Economic Development Strategy - July 2008

The City Of Ryde is part of an ever changing, dynamic global market place.

Economic development and growth can be achieved by developing an understanding of the local, regional and state economies and adopting a strategic direction which creates a climate and culture of:

Retaining and increasing employment opportunities;

Identifying and facilitating business and employment growth that is ecologically, environmentally and economically sustainable;

Culture that is a collaborative effort between all levels of government, business and the local community;

Information and business support services referral;

Marketing and promotion of the City, its key Town Centres and Villages;

Promotion of business growth and development;

Supporting new, and expansion of existing, business investment.

The City Of Ryde is also part of a Northern Sydney Region which is home to a diverse collection of landscapes and communities, ranging from scenic waterways, bush land parks and areas of historical significance through to residential high-rise living and thriving commercial and retail centres.

The Macquarie Park Corridor within Ryde has a current commercial zoning just under 1 million m2.

The current commercial zoning allows for an additional 1.2million m2.

The current commercial capacity total under the current zoning is 2.25 million m2.

There is also 600,000 m2 development proposed by Macquarie University (40 year planning horizon)

The total floor space for the corridor could be 2.85 million m2 which would permit employment for around 140,000    total   workers, plus an extra 40,000 student / staff capacity at the Uni which is a total of 180,000 'workers'  potential at Macquarie Park.

This 180,000 represents 80% of the current CBD (Sydney) workers total of 220,000.

Ryde is also the recipient of the $2.25 billion Chatswood to Epping rail infrastructure investment, comprising 3 new rail stations opening in 2008.

Ryde’s support for economic development contributes significantly to the States’ “Global Economic Corridor” which is clearly identified by the NSW Metropolitan Strategy. The corridor of concentrated jobs and activities in centres stretches from North Sydney to Macquarie Park and from the City to Airport and Port Botany and will remain the powerhouse of Australia’s economy.

This corridor encompasses Macquarie Park, Chatswood, St Leonards, North Sydney in the north; the Sydney CBD and Pyrmont-Ultimo, and major research, health and education facilities, residential and industrial areas; and Sydney Airport and Port Botany to the south.

Around 700,000 of Sydney jobs (32% Sydney’s total) are located in the global economic corridor. A key aim of this Strategy is to build on the strengths of the global economic corridor and to grow 150,000 new jobs in this corridor over the life of the Metropolitan Strategy.