Regional Overview

The RDA Illawarra region stretches from Helensburgh on Sydney's southern rim to the South Coast village of Gerroa. The region encompasses an area of 1,128 square kilometres and includes the three local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama with an overall population of approximately 283,000.

The region has undergone significant economic change over the last 20 years. Once dominated by manufacturing and mining, the region now has a more diversified economy displaying a distribution of employment by industry more closely resembling that of NSW.  Steel-making and coal mining still play an important role in this economy, but there are now major contributions from industries including retail, information technology, tourism, financial and property services, hospitality and cultural industries.