The submission was drawn together by RDA Illawarra. The contributed submissions from Illawarra regional stakeholders (Illawarra Consortia) is supplementary to the submission by Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (October 2014) to the Defence White Paper.

In sum, key advantages to Defence of a relocation of operations to Port Kembla include:

• 24/7 maintenance capability
• Deep water Port, with 14 to 16 metres depth
• Significant Port Lands currently available or underutilized and structural adjustments to the manufacturing industry creating additional growth opportunities
• Strategic east coast location
• Ease of access and logistics / operational connectivity to and from Port Kembla
• Housing affordability and livability
• Access to highly skilled workforce and spousal employment opportunities
• Access to world-class tertiary education facilities and R&D capabilities

RDA Illawarra, Illawarra Business Chamber and Wollongong City Council collaborated on the regional response to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiry. The response identifies a range of key issues facing Wollongong as the regional capital and key economic centre for the broader Illawarra region.

The submission also aims to highlight some of the opportunities that the Senate inquiry provides to facilitate the development of a consistent definition around ‘regional capitals/centres’.

RDA Illawarra made a submission in response to The 'Our Cities' Discussion Paper. RDA Illawarra's vision in the submission was for a sustainable region with cities and regional centres that offer higher quality of life, socially, economically, and environmentally, through high levels of employment with a highly skilled, adaptable, productive and inclusive community operating in a diverse, vibrant and growing economy.

The submission highlights a range of challenges and opportunities in the region.