As the first centre of its kind, the Food and Agribusiness DTC will provide a platform for inter- disciplinary research and training in an industry that has strong regional ties and is committed to collaboration through education and research. Industry engagement and Work Integrated Learning will be central to the DTC’s function. The DTC will focus on four key areas in the Food and Agribusiness space - product science, climate resilience and sustainability, advanced technology, and market access. Agriculture To the west of the M1 Pacific Motorway is a significant rural area that supports an agriculture industry with production in 2019/20 valued at $140.8 million. Major contributors to production were: Poultry and eggs $46.6 million Nurseries, Cut Flowers and Turf $ 48.2 Vegetables $20.3 Fruit and nuts $5.9 Source: ABS Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced 2019-20 Sanitarium Health Food Company - Berkely Vale Head Office (Sanitarium’s major production facility is adjacent on the same site) 15 2021-22 CENTRAL COAST INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS