The Mersey Leven Strategic Alliance, consisting of the Central Coast, City of Devonport, Kentish and Latrobe Councils, is seeking feedback on a joint industrial land study.
Prepared by nationally acclaimed planning and economics firm, Colliers Ethos Urban, the study is the first initiative of the Alliance, which was established in September 2024 to progress projects of mutual interest.
Alliance Chair, Central Coast Mayor, Cr Cheryl Fuller, said that working together to shore up industrial land supply was an obvious first priority.
“The issues that investors care about most – things such as access to land, workers and supply chains – transcend municipal boundaries. Similarly, when one municipality attracts a major employer, neighbouring councils share the benefits. By working together, we can ensure that our part of Tasmania is able to retain the amazing businesses that are already located here and continue to attract new ones.” said Mayor Fuller.
The study identifies areas suitable for meeting future industrial land needs and provides the strategic basis that councils and private landowners require to justify a rezoning application before the Tasmanian Planning Commission. It should also inform the review of the Cradle Coast Regional Land Use Strategy.
The study proposes that the four member councils work together to progress the concept of a Mersey Leven Major Enterprise Precinct, which would involve developing a cohesive masterplan that brings together a number of separate industrial areas located near the Devonport Airport.
The Mersey Leven Industrial Land Study is open for public comment from 6 to 19 October and can be viewed at https://my.centralcoast.tas.gov.au/industrial-land-study
The Alliance will review all submissions prior to each of the four councils formally considering the study for endorsement at their November Council Meetings.