Huge Richmond Valley Regional Job Precinct plans set to overhaul industry in northern NSW LGA, create 1900 jobs
The NSW government and a northern NSW council are firming up plans to create almost 2000 new jobs while bolstering local manufacturing, food processing and agribusiness. Here’s the latest on the project.
Regional News
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The NSW government and Richmond Valley Council in northern NSW are firming up plans to create almost 2000 new jobs while bolstering manufacturing, food processing and agribusiness.
The Regional Job Precinct plans first announced in 2021 by the state government is looking at alternatives for industrial growth and waste control in and around Casino and other parts of the local government area.
A draft master plan has been released for public comment and aims to provide a framework for businesses hoping to establish or expand in the region.
The precinct includes industrial land at Nammoona, the existing Casino Food Co-op (formerly Northern Co-op Meat Company) area and around the Casino Dr/Johnston St industrial estate.
Developed by the NSW government in consultation with the council, plans include examining the provision of land for industrial use, supporting niche agribusiness, creating a circular economy and renewable energy.
Regional NSW Minister Tara Moriarty said the precinct has the “potential” to generate up to 1900 new jobs.
“We want to make Casino and the broader Richmond Valley region a great place to live, work, play and invest – where long-term growth, investment and development opportunities are available,” she said.
Development consent has been granted for a Casino Rail Freight terminal in the north of Nammoona area precinct to suit large and super containers.
They would be transported to ports such as Melbourne, Sydney, and Newcastle.
The development could include a bulk handling facility for grain, woodchips and forestry products, as well as about 18 hectares of land for industrial development opportunities, the council/NSW government plans state.
An expansion of the Nammoona area to include a new landfill cell is expected to expand local capacity to 2037.
Other ideas being floated include tertiary education on land owned by Schools Infrastructure, as well as large-scale greenhouses.
Dr Ros Irwin, former Lismore mayor and Residents Against the Richmond Valley Incinerator spokeswoman, said she was concerned construction of a large incinerator was a future possibility as part of the precinct.
“Once this masterplan is approved (the incinerator) will be a permissible use in the project,” she said.
Dr Irwin claimed she has not been able to get anyone to listen to community concerns.
“It’s not good for us,” she said.
“ … the state government will simply say it’s permissible and it has a public benefit.”
Dr Irwin said she felt as if bureaucrats were avoiding the precinct plans being “dirtied” by community incinerator worries.
Late last year, the council’s general manager Vaughan MacDonald said there was no waste incinerator proposal before the council.
“Energy-from-waste facilities are too hi-tech and expensive for council to contemplate building, so any future proposal would need to come from private enterprise,” he said.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully encouraged the community to weigh in on the precinct.
“The draft master plan sets out ways the government and Richmond Valley Council want to make it easier to attract and secure regional investment, create new jobs and set up communities like the Richmond Valley for success,” he said.
A draft master plan is on public exhibition and is open for comment until Sunday, March 24.
Public information sessions will be held at Casino Community Centre from 4pm-6pm on February 22 and at Evans Head Library from 10.30am-12.30pm on February 23.
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