Why Tweed Shire Council’s industrial land swap has taken five years

After major floods in 2017, Tweed businesses had a chance to move to a flood free space. But five years later those businesses were once again hit by floods. Now there’s a push for a $500m lifeline.

When floods ravished the Tweed Shire in 2017 an offer was made for businesses in Murwillumbah’s industrial estate to be moved but five years later those businesses were once again hit by severe flooding.

Only now is construction set to begin in the council’s flood-free industrial land swap, with plans it will be ready for business early 2023.

Tweed Shire Council General Manager Troy Green said all though the concept sounds simple, it has been a complex processes.

“Complexities include finding a greenfield site that is above the 1 in 100 year flood level, and which fits within appropriate planning and environmental zones,” Mr Green said.

He said this was followed with expressions of interest, assessments, reports to council, development applications, construction certificates, tender process and land titles for each lot before contracts with successful parties could be exchanged.

Williams Group Australia GM Lyndon Poirrier, Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry and Alder Constructions GM Dean Cheffers turning the first sod at the new flood-free industrial land swap area in South Murwillumbah.

“Coupled with this, at the successful applicants’ request, the project was paused for 12 months during Covid due to uncertainty around the world economic climate,” Mr Greens aid.

As of last week contracts were exchanged and construction was able to begin on the new sites thanks to $6.6 million in funding from the state government.

Alongside the industrial land swap the council has extended the offer to houses in Murwillumbah’s flood plains.

Residents have the option to opt for a house raise or a house purchase – but funding has been an issue.

A shot from above of the new industrial land swap area at South Murwillumbah.

“To date, funding for the schemes from the NSW Government has been very limited with just seven properties acquired under the State-supported Voluntary House Purchase scheme since 2017 and a further seven homes acquired by Council without State support,” Mr Green said.

“Council is calling on the NSW Government to urgently review these schemes and significantly lift its funding to $300 million in the first year and $200 million in the second year to make a meaningful difference to the effectiveness of these programs within the Northern Rivers.

“Council has been lobbying hard since March 2022 for the State to immediately offer VHP to the existing approximately 140 homes identified under Stage 1 and Stage 2 of Tweed Shire Council’s Voluntary House Purchasing priority list.”

Residents are still express interest in either scheme through the council website.