Gympie council report lays bare shortfalls in industrial development

A new report has revealed a significant amount of Gympie’s future industrial land is unsuitable, while highlighting exactly where a new 300ha park could be opened up.

A new report into the council’ss industrial development has revealed a significant chunk is unsuitable for “cost-effective” projects, while highlighting exactly where a new 300ha park could be opened up.

The $1bn bypass is expected to transform the centre of Gympie, and now it is shaping up as the future of the region’s industry too amid concerns much of the available zoned land is unfit fir for purpose.

A new report released by Gympie Regional Council as part of its work towards creating a new town plan in 2024 has revealed major changes are in store for industrial development across the region.

Chief among these was the expected establishment of a new industrial park at the northern tip of the bypass in Curra.

The location of this park, originally proposed at Kybong and the entrance to the Mary Valley, was the centre of heated debate during the 2020 elections.

The report says the 1700ha area under investigation at Kybong suffered from several problems.

A 500ha area at Curra is under investigation to potentially become the future home of industry in Gympie.

The biggest was the Old Bruce Hwy access road to the area, which was at risk of being cut off during floods and “a constraint that could not feasibly be overcome”.

Curra, at the other hand, “has the potential to be the long term industrial land supply at Gympie”.

About 500ha of land was being investigated, of which up to 300ha could be opened up.

It was helped by direct access to the Bruce Hwy, being flood-free, and the potential for rail access.

A closer look at other existing, and potential, industrial areas were also revealed in the report.

One was that of the 1003.6ha of land zoned for industry across the region (not including places under investigation), only 16.7ha (slightly more than 1 per cent) was unconstrained and another 188.7ha (18 per cent) was “constrained to some extent”.

Existing industrial areas in the centre of Gympie near the Rattler may eventually be shifted elsewhere, with the land offering an opportunity for more housing development.

A further review revealed less than two thirds of this land (128ha) “was considered likely be developed in the short or medium term”.

“A large proportion of the land currently zoned for industrial purposes is not physically suitable (reasonably level, flood free, and well drained) for cost-effective development or is located in areas that cannot be readily serviced with water and sewer,” the report says.

The report further cautions about allowing developments like housing to encroach on industrial land, saying this makes the latter development harder due to the costs incurred trying to overcome problems like noise and odour.

The report says the industrial development at East Deep Creek, where Nolan Meats is based, was one such area where a clear divide was needed.

Expansion of industry was also possible at Monkland and Glanmire, while industries around Chapple St and Bent St in Gympie, near the Rattler, may eventually be moved to make way for future residential development.

There was little appetite for expanding any industrial land at Rainbow Beach, where 4ha was still undeveloped, owing to the amount available at Cooloola Cove and Tin Can Bay.

There were no concerns about the amount of industrial land available in smaller townships like Goomeri, Imbil and Kilkivan with each having a solid long term supply.