The Big Issues for our Region

As part of the Chamber Advocacy Strategy – and following on from our Annual Chairman’s Lunch last month – the Sydney Hills Business Chamber aims to focus on several key questions and broad issues impacting growth and liveability in our region.

At our events and forums in 2022-23, we’ll be inviting decision makers and speakers to delve into these topics deeper with us.

This article will highlight just some of the issues we plan to ask and address.

The District Plan for Northwest Sydney

We’ll look at how the Government (Small Business Commission) is supporting small business in our region – and what’s being done to reduce the impact of general red tape and disasters on small and medium businesses.

Staff Shortages

This topic includes balancing the rights of employee’s vs employers – and how the government will support and incentivise small businesses to hire permanent staff in a risky economic climate.

Given these are also Federal Government policy issues, we’ll look at what the NSW State Government is doing to champion the needs of businesses and the actions of ATO/Fairwork.

In addition, we’ll seek to uncover how our local council is supporting growth and job creation in the short and long term, their role in achieving job growth targets, and how they’ll balance it all with liveability.

Supply Chain Impacts

This includes looking at the influence and impact the NSW Government is having on supply chains and the increased costs for businesses in this region.

Infrastructure and Office Space

We’ll uncover how the council is planning for job growth and helping businesses secure commercial office spaces large enough to grow – and affordable to sustain – outside of Norwest Business Park.

We’ll also review how investment in infrastructure is being managed by Hills Council – and the speed at which the development of business precincts, like Castle Hill, Norwest, and Rouse Hill, is being rolled out.

Transport

The Central City Plan indicates that the areas surrounding the Metro stations are designated as ‘transit-oriented development’. We’re interested to know – with the activation of the Metro 3 years ago – development around the stations’ precincts has been seemingly delayed. So how will it be fast tracked?

The Greater Cities Plan aims to create 30-minute cities. The Metro currently best serves residents who want to walk to a metro and work outside of the Hills. e.g. 45 minutes from Rouse Hill to Town Hall.

But for those who are doing business in and around the Hills, the transport between stations and parking options at Business Precinct destinations can be a problematic. We’ll be asking the question – When will reliable shuttle services from Metro Hubs to precinct Business spokes (e.g. Norwest Station to top or bottom of Norwest Boulevard, Rouse Hill Town Centre to Annangrove Road) be activated?

Demographics in the Northwest Sydney

Our demographics are changing, which brings challenges and opportunities to our region. In addition, COVID has brought significant change to the way we work, learn, and manage our mental health.

Understanding how business leaders can adapt and navigate the changing workplace – and acknowledging the generational and cultural shifts happening in the business community and our workforces – is essential.

As stated by Director of Solutions at McCrindle, Geoff Brailey:

“As our population is changing demographically, culturally, and socially, the workplace of the future will naturally have a greater proportion of younger generations. This brings the greater digital intelligence of these digital natives, along with the challenges of greater mental health concerns – as the prevalence of mental health conditions are higher among younger generations.

Finally, the workforce of the future will include people from India, China, The Philippines, and other Asian countries in this Asian Century. Therefore, it is imperative we have greater cultural intelligence and sensitivities.”

“The future workplace will not only be made of different people culturally and generationally, it will also be a mix of flexibility in location and times when people are working and when they are working remotely,” adds Geoff. “Greater flexibility means that communication, accountability, and clear goals are imperative along with the intangibles of culture, community, and connection.

Great leaders will listen well to lead wisely. They will need to have foresight of global mega trends, but also know how to respond for their own industry and team to forge their own path ahead.

Leadership isn’t getting any easier, but the opportunities are all around us and the future is bright.”

Liveability

When it comes to Liveability, we’ll ask how our urban planners and the NSW Government plan to work together to recognise the need and desires our community – as well as environmental sustainability – in a whole-of-system approach to planning.

We’ll also ask:

How will place-based outcomes – that build greater resilience, regenerate our urban areas, and support liveability for those who currently live and move here – be achieved as part of the push to grow in the Central City Plan in the Hills region?
How do we stop the exodus of people – who are not averse to development in their region, but unhappy with the decimation of the Hills Shire’s uniqueness? Are decisions being made by NSW Government teams who don’t know this region or are required to live here after plans are implemented?

Tourism & Visitor Economy

With 100,000 more people coming to the Hills in the next 10 years, the focus has been on housing and offering them somewhere to work. As a result, there are challenges and opportunities in this part of Western Sydney for growing the visitor economy. While businesses can benefit from a visitor economy, what draws visitors to a region like this?

We’ll also ask – In context with the goals of the Central City Plans and the Western Sydney Visitor Economy Strategy, how will the Hills’ rich heritage be preserved and celebrated? What kinds of cultural events and facilities could be enhanced and created to continuously improve the Hills liveability and attraction to visitors – without losing the feel of our unique region?

The role of big business in our region

Questions to address under this topic include:

We have a strong small-medium business presence in this region, but only a handful of big corporates. Why?
What is the role of big corporates in this region – and what could be their role in the next 10 years?
How could we make that possible?
How could we attract more corporations to the Hills?

Education

In regards to Education, we’ll ask about the university proposed for Norwest pre-COVID. With nine universities in Parramatta, are there plans for educational precincts here in the region? Should we care if we have a Uni here or not?

Summary

Finding a way to keep informed and aware of the complex plans, policies, economic, and competitive environments your business operates is important. Making sure you have a say in the policies and plans that could positively or negatively impact your ability to operate a successful enterprise is part of your role as a business leader or owner.

You can find more information about the Plans for the Hills region in our September Blog HERE

Become a member of the Sydney Hills Business Chamber so you can be supported by other business owners, connect with referral sources, and explore opportunities for joint-ventures and collaborations: