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Bushland makes way for industrial park expansion

Bushland will be cleared as the State Government expands a Coast industrial estate that in its early stages showed signs of becoming a white elephant.

An aerial photo shows a section of State Government land at Bells Creek that will be cleared to make way for the next stage of the Sunshine Coast Industrial Park. Photo: Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.
An aerial photo shows a section of State Government land at Bells Creek that will be cleared to make way for the next stage of the Sunshine Coast Industrial Park. Photo: Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

Bushland will be cleared as the State Government expands a Coast industrial estate that in its early stages showed signs of becoming a white elephant.

However a lot has changed since the Daily reported in 2009 that no lots had been sold in the first 12 months of the $60 million Sunshine Coast Industrial Park’s existence.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick in March last year praised the success of the park, saying it had accounted for almost a third of the $31.3 million in sales of Economic Development Queensland estates in 2018.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones on Monday said the first stage of the Sunshine Coast project had been very successful, with 59 of the 73 lots created sold.

Ms Jones said private sector investment in the first stage had totalled $66.4 million since 2008.

She said another lot was under contract and due to settle later this year and three additional lots were under negotiation with prospective buyers.

The State Government has now called for tenders from contractors to clear 10.4ha of land on its Racecouse Rd site, opposite the intersection of Fred Chaplin Circuit.

The area marked with yellow lines indicates land to be cleared on behalf of the State Government to make way for the next stage of the Sunshine Coast Industrial Park.
The area marked with yellow lines indicates land to be cleared on behalf of the State Government to make way for the next stage of the Sunshine Coast Industrial Park.

It expects the clearing work will begin late next month or in early September.

The expansion will result in extra lots being created at the southeastern end of the current Sunshine Coast Industrial Park.

Ms Jones said the expansion was in the detailed planning phase and would require planning and engineering approvals from Sunshine Coast Council.

An aerial photo shows a section of State Government land at Bells Creek that will be cleared to make way for the next stage of the Sunshine Coast Industrial Park. Photo: Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.
An aerial photo shows a section of State Government land at Bells Creek that will be cleared to make way for the next stage of the Sunshine Coast Industrial Park. Photo: Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

“As such, the number of lots is not yet confirmed and no land is being marketed for sale,” Ms Jones said.

“Following approvals, a development program for stage two will be determined.”

Originally published as

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/property/bushland-makes-way-for-industrial-park-expansion/news-story/302d76b23804b446ccf8dcf0cdc7ab1f