ACT
THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Canberra is the capital of Australia. It is situated in a small Territory called Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which is in the south-east of New South Wales. I live in the Tuggeranong area on this map.
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CAPITAL CITY DISTANCES FROM CANBERRA
Destination By Air hrs/mins By Road km
Sydney 30 306
Melbourne 50 655
Adelaide 100 1212
Brisbane 100 1316
Hobart 120 -
Darwin 5 hrs 3461
Perth 5 hrs 3953
DISTANCES TO MAJOR OFFSHORE MARKETS
Destination Travel time from Sydney hrs/min
Auckland 3.20
Jakarta 6.20
Tokyo 9.00
Beijing 9.30
Johannesburg: 14.00
SIZE OF TERRITORY
2,400km2
POPULATION
Number (Jan 99) 310,173
Growth since 1991 (%) 7.2
Median Age 1998 (years) 32
VALUE OF INDUSTRY (98/99) $ MILLION
Retail 528
Manufacturing 187
Construction 680
Accommodation & Hospitality 246
Property & Business Services 1274
Government Administration & Defence 3357
TOP 5 INDUSTRIES BY EMPLOYMENT SIZE SINCE NOV 99
Government Admin. and Defence 39,100
Retail Trade 24,600
Property & Business Services 21,300
Education 15,900
Health & Community Care 13,900
As National Capital, the advantages of living in Canberra are numerous it is city with a growing business centre, strategically located in Australia's populous south-east corner between the major markets of Sydney and Melbourne.
STRENGTHS INCLUDE:
• Excellent communications and advanced technology and transport infrastructure
• World class education and research facilities
• Young, highly skilled and educated workforce
• Growing private sector employment
• Sophisticated and flexible tertiary industry sector
• Strong multicultural society - 146 ethnic community organisations; over 46,000 Canberrans speak a second language
• Home to 79 foreign embassies and missions
• Headquarters of several hundred significant national associations
ACCESSIBILITY
Air Canberra international Airport
Road Federal Highway/Hume Highway to Sydney (3 hrs)
Barton Highway/Hume Highway to Melbourne (7 hrs)
Also good links to Brisbane and Adelaide
Rail Daily links to Sydney; Very High Speed Train to Sydney in development phase
FEATURES
Cosmopolitan City world class attractions, abundant nightlife, restaurants, theatres and outdoor cafes.
Planned City with modern infrastructure and services and highly affordable housing.
Transport System excellent with on average commuting time to work of less than 20 minutes.
Light Industrial Fern Hill Park and Amtech Estate to cater for
Technology Parks Canberra's smart, clean industries.
Health & Community excellent health and community services.
Services There are three public hospitals and five private hospitals in the National Capital.
CANBERRA'S BUSINESS CLIMATE
Canberra is a city of the future, excelling in smart, clean technology based industries that take advantage of the National Capital's access to R&D institutions, world class communications infrastructure and a highly educated workforce. Competitive operating costs combine with lower than average private sector labour costs to make Canberra an ideal business destination.
Major Industries include:
• Information Technology & Telecommunications
• Advanced Technology Manufacturing & Defence Related Services
• Environment Management Technology & Services
• Education
• Tourism
• Information & Business Services
• light Manufacturing & Assembly
• Agribusiness
• Sport
Some facts about Canberra's business sector
• Strong relationship with international community including sister city relationship with Nara-Japan's ancient capital.
• There are over 13,000 businesses in the ACT employing 55% of the ACT's workforce.
• Canberra's workforce is more computer literate and highly educated than any other in Australia with 51 % having post school qualifications compared to 42% nationally.
• Canberra has a highly competitive and internationally focussed information industries sector. With an estimated spending power of some $2 billion per annum, national and international companies are attracted to Canberra to compete for, and service, the Australian Government's large IT & T contracts.
• Canberra has moved from a public sector town to a city of entrepreneurs.
BUSINESS ATTRACTIONS
Why Canberra?
* Canberra's supportive local government is keen to attract new business and investment to the nation's Capital. A single tier of government means a streamlined and transparent decision making process.
* Business assistance packages are available and can be individually designed to make doing business in Canberra more competitive.
* Canberra has a world renowned research base being home to Australia's premier research university, the Australian National University (ANU), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the University of Canberra (UC) specialising in telecommunications research and the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).
* Canberra is renowned as an environmental city, with the highest recycling rate in Australia, and is capitalising on emerging green industries. The National Capital is the first in the world to set a target of No Waste by 2010. Over 100 businesses operate in the environment management industry, exporting technology and services overseas.
* Exports - The value of merchandise exported from the ACT was $19.3m in 1998. The ACT exports in 27 industries, the predominate being advanced manufacturing and scientific equipment. New Zealand, Japan and the UK are the ACT's largest export markets.
* Multinational companies are discovering the benefits of doing business in Canberra including Hewlett Packard, NEC, British Aerospace, Fujitsu, Unisys, Computer Associates, Oracle and lntec.
* Australia's earliest adopters of technology.
SPORT IN CANBERRA
HOME OF THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT
Supporting Canberra's training environment are facilities for 27 Olympic sports. A major outdoor stadium, hockey centre, tennis complex, rowing and canoeing facilities, basketball and other indoor sport arenas all meet world standards. Canberra, official venue of the 2000 Olympic Games Football Tournament, will provide a training and competition destination for approximately 600 international elite athletes in the lead up to the 2000 Games.
Major Sporting Facilities include:
• The Australian institute of Sport - with an unequalled range of world class sporting facilities, indoor stadiums, training halls, swimming and gymnastic facilities, indoor and outdoor synthetic hockey and football fields. The AIS Sports Science and Sports Medicine Centre is recognised for leading edge development in biomechanics and performance testing
• Bruce Stadium - Venue for the 2000 Olympic tournament and other national and international events particularly Rugby league and Rugby Union
• Tuggeranong Indoor Sports Centre
• ACT Hockey Centre
• National Sports Club - Tennis
Other sporting facilities include.
* 3 world class skateboarding facilities
* 9 golf courses
* 30 Tennis Centres
* 120 district playing fields
Did you know ?
Canberra has the highest participation rate in sport and physical activities at 73% , 14% higher than the national average (ABS data catalogue 90 41770 98-99) The three highest participant activities in Canberra are swimming (20.4%); aerobics/fitness (16.1 %) and cycling (12.6%) followed by golf (10.2%) and tennis (7.8%) (ABS data - 1997-98)
Canberra has nearly 1000 kms of bicycle paths in the city
Over 100 different sports are being enjoyed by people of all ages
Canberra's National Sporting Teams include:
* ACT Brumbies - Rugby Union * Canberra Cosmos - Soccer
* Canberra Raiders - Rugby league * Canberra Lakers - Hockey
* Canberra Comets - Cricket * Canberra Strikers - Hockey
* Canberra Cannons - Basketball * Canberra Capitals - Basketball
THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL REGION
The Australian Capital Region comprises the lower south coast, the Snowy Mountains, the ACT and the southern tablelands. It covers an area of some 58,700 square kilometres with a population of over 500,000.
The AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL REGION is known for quality and innovation in the agribusiness sector.
The region's agribusiness strengths include.
Animal husbandry - export of beef, cattle, lamb and sheep meat products;
also a breeding area for Angus, Murray Grey, Hereford cattle; and Australian low-line cattle;
Wool - the region produces the highest quality Merino super fine and fine wool in the world, it is noted for its sheep studs and their contribution to the genetic pool of Australian Merino flock;
Forestry - significant areas of native forests and conifer plantations, producing hardwood and softwood sawn timber and woodchips, with export of predominantly woodchips to Northern Asia, including Japan;
Commercial fishing - based at Bateman's Bay, Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Tathra, Merimbula and Eden; the industry generated 6,507.2 tonnes of seafood products worth $25m in 1996-97;
Wine industry - the region has emerged as a significant producer of cool climate premium and ultra premium wines. The entry of BRL Hardy limited into the Canberra District will consolidate the industry's growth;
Cheese - production in the south-east part of the region is extensive. Exports now account for approximately 40% of the
Co-operative's $100m plus turnover, with Bega Cheese products exporting to over 25 countries around the world;
Fruit growing - Young and Harden Shires are major producers of cherries and prunes with the Tumut Shire well known for its production of Batiow apples and stone fruits such as apricots, nectarines, plums and nashi pears; and
Fresh Cut Flowers - Eurobodalia and Bega Shires have increasing production of cut flowers, mainly proteas and native flowers, principally for export.
EDUCATION
Canberra has the highest quality education standards in Australia.
Number of people with post school qualifications - 38% of population (1996 Census)
* Number with trade qualifications 24, 622
* Number with tertiary qualifications 68,2406
* Number of pre schools (Government & Private) 84
* Number of schools (both primary, secondary and colleges)
* Government schools 93
* Private schools 42 (February 1998 School Census)
Universities and Tertiary Institutions
* The Australian National University
* University of Canberra
* The University of New South Wales Australian Defence Force Academy
* Australian Catholic University
* Canberra Institute of Technology
* Australian International Hotel School
Canberra has:
* the highest retention rates of students completing their schooling (91.6% compared with 71.8% nationally in 1997)
* the highest acceptance rate of students into universities
* acceptance of full fee paying overseas students in its primary and high school systems
* intensive English language tuition for overseas students
* continuous academic assessment - students are not required to sit for a public examination to meet certificate and university entry requirements
* the International Baccalaureate Program
* elite programs designed for talented international students in such areas as - golf, music and voice, dance, team sports such as tennis, hockey, football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer and cricket
* education and training institutions exporting courses and expertise as cooperative joint ventures
* approximately 34,000 students undertaking higher education including nearly 2500 international students
TOURISM
Canberra lies in the north-eastern quarter of the Australian Capital Territory. The Territory covers an area of 2359 square kms of farmland and spectacular mountains, forests and valleys. Its altitude of 571 metres means that Canberra enjoys the full spectrum of seasons - warm to hot summers, crisp winters, colourful springtimes and mild autumns.
National Institutions
* National Library of Australia
* Parliament House
* Royal Australian Mint
* National Museum of Australia
* National Science and Technology Centre
* National Gallery of Australia
* High Court of Australia
* Australian War Memorial
* Screensound Australia
* National Archives of Australia
* National Portrait Gallery
* Old Parliament House
Other Attractions
* Australian Institute of Sport
* Telstra Tower
* Stromio Exploratory
* Tidbinbilia Nature Reserve
* Ginninderra Village
* Blundell's Cottage, lake Burley Griffin
* Canberra Museum and Galleries
* Lanyon Historic Homestead and Nolan Gallery
* National Aquarium
* Embassies and High Commissions
* Canberra District wineries
* Cockington Green
* National Dinosaur Museum & Australian Reptile Centre & Federation Square
* Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex
Major Festivals and Events
* Canberra National Multicultural Fesbval
* Canberra Chamber Music Festival
* National Folk Festival
* FAI Rally of Canberra
* Street Machine Summernats
* Australian Jazz Festival
* Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic
* St George Floriade
* Australian Science Festival
* PGA Tour Championship
* V8 Supercar Street Race
* Royal Canberra Show
* National Capital Dancesport Championships
Recreational Facilities
National Parks, botanic gardens, city and suburban parks, walking and nature trails and a range of other recreational facilities at lake and river sites including barbecues and playgrounds. Easy access to the coast and mountain resorts (2 hours drive) offers excellent skiing, bushwalking and fishing.
Did you know?
* Over half of the ACT is classified as national park or nature reserve and more than 12 million trees have been planted in Canberra since the National Capital was founded.
* Approximately 1.7m people visit the National Capital each year.
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