Employment lands are areas zoned for industrial or similar purposes in planning instruments. They are generally lower density employment areas, and provide the essential space for the delivery of;
- utilities and urban services, including depots, repair trades and service centres,
- goods including the research, design and manufacturing of goods through to their warehousing, distribution and sale.
The industries and business that locate in these spaces support jobs growth and development, as well as generate significant economic benefits for the community. They are crucial to the functioning of cities and it is critical that there is enough land located in the right places for this to occur.
Employment Lands Development Monitor
The department has been monitoring the status and availability of existing and potential future industrial land and business parks as part of the Employment Lands Development Monitor (ELDM) since 2010. It covers the Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regions. Reporting for the Hunter and Illawarra-Shoalhaven Region’s commenced in 2017 and 2018 respectively. From 2021, a summary across the rest of Regional NSW has been added to the report.
Its aims is to provide the data and evidence needed to inform planning decisions that enable job creation and the functioning of a city.
The ELDM is an annual snapshot taken at a point in time. As such, the ELDM land audit and associated data is taken as at January 2022. However, some reporting included in the ELDM such as the Industrial, Commercial and Retail reports provide a more recent outlook across the first half of 2022 including the impact of COVID-19 on the market.
See the Employment Lands Development Monitor highlights.
Commercial activity and outlook
Since 2019, the department's Employment Lands economic analysis has been expanded to report on Sydney's commercial, industrial and retail activity. These sectors play a vital role in the community, providing employment opportunities and essential goods and services. This reporting provides analysis on the value of commercial, industrial and retail approvals, as well as commentary on the demand for these types of property.
