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ABOUT THE REGION

Snowy Monaro

RELOCATION CASE STUDYDONGWHA TIMBERSBased in the south of the region in Bombala, this international company has constructed a state of the art mill for processing plantation grown pine. This sustainable resource provides a range of employment opportunities and on the job training opportunities which will be enhanced with the second stage of development – a particle board manufacturing plant – currently in early planning stages.

With the three main population centres all on major highways, easy access to Canberra as well as Sydney, Melbourne and the coast, good services and amenities, Snowy Monaro offers unlimited

Sydney airport 4 hoursSydney CBD 4 hours, 15 minutesCanberra airport 1 hour, 15 minutesCanberra CBD 1 hour, 25 minutesSouth Coast (Tathra) 1 hour, 40 minutesMelbourne CBD 7 hours, 15 minutes

DRIVING TIMES FROM COOMA

potential for the astute investor. Couple this with vibrant, cohesive communities, a stable workforce, strong economic drivers and a post card perfect natural environment, Snowy Monaro really is the place to live, work and invest.

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EXPORTS 2016 $232M

GROSS VALUE ADDED 2016 (GVA)

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY 48.4%AGRICULTURE 11.1%MANUFACTURING 3%EVERYTHING ELSE 37.5%

2,511 BUSINESSES

4.6 % UNEMPLOYMENT RATE(SEPT 2017)

$1,200 PW MEDIAN WEEKLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME (2016)

$902.9M TOURISM & HOSPITALITY SALES IN 2016

$935.9GVA

Economic Snapshot

POPULATION 20,880

POPULATION GROWTH SINCE 2011

2%PROJECTED GROWTH TO 2036

5.7%

$45.5 M (2016-2017) VALUE OF BUILDING APPROVALS

ECONOMIC GROWTH

1.5%*

12 PRIMARY SCHOOLS

4 COMBINED (K- YEAR 12)

2 HIGH SCHOOLS

PEOPLE

PLACES

PRODUCTS

40 GPs PER 10,000 PEOPLE

$181K MEDIAN UNIT PRICE

$225K MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE

9,764 LOCAL JOBS

98% OF THE JOBS IN SNOWY MONARO ARE DONE BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE LGA

$273 MEDIAN RENT PER WEEK

- ACCOMMODATION & FOOD SERVICE- AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & FISHING- RETAIL TRADE

TOP 3 INDUSTRIES BY EMPLOYMENT

COOMA

*HEADLINE GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT JUNE 2015- 2016

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4.6 % UNEMPLOYMENT RATE(SEPT 2017)

Competitive Advantage

LIFESTYLEOnly in the Snowy Monaro can you ski the highest mountain in Australia, take a specular drive through majestic forests to the coast to see the whales, come back up the mountain to see the platypus at Bombala and then continue on through undulating farmland to watch the moon rise over Lake Jindabyne.And while the natural environment is a major highlight of living in the Snowy Monaro, the region also offers the opportunity to experience fine dining, boutique wines, beers and spirits, quirky retail outlets and cohesive, vibrant communities willing to share the unique history and legends of a region that is symbolic with adventure.Rich agricultural land, job opportunities and inexpensive housing and land packages add to the many benefits of living the dream within the inspiring Snowy Monaro region.

HEALTH & RECREATIONAL FACILITIESSnowy Monaro has the highest mountain range in Australia, world recognised training sites and programs for snow based activities, a wealth of walking tracks, mountain biking tracks, miles and miles of waterways for fishing and paddling, well equipped gyms to tone the muscles, heated swimming pools, golf courses, pony clubs, horse riding schools, fishing clubs…the list goes on and on and people are sure to find a recreational pursuit that meets their needs. Health is well taken care of in the Snowy Monaro with a range of health providers, clinics and hospitals. Locals also have easy access to the new Regional Hospital at Bega and of course the numerous public and private hospitals in Canberra.Being a cohesive community means that the needs of older residents are also catered for via Council run aged care services at Berridale, Cooma and Bombala, private centres and non government support services which are available across the region.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council aims to make the process of development easy. The Council offers one on one consultation prior to the lodgement of development approvals. This not only allows for open workshopping of all plans and fine tuning if needed, but also speeds up the approval process as a result of having a full understanding of what is required.

