Work begins on controversial Smithfield industrial complex
A highly contentious industrial estate development on the doorstep of Macalister Brewing is forging forward despite thousands of submissions made against the Mount Milman Dr project.
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First works have begun on a highly contentious light industrial estate planned for a former cane field off Mount Milman Dr in Smithfield in a development touted as major employment driver.
The development proposal dates back to 2017 when Eljasie Pty Ltd applied to Cairns Regional Council for a range of approvals to expand the Smithfield industrial precinct.
“(The) development proposed represents an appropriate use of the land that will in part act to consolidate the role of Smithfield as a major subregional employment and service node servicing the needs of the residents of Smithfield and neighbouring localities,” the application to council stated.
Following a request for development amendments by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, which were needed to make way for a modified alignment of the then proposed Smithfield Bypass, developer David Chapman said he was unwilling to make changes to an already submitted design just because TMR wanted to shift their proposed bypass
In June 2018 council, in part, approved the development by limiting stage one plans and refusing plans for stage two that was to occupy an area south of a the drain intersecting Mount Milman Dr.
Plans for the project were referred to the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government due positioning near to state-controlled roads and the land containing native vegetation.
The preliminary development application was supported, with conditions.
Stage two of the project remains the subject of a Planning and Environment Court appeal.
Now superseded stage one plans proposed a new cul-de-sac style road off Mount Milman Dr and land will be carved up into a total of 22 lots.
But following the compulsory acquisition of land the development was scaled back to four lots with no internal access. New lots currently under construction, two of which have been sold, will be assessed from Mount Milman Dr.
There were 2,103 properly made submissions, 161 not properly made submissions in relation to the Mount Milman Dr subdivision.
All submissions sighted by the Cairns Post oppose the development based on the impact on neighbouring business Macalister Brewing Company.
Brewery owner Rob Callin told the Cairns Post in 2018 the volume of objections was the biggest response council has ever had against a development.
Thousands signed their name to a letter of objection that stated “allowing the proposed development application will block views and breeze from the bar and impact negatively on Macalister Brewing Company, its customers and the local community.”
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Originally published as Work begins on controversial Smithfield industrial complex
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