As a cosmopolitan regional centre, Ballarat provides its businesses with the opportunity to benefit from the same perks offered in any metropolitan city, but without the hustle and bustle. The regions key industry sectors include health services, education, advanced manufacturing and visitor services.
Health Services
Ballarat’s state-of-the-art health services are the envy of the state, providing premium care for residents in the city and beyond. Home to Australia’s only regional cancer research centre, as well as its own public and private hospitals – the city is a forever-advancing hub of health services.
Education
Ballarat is leading the way when it comes to educational institutions in regional Australia. As well as being home to Federation University and the Australian Catholic University Ballarat campus, the city is also highly regarded for its Tech School – a centre of scientific excellence known for its innovation in connecting schools and industry in order to create real-world learning experiences.
Advanced Manufacturing
With a direct output of $3.3 billion and more than 4100 jobs, Ballarat’s advanced manufacturing industry boasts internationally recognised brands such as Mars Wrigley Confectionery, McCain Foods, IBM, PETStock, and Alstom as well as a range of emerging and smaller-scale manufacturers.
Visitor Economy
Ballarat’s visitor economy is one of the most important contributors to the healthy functioning of the city, attracting more than 3 million national and international visitors each year and injecting more than $600 million into the local economy.
Home to multi award-winning outdoor museum Sovereign Hill, as well as a number of other major tourist attractions, an alluring food and wine scene, and an action-packed events calendar, the city’s tourism sector pays tribute to Ballarat’s rich heritage while embracing its current contemporary offerings.
Infrastructure, facilities, connectivity, and workforce
With an abundance of greenfield development opportunities, established commercial and industrial facilities, impressive transport connectivity, a loyal and highly-skilled workforce as well as secured utilities including high-speed NBN, the city ticks all the boxes for investors.
Combine this with a complex yet varied number of strategic plans and strategies set to support future growth, and you have yourself the gateway to a bountiful tomorrow.
Ballarat West Employment Zone
Located in the heart of Ballarat’s rigorously developing west, the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) is set to become the engine room for jobs and economic growth in the city over the next 20 years.
Currently developing in stages, the project involves the development of surplus Crown Land for industrial, wholesale, logistics, construction, commercial and residential uses.
A 438-hectare development adjacent to the Ballarat Airport, BWEZ will also include a freight hub, secure infrastructure and access to road, rail and ports, creating a high-quality, high-profile industrial precinct.
Confidence in the future
Recognised by all levels of government as a key economic driver, Ballarat has attracted record investment for its infrastructure projects.
Ballarat’s multimillion-dollar government building, GovHub, opened in April 2021 and houses 1,000 public sector employees.
Projects such as the Ballarat Railway Station redevelopment, Ballarat Line upgrade and the Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital redevelopment further testify to the future advancement of the city, as well as the level of confidence the government holds for this regional centre.