THE BOMBALA TRAILBLAZERS, an initiative of local business owner Arthur Dracopoulos, was established some years ago. The initiative which is run through Council, supports community members with mobility issues to remain connected and involved with the local community. The Bombala Trailblazers meet monthly, enjoying an afternoon tea provided by Arthur at his business, Cosmo Café. The initiative also receives support from Mobility Matters, a Cooma based business, and the Bombala RSL Club. Arthur says, “I am more than happy to continue supporting this group with their free coffee and cake every month...after all it’s what community is … we all help each other .. it’s why I have my business here”.*HEADLINE GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT JUNE 2015- 2016

Education is important to the Snowy Monaro communities, with the major centres and a number of the smaller villages boasting both private and public schools. Tertiary education is also catered for at the Cooma Campus of Illawarra TAFE and at the innovative Snowy Monaro Country University Centre which sees students studying and completing a range of degrees without the need to move from their home base.Ongoing training opportunities for business owners are provided via both State and Federal Government Agencies and lifelong learning opportunities are actively supported by the Council and numerous community groups. Businesses are further assisted by strong, active Chambers of Commerce and Development Associations which in turn are supported by Council.

DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS

EDUCATION

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Industries & Opportunities

Excitement is growing around the opportunities that Snowy Hydro’s pumped hydro expansion of the Snowy Scheme, Snowy 2.0, could provide to the region. A Final Investment Decision for the project is expected in late 2018. The construction of Snowy 2.0 would create up to 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across the region, as well as opportunities for local businesses and service providers.

Tourism is the lifeblood of the region and it is not just the snow that is attracting a growing number of visitors to the area. Visitors also come to the area to experience the National Parks which are among Australia’s best. Imagine camping out under the starry southern skies after a day spent bush walking or mountain biking on well-maintained tracks and trails through majestic forests and over crystal clear waterways. Other tourist experiences include horse riding through landscape immortalised in “The Man from Snowy River” or canoeing the mighty Snowy River with an Aboriginal guide who will explain the legends of this ancient land.

SNOWY 2.0

ALL YEAR TOURISM

Snowy Monaro’s well established engines of growth – tourism, agriculture and timber – continue to evolve and have encouraged the development of a wide skills base which in turn has seen supportive industries such as welding, fabrication and engineering, thrive. With such a diverse mix of businesses, easy access to Canberra airport and the Port of Eden, security of water, a community seeking to grow and embrace new opportunities, perfect location and natural beauty, it is no wonder that innovative operators, technical specialists and artists are calling Snowy Monaro home.

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Case Study

SNOWY MOUNTAINS COOKIES is a high end brand supplying premium gourmet produce. Their products are served on multiple airlines including Qantas, Air China, Emirates, REX and Virgin Airlines through to five star hotels and independent cafes. The company takes great pride in their attention to customer service and vigilant food safety standards.

Snowy Mountains Cookies/Savoury/Snacks, launched in 2006, is proudly located in the beautiful, iconic, alpine town of Jindabyne and is arguably Australia’s highest commercial bakery, perched at 1020 metres above sea level. Over ten years of operation, the ‘Snowy Mountains’ branding has consistently delivered positive outcomes including, instant product recognition, acceptance and a key point of difference. The key words, ‘Snowy Mountains,’ have furnished the brand with values, personality and attributes that it would not have attained if the cookies were called something along the lines of “Daisy & Nolen’s Cookies”. The company isn’t just another city based manufacturing plant – the Snowy Mountains Cookies brand comes with an authentic story about a family business, true to its name, based in the iconic regional town of Jindabyne in Australia’s Snowy Mountains. The products reaffirm the brand message, made wholesome and appetising by baking with premium ingredient options, with a focus on ‘keeping it natural by keeping it simple’.

SNOWY MOUNTAINS COOKIES is a high end brand supplying premium gourmet produce. Their products are served on multiple airlines including Qantas, Air China, Emirates, REX and Virgin Airlines through to five star hotels and independent cafes. The company takes great pride in their attention to customer service and vigilant food safety standards.

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Karen and Peter Cottrell had been frequent visitors to the Australian high country for decades chasing the distinct seasonal patterns and of course the snow. When they saw that Eucumbene Trout Farm was for sale, they acted. The iconic farm had fallen on hard times, with a failure to address changing water and energy needs and general maintenance resulting in the farm’s closure in 2008. Peter and Karen turned their hand to the challenges and have reinvented the farm. Karen and Peter are extremely happy with their decision to leave Sydney and they love living in the beautiful Snowy Monaro.

There is a licenced cafe on-site, which apart from selling trout, also sells alpaca burgers.

EUCUMBENE TROUT FARM offers a premium fishing experience on their 6 hectare “Stony Lake” and patrons, in the absence of success at the lake, have the opportunity to try the “sure catch tank”. The farm also offers farm tours, award winning value added trout products and local produce, a cafe and accommodation.

2,850 trout are estimated to be in the lake and the farm is the number one destination for trout fishing in NSW. The farm has had 27,000 visitors since opening.

The farm is 33 km from Jindabyne and 48 km from Cooma and is located 1,140 metres above sea level.

In the last two years the farm has received certificates for excellence from Trip Advisor, and the new on-site accommodation secured ‘supa-host’ status from AirBnB.

No trout farm would be complete without smoked trout and the farm has medals from the Royal Agricultural Society in NSW and Victoria, as well as a trophy from The Australian Food Awards for the best of the best.

Case Study

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COUNTRY UNIVERSITIES CENTRE Affordable, accessible higher education facilities are incredibly important to rural and regional communities like Cooma. In 2013, Snowy Hydro and the Cooma Monaro Shire Council (now Snowy Monaro Regional Council) joined forces to create the Cooma Universities Centre (now known as the Country Universities Centre) to provide university education opportunities for local students. The Country University Centre (CUC), has become one of Australia’s leading educational facilities.

Regional youth participate in tertiary education at less than half the rate of their metropolitan counterparts, with the gap widening further in recent years. One of the biggest challenges faced by regional and remote students is the absence of a ‘campus’ environment and its associated support and benefits. The CUC delivers supported learning to these students, providing them with access to campus-level technology, facilities, tutors and a network of other students. Since opening in March 2013, the Cooma Universities Centre has had over 185 registrations from students representing 27 different Australian Universities.In 2017, the CUC model, based on the Cooma facility, was funded by State Government and is being replicated in other areas of NSW with centres established in Goulburn and Broken Hill, and another planned for Hilltops.

LUCY CULLITON ARTIST In the 70’s, my family took a year off Sydney and we lived in the shearers quarters on a friends property at Ando. I was 8. The experience was to change my life. Ten years ago, when I was back visiting, I saw the big for sale sign in front of this joint in Bibbenluke. I had arrived. There was a beautiful garden, pony paddocks, a wild rock outcrop with snow gums and old sheds I could use as studio space for my art practice. I settled in the day I arrived. Made great new friends in the community. Found an endless supply of interesting subjects to paint. When I was in Paris with my old Art Dealer Ray Hughes, Ray said “where would you rather be?” I answered “Bibbenluke”.

Case Study

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NOTES FAST FACTS, REGIONAL SUMMARY AND ECONOMIC SNAPSHOTSCurrent population. These estimates for Local Government Areas (LGAs)are prepared by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)to correct for the Census under count and are updated annually. These are the closest to official estimates of resident population and are often used by State Government in allocating per capita funding to LGAs.Population Growth since 2011. Based on ABS Census data 2011-2016.Projected population growth to 2036. Estimates are to 2036 and are prepared by ID and available under the Joint Organisation of Councils subscription. Median house & unit price. This data comes from local real estate agents and is based on property sales over the previous 12 months (January 2017-January 2018). Other data in the Economic Snapshots the Joint Organisation of Councils subscriptions to ID profiles or directly from 2016 census data.

REFERENCES

Notes, photo credits, references, contacts & acknowledgements

Regional Development Australia Southern InlandShop 5, Central Arcade, 158-162 Auburn StreetGoulburn NSW 2580Phone: 02 4822 6397Email: admin@rdasi.org.auwww.rdasi.org.auPostal Address: PO Box 775, Goulburn NSW 2580

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSRegional Development Australia Southern Inland (RDASI) would like to thank the NSW Government for their funding assistance in producing this report. We also thank the Snowy Monaro Regional Council for their assistance. RDASI is an Australian Government Initiative.

Prepared by Strategic Economic Solutions May 2018.

CONTACTS

PHOTO CREDITSSNOWY MONARO images courtesy of Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Hydro, Adam McGrawth, Canberra Regional Joint Organisation of Councils, Eucumbene Trout Farm, Country Universities Centre and Snowy Moutains Cookies.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council81 Commissioner Street Cooma NSW 2630Phone: 1300 345 345Email: Council@snowymonaro.nsw.gov.auwww.snowymonaro.nsw.gov.auPostal Address:PO Box 714, Cooma NSW 2630

(2017) https://www.goodschools.com.au(2017) https://www.realestate.com.au(2018) http://www.eucumbenetroutfarm.com/(2018).http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf Home/2016%20Census%20Community%20Profiles(2018) https://economy.id.com.au/