Central Coast Council will this month consider a recommendation to progress expansion of the East Ulverstone Industrial Precinct — a move aimed at unlocking new opportunities for local economic growth.
The recommendation aligns with the findings of the draft Central Coast Industrial Land Analysis, undertaken by Ethos Urban and Moore Consulting, which will also be recommended for endorsement at the June Council meeting.
With just 1.8 hectares of vacant industrial land currently available — less than two years’ supply — Central Coast falls well short of the 15 to 20 years’ supply considered appropriate to support economic growth.
A site at 21 Maskells Road in Ulverstone has been identified as the preferred option for increasing supply. The location was assessed as the most suitable of seven considered in the Industrial Land Analysis, due to a number of factors including its Council ownership, size, and proximity to the existing East Ulverstone Industrial Precinct and the Bass Highway.
Council’s Director Strategic Growth, Daryl Connelly, said there was a critical need to make more industrial land available.
“We can’t say we’re open for business if we don’t have room for new businesses to set up or for existing businesses to grow,” Mr Connelly said.
The report acknowledges the site’s prominent location at the entrance to Ulverstone, along with the presence of the Coastal Pathway, which transects the site, and says these must be carefully managed.
“Any future development at this site must be something that our community can be proud of. It must attract the right kind of businesses, be nicely landscaped, and could potentially even contain offerings that complement the Coastal Pathway, such as a microbrewery.” Mr Connelly said.
The report notes that further analysis, including stormwater, traffic and feasibility assessment is required before Council can commit to rezoning the land. If and when Council formally initiates rezoning of the site, a statutory public notification process will apply, with
the Tasmanian Planning Commission making the final determination.
Rezoning the site is not expected to have any significant impact on the North West Model Engineering Society’s current use of the north-eastern corner of the site, or on their plans to co-occupy a soon to be constructed new building there, with the Historical Machinery Club of Tasmania.
Central Coast Council will consider the draft Central Coast Industrial Land Analysis and its recommendations at its regular Council meeting on 23 June.