Economic Development

Making It Happen is a strategy framework to guide the City of Albany's involvement in economic development over the period 2005-2010. The emphasis is on the City's area of influence, recognising that the economic development challenge is shared by all levels of government and business and is often influenced by factors beyond the Council's control.

'Making It Happen' emerged from the Council's Albany 3D strategic plan, which established the community's and the Council's vision for Albany's future to 2025, and established a set of broad objectives and actions within each of the Council's core work functions.

Download the Making It Happen strategy through the link below.

Albany is an established holiday playground. Tourism ventures in accommodation, recreation, food and hospitality continue to grow in and around the city.

Tourism is just part of the picture. The staple agricultural industries of the region - wool, grain and livestock - continue to feed into the city, and the capacity to value-add and diversify has never been greater. Aquaculture, wine, plantation timber, fishing, olive oil, organic produce, dairy, meat processing, essential oils and cosmetics are examples of existing industries serving local, tourist and export markets.

Plantation timbers have changed the local landscape and are the backbone of a growing woodchip export industry. The potential to value-add in this emerging field exists in construction lumber, bio-mass energy and pulp manufacture. Several new projects will stimulate employment and income growth in the next few years.

Albany's busy port is a first-class shipping facility servicing the agricultural sector. It supports the capacity for new industry with its expanded berthing facilities, cold storage and road and rail access.

For the processing of local resources including fish, timber and agricultural products, special industrial sites are available at Mirambeena. A world class meat processing facility is located north of Albany and generates ongoing employment and trade.

Real estate in Albany covers the range of housing options from modern to heritage, beach-side or inner city, riverfront or semi-rural. The cost of commercial land and property is competitive for potential business ventures.

The region’s mild climate and magnificent lifestyle make investment in a range of industries attractive. Strong growth in residential and non-residential building activity signals sound confidence in the future of Albany.

Albany has a steady population growth rate of around two per cent per annum and the forecast is for accelerated growth. Longstanding residents and people from around the world continue to be drawn to Albany’s abundance. A broad mix of expertise in business, the arts, hospitality and the professions is among the happy outcomes of a growing and diverse population.

Economic and demographic data on Albany can be found at www.abs.gov.au