Why invest in the Tweed?

Natural advantage

Nominated as one of the National Landscapes – Australia’s Green Cauldron, the Tweed offers the best of all worlds: lush subtropical rainforests and dramatic mountain ranges, fertile green fields and kilometres of unspoilt coastline.

This abundance of natural beauty is the perfect backdrop for the country and coastal towns and villages dotted throughout this nationally significant region – each one imbued with a character all its own.

A biodiverse environment, pristine air and water and a mild climate (with around 300 sunny days a year) all add to the Tweed’s clean, green credentials – offering those who work, live and play here a natural advantage.

Established economic base

The Tweed has a broad and productive economy worth around $2.5 billion a year.

Education, health services, construction, retail and tourism are among the most dominant sectors. However, our clean, green reputation is promoting the emergence of innovative, sustainable and creative technologies.

We are ranked fifth in Australia for economic diversity, providing us with the ability to better withstand broader economic shocks.

The Commonwealth and State Governments have recognised the region’s strategic importance by investing heavily in a new regional hospital, university, M1 Pacific Motorway upgrade and a range of local community, sporting and civic infrastructure.

Strong and steady growth is forecast for the Tweed over the next 20 years. Tweed Heads is the fastest growing city in the state’s fastest growing region, the far North Coast.

Our population is expected to grow by more than 42 per cent to 127,000 people by 2036 and, in conjunction with the State Government, Tweed Shire Council has planned for this growth with several strategically placed greenfield urban-release areas and the protection of the coastal, hinterland and agricultural values the area is renowned for.

In 2016, the NSW Government signalled its strategic intentions for the Tweed by granting us Regional City status.

Cobaki and Kings Forest are two major urban greenfield sites that together will accommodate 22,000 residents and create new opportunities for businesses within their town centres.

The State Government is focused on infrastructure investment to ensure essential services meet the needs of our future population. The policies and actions to address these needs, while preserving our valuable natural resources, are outlined in the Far North Coast Regional Strategy.

External market connectivity

The Gold Coast Airport in Coolangatta straddles the Queensland-NSW border. It’s Australia’s fifth busiest airport and is forecast to grow from 6 million to 16 million annual passengers by 2037. It has a number of freight-forwarding companies with a full range of logistics services to meet inbound and outbound freight requirements.

Around 90 minutes away is Brisbane’s international airport and Queensland’s largest multi-container shipping port, Port of Brisbane, while two smaller regional airports in Lismore and Ballina are also within 100 kilometres.

Major government investment to upgrade the M1 Pacific Motorway has resulted in a four-lane dual carriageway from Sydney to Brisbane, significantly cutting freight times and costs to and from the Tweed.

We’re home to some well-established and experienced transport companies, ensuring the reliable movement of goods in and out of the region.

High-quality natural resources

The far North Coast is one of the most biologically diverse regions in Australia, with 15 World Heritage areas covering 117,000 hectares. While this natural beauty brings tourists, as well as health and wellbeing benefits for our residents, it also provides our clean air and water.

Tweed’s drinking water supply is equal to the best bottled water in the world. We have our own accredited water-testing laboratory and our internationally renowned state-of-the-art Bray Park Water Treatment Plant attracts delegates from foreign water authorities.

Since 2005, Tweed Shire Council staff have shared their knowledge to improve sanitation and water quality in Africa through the volunteer-run Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program.