Doing Business in the City of Whittlesea

City Snapshot

We are located in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, about 20 kilometres from the city centre. It is one of Melbourne’s largest municipalities, covering a land area of approximately 490 square kilometres. We welcome more than 7,000 new residents every year. 

A Council that works with you

The City of Whittlesea has a strong commitment to partner and collaborate with businesses. You will have access to a strong network, advice and support through relationships with NORTH Link, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and northern region Councils.

Below are several initiatives to support for your investment:

Priority development assessment process

Council has introduced the Priority development assessment process for developments that jobs and investment. The streamlined process fast-tracks a planning application if it increases investment and employment outcomes in the municipality.

This process will deliver a streamlined, case management approach with timely decisions within six weeks. For further information see the Priority Development Assessment Process.

Case management

A case management model for business enquiries that provides a seamless, centralised and integrated liaison process.

Commitment to buy local

Council is committed to increase its number of local business and suppliers providing goods and Services to Council by 2021.

Business education and networking opportunities

Council continues to support our business community in a coordinated way with the right programs, events and networking opportunities.

Economic profile

Melbourne’s north is an economic powerhouse producing over $40 billion worth of goods and services every year and growing by 4.7% per annum.

There are more than 16,000 businesses operating across the City of Whittlesea. Our growing industries include:

• Health care and social assistance
• Retail trade
• Manufacturing
• Construction

Whilst sectors such as Professional, Visitor Economy and Agriculture are emerging within the municipality.

For further information on the municipality’s economic landscape, Visit Economy id

Access to a skilled and growing workforce

We have a highly skilled and diverse community and employment programs readily available to support the growth and success of your business.

Did you know?

• Over 42,600 people in the City of Whittlesea held a tertiary qualification as of June 2016
• We have more skilled professionals than any other occupations
• Top three occupations of our residents are professionals, technicians and trades, and sales workers

Our skilled workforce continues to diversify supporting the establishment of new business and existing business growth. In particular;

• Growth in the professional sector i.e. school teachers, midwifery and nursing professionals and medical practitioners
• Growth in community and personal service workers, technicians and trades, labourers and managers

You can view the key characteristics and statistics of our local labour force online at Economy id/labour force.

Partnerships

We pride ourselves on working in collaboration to deliver developments, programs and initiatives to strengthen our local economy and provide opportunities for our residents.

North and West Melbourne City Deal

The North and West Melbourne City Deal Plan is a blueprint for the region to respond to the impacts of the pandemic in the immediate and medium-term, and to reform our economy for the future.

The proposal will help create 300,000 new jobs, reboot business, boost social and economic inclusion, and leverage the region’s existing strengths in health, food production, manufacturing and logistics.

For the City of Whittlesea, it will unlock employment and economic development opportunities centred on the key precincts of Cloverton/Beveridge and Epping.

Thirteen local governments represented by LeadWest and the Northern Councils Alliance, La Trobe and Victoria Universities, NORTH Link and the West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance have come together to build the City Deal proposal.

Activating industrial land

In partnership with the City of Hume and NORTH Link, Unlocking high value jobs in Melbourne’s north report (developed by Ernst and Young) highlights the important role that the industrial land sector and the industries it accommodates play in the Melbourne’s north economy. The report identifies how the sector is expected to grow and its potential role to drive the Victorian economy and advises on the immediate action of government and long-term partnerships that are needed to realise this future.

For a copy of the report or to have a confidential discussion, please contact our Investment Attraction team by email at invest@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or call 03 9217 2278

Melbourne’s north food group

The Melbourne’s North Food Group is a cluster representing over 400 food, beverage and fibre manufacturers that employ over 10,000 people. This Group was established in February 2018 and is managed by NORTH Link to support the emerging food and beverage sector. The MNFG is supported by the eight Councils within the north western region.

Whittlesea Community Food and Farm Collective

The Whittlesea Community Farm and Food Collective project involves the development of a mixed farming enterprise at the Yarra Valley Water Aurora site. This will provide food for distribution into the local emergency relief network and volunteering, education and employment opportunities in best practice sustainable agriculture systems for peri-urban areas.

The project is a collaborative partnership between the City of Whittlesea, Yarra Valley Water, Melbourne Polytechnic and Whittlesea Community Connections.

Regenerative Agriculture

We have partnered with Deakin University to undertake a project that considers the concept of regenerative agriculture and the potential of it to support transformative change of peri-urban agriculture for greater climate resilience of the cities and regional centres it surrounds.

Contact us

We welcome enquiries from businesses who are considering their location. Contact our Investment Attraction team for a confidential discussion on invest@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or call 03 9217 2278 today.