Tweed Shire Council reveals latest on unique $11.3m Industry Central Land Swap project at South Murwillumbah
Tweed council has revealed the latest major milestone on an innovative land swap project, which at least one business owner admits sounded like “a bit of a weird idea” at first. Read the latest.
Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A selection of Tweed businesses are taking part in a unique land swap project in the shire, which will see them take up new flood-free premises in South Murwillumbah.
Preliminary works have begun to see six successful applicants relocated after an expression of interest process – includes Tweed Shire Council’s works depot.
The businesses and the depot will be shifted from a high risk South Murwillumbah flood zone to Lundberg Drive (Industry Central).
The council has pitched the land swap as a first of its kind and a boost to the business sector after the record 2022 floods.
While the move will be a boon for those involved, it comes as many flood-impacted residents across northern NSW await state government help for buybacks, retrofits and house raisings under the Resilient Homes Program.
The government has forked out $11.3 million for the Industry Central Land Swap project to allow the council to acquire the 14 hectares of suitable and appropriately zoned land.
Businesses participating include JH Williams Pty Ltd, 30 Marine Parade Pty Ltd, North Commercial Pty Ltd (Hayes Steel), Murwillumbah Hire and Landscape Supplies and Mick Bourke Transport.
Two lots are up for grabs for interested businesses, with a new EOI process expected.
Jim Dickinson represented successful business applicant 30 Marine Parade and said he was relieved his company would dodge future flooding.
“When we were first approached I thought the project was a bit of a weird idea actually, but they’ve made it happen and they’ve made a lot of people happy,” he said.
Ken Sanderson represented the successful business applicant Murwillumbah Hire and Landscape Supplies.
He and said the company applied after it was badly impacted by flooding on multiple occasions, including in 2022 and 2017.
“During the 2017 floods we didn’t apply (for help). We thought it was a one-off, but when the second one came through we had to do something,” he said.
“We own four businesses so it was a relief to be accepted.
“In the first flood we lost more than $1 million and in the second one we lost about $500,000 across all our businesses.”
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, who has been appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, said the project was a practical and creative form of flood recovery.
“The climate is changing and improving our flood preparedness by moving businesses and homes off flood plains is now of paramount importance – we know from lessons hard learned that ‘better prepared brings better recovery,’ she said.
“I want to pay tribute to Tweed Shire Council for putting this project forward.
“To be able to take a business out of flood land onto land that doesn’t flood is wonderful.
“If we don’t have business, we don’t have recovery.”
Alder Constructions will construct and design the public infrastructure at the site.
Tweed Shire Council General Manager Troy Green said the floods of 2017 and 2022 had a devastating impact on the community and businesses.
“If we didn’t do something we would lose businesses, people would lose their jobs and it’s a bit of a snowball effect that would impact other businesses that weren’t actually impacted by the flooding,” he said.
“This project will provide evidence that businesses can invest with confidence in the Tweed and is a strong sign Council is looking at ways to adapt to the impact of climate change by providing flood-risk-free, employment-generating land.
“To our knowledge, an industrial land swap such as this has never been undertaken in Australia and it has proved to be an extremely complex legal and planning process – but we are excited to finally be on site today with the first earthworks underway,” Mr Green said.
The project began in May 2017 but faced significant delays due to Covid, the 2022 flood and some geotechnical issues.
The project is expected to be completed by December 2024.
Share tips: experts’ buy, hold and sell recommendations
A mixed bag of share tips this week has something for everyone, just like global financial markets last week. See their suggestions.
How ‘dumb luck’ launched a $1 trillion opportunity
Stonepeak founder Mike Dorrell was in the right place at the right time. But the highly sought after fund manager is rewriting the rules on infrastructure.