Economic Development

Mandurah at a Glance

Mandurah is one of the most vibrant regional cities in Western Australia. Located less than an hour from Perth CBD by rail, Mandurah offers an idyllic waterfront location with a local population forecast to reach 116,000 by 2031.

Located 72km south of Perth, Mandurah is currently WA’s third-fastest and fourth-largest growing LGA, and the 10th largest Council in Western Australia.

Covering an area of 173.5km2, Mandurah follows the coast from its northern extremity at Madora to the Ramsar-listed wetland Lake Clifton and Yalgorup National Park 50km to the south.

Creative sustainable planning enables Mandurah to evolve while retaining its close relationship with its magnificent waterways, and ensuring its people have good access to quality health and community services, a range of education and employment opportunities, and fantastic recreational and lifestyle choices.

Tourism is a major generator of business opportunities and employment in Mandurah, with proactive education initiatives that have boosted investment opportunities and employment in the hospitality and services industries.

• Population of 76,670. Source Australia Bureau of Statistics, Regional Population Growth, Cat. 3218.0 (Released 31 July 2012)
• Median Age: 42
• Median Sale Price Mandurah – Murray $370,000 (Source: REIWA Dec Qtr 2012)
• Median Weekly Rent Mandurah – Murray $340 (Source: REIWA Dec Qtr 2012)
• Enviable lifestyle
• 5100 active ABN – registered for GST (Current ABN look-up – ABN Statistics)
• A multiskilled labour force of 30,988 people (Dec Qtr 2012)
• Comprehensive infrastructure and business services
• Extensive transport links –
  • The 70km Perth to Mandurah rail-line, connecting the urban growth area of Mandurah to the City of Perth.
  • Gateway to the State’s South West Region
• Mix of inner city and semi-rural living

Planning is also underway to develop additional economic opportunities to keep pace with the City’s rapid growth as Mandurah’s population could nearly double in size by 2021.

 

Growth Sectors – Employment and Industry

The City of Mandurah unemployment rate in December 2012 was 6.3%, compared with the WA average of 4.5% and the Australian average of 5.4%.

 

Statistical Local Areas (SLAs)	Unemployment Rate (%) Sept 2011	Unemployment Dec 2011	Unemployment Rate (%) Dec 2012	Unemployment  Dec 2012	Labour Force  Dec 2012
Mandurah	6.9	2,121	6.3	1,958	30,988

Source: DEEWR Small Area Labour Markets – December Quarter 2012

 

Mandurah's Employment Industries

It is estimated that 16,755 people work in Mandurah. Mandurah represents 56.90% of the 29,446 people working in the Peel Region.

Definition: The employment data presented represents the number of people employed by business / organisations in each of the industry sectors in the defined regions. In this report the employment data is placed of work data and represents total numbers of employees without any conversions to full-time equivalence. Retail jobs for instance represents typical employment profiles for that sector, i.e. some full-time, some part-time and some casual.

 

Retail Trade	19.8%
Health Care & Social Assistance	15.6%
Education & Training	11.2%
Accomodation & Food Services	9.9%
Construction	8.3%
Public Administration & Safety	5.9%
Manufacturing	4.7%
Other Services	4.5%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services	3.7%
Administrative & Support Services	3.0%
Transport, Postal & Warehousing	2.9%
Rental, Hiring & Real Estate Services	2.9%
Financial & Insurance Services	2.0%
Wholesale Trade	1.6%
Arts & Recreation Services	1.5%
Information Media & Telecommunications	1.1%
Electricity, Gas, Water & Waste Services	0.7%
Mining	0.4%
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing	0.3%

 

Source: Latest REMPLAN data incorporating Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) June 2012 Gross State Product, 2008 / 2009 National Input Output Tables and 2011 Census Place of Work Employment Data.

 

Southern City Strategy

Mandurah has the potential to become a primary service centre for the Peel Region, and a southern ‘economic anchor’ to Perth.

The City of Mandurah's long-term strategic vision it to achieve:

• High economic self-sufficiency
• Increased employment and industry diversity
• Enhanced levels of regional facilities and services
• Greater choice and accessibility of housing, including affordable options
• Sustainable balance between urban growth, environmental sustainability and social equity

The City has already commenced planning under its Southern City Strategy, with recent initiatives including the Mandurah City Centre Revitalisation (commenced May 2010), and the Mandurah City Centre Precinct Plan.

Other potential initiatives include regional marine, engineering, agri-business and aquaculture industry clusters, and a dedicated Mandurah Civic and Cultural/Education Precinct.