Business in Bayside

The City of Bayside recognises the importance of maintaining a prosperous and sustainable local economy and is a strong advocate and supporter of local business and commerce.

Council has established a dedicated Economic Development Unit committed to working with local business to improve the local economy and create additional local employment opportunities. Council seeks to both improve the performance of existing local businesses as well as attract appropriate new business and investment to the City.

The Economic Development Unit is available to provide advice, support, access to relevant business information and data, and to proactively encourage and support local employment growth and increased business opportunity. The Unit acts as a liaison point between Council and Business and acts as an advocate for local businesses at State and Federal Government level.

 Business and Commerce in Bayside - an overview

The City of Bayside accommodates a workforce of some 38,750 persons - the majority of these people commute to jobs outside the municipality. Some 23,000 jobs are located within the City, with the majority of workers traveling to the City to work. Eighty seven percent of these jobs are in tertiary sector activities. The City is predominantly a 'white collar' area with salaries and education levels generally above the metropolitan average. Bayside accommodates a higher proportion of managers, administrators and other professionals with a relatively lesser proportion of trades people, plant and machine operators and labourers than the metropolitan average. Principal employment sectors are retailing and wholesaling (18%), property and business services (16%), health and community services (15%) and accommodation, cafes and restaurants (8%). Manufacturing accounts for 13% of jobs but other traditional 'blue collar' occupations such as construction, transport, storage, etc account for significantly lower employment numbers.

Although Bayside is not generally recognised as a major industrial area, there is approximately 100 hectares of industrially zoned land in Bayside accommodating over 400 individual industrial operations. Approximately 50% of industry is involved in manufacturing (including engineering, plastics, timber) with the balance a mix of warehouses, automotive and technical services and related industries. The major concentration of industrial activity is located in the southern part of the municipality in the vicinity of Bay Road Cheltenham. Most are well - established, small - medium sized businesses, with a few larger and intentionally recognised operators. Many of Baysides industrial areas were developed in the 1950's - 1970's and are ripe for redevelopment.

Bayside's industrial areas offer a number of competitive strengths, including:

• central location in the surrounding region
• proximity to Nepean Highway and arterial road network
• good public transport and rail access
• proximity to a broad range of recreational, leisure, sporting and entertainment opportunities
• access to a skilled and educated workforce
• excellent quality (clean and safe) living and working environments

In the future, Council wishes to encourage and support the redevelopment of many of the older industrial precincts and the broadening of the industrial base. This especially involves the encouragement of high tech industries with global market appeal and related job-rich employers. Employment opportunities that match the local skill base and increase the number of local persons working locally will be encouraged. Future industrial development will be facilitated to achieve high standards of visual and environmental character, energy efficient design and operate in environmentally friendly and sustainable ways.

The majority of business / commercial activity in Bayside is located in and around local activity centres. Bayside supports a range of activity centres providing local convenience shopping through to higher order community level centres. The largest centres in Bayside are Hampton Street Hampton (330 businesses) and East Brighton (237 businesses). Medium sized centres include Bay Street North Brighton (196 businesses),Sandringham (115 businesses), Martin Street Gardenvale (90 businesses), Beaumaris Concourse (87 businesses) and Black Rock (86 businesses). Several centres, including Highett and Moorabbin, are divided between Bayside and adjoining municipalities.

In total there are over 1,000 businesses located in retail activity centres in Bayside. Almost half of the total jobs in Bayside (10,670) are found in or adjoining these activity centres. These jobs include retailing, wholesaling, finance, insurance services, property, business services, communications and personal services - with the majority of jobs (in excess of 5,000) in the retail sector.

In the future Council seeks to consolidate and strengthen these local activity centres by identifying and developing niche markets and working closely with local business groups / associations to ensure an appropriate mix of businesses meeting the needs of the local / surrounding market is developed and effectively marketed / promoted. Local businesses will be supported to increase their skills base and improve their service levels to the local community. Businesses will particularly be encouraged to work together for mutual gain and especially develop and utilise the broad range of emerging e-commerce related technologies to their competitive advantage. Particular strengths of local activity centres include good accessibility (several are located at rail stations); excellent range of shops; clean and safe environment; friendly atmosphere / service; competitive prices; and a special "seaside village" character.