Menangle: Mirvac’s $956m Southern Gateway Business Park set for 4700 jobs

A booming business park proposal could deliver thousands of jobs to Sydney’s growing suburbs but it hinges on the delivery of critical infrastructure and