Total development application values in the City of Salisbury have increased by 50 per cent and unemployment has fallen almost 1 per cent cent, new figures show.
Council’s latest Economic Report was released last month and shows strong growth in the region’s economy just over a year on from the closure of Holden’s Elizabeth car plant.
Salisbury was the council most affected in terms of direct job losses when Holden closed but its unemployment rate has dipped to 8 per cent, compared 8.8 percent at the same time last year.
Solid private investment and development growth is driving the employment, with $115 million worth of development applications lodged with Council in the last six months of 2018, compared to $74 million in the second-half of the 2017.
In all, close to $500 million worth of development is tabled with the City of Salisbury, $250 million worth of which has been given the green light. Across all three tiers of government and private investment, $2.7 billion worth of development is now proposed or underway within Salisbury’s boundaries.
Advanced manufacturing, food, space, defence, and other hi-tech industries based at Mawson Lakes and Edinburgh Parks continue to be key players , with major companies like BAE Systems, Saab and Lockheed Martin set to expand after winning major contracts.
ASX-Listed Sigma Pharmaceuticals has commenced construction of its state distribution facility at Pooraka while firms such as water-solutions business Osmoflo continue to enter new export markets.
Advanced trailer manufacturer Haulmark is among the interstate businesses to recently move into Salisbury. It recently built a $10 million warehouse in Edinburgh Parks which will create up to 50 new permanent jobs. Another interstate firm, Veroguard, has commenced construction of its Edinburgh Parks manufacturing facility which has the potential to create up to 600 new jobs.
Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge, OAM, said the figures showed Salisbury was increasingly developing a reputation around Australia as an attractive place to do business.
She said Salisbury’s strong and established industry base, skilled existing workforce, and competitive conditions were attracting the attention of new business looking to set-up, and existing companies looking to invest.
Mayor Aldridge said Council had taken a lead on strengthening in its economy by adopting a personalised and thorough approach when working with existing and perspective businesses.
She said Salisbury’s Economic Development unit had been successful in attracting new business and investment because of its willingness to meet the needs of individual businesses, and had developed a reputation for ensuring it supported companies during set-up. Salisbury’s Polaris Centre for Business Innovation also had a reputation for supporting businesses to succeed once set-up, Mayor Aldridge said.
“The City of Salisbury has worked very hard to create a supportive environment for business and the latest figures show that business is embracing this area,” she said.
“It a very exciting time for our City, and there are tremendous opportunities for our current and future workforce.” “The City of Salisbury has worked very hard to create a supportive environment for business and the latest figures show that business is embracing this area,” she said.
“It a very exciting time for Salisbury and there are tremendous opportunities for our current and future workforce.”
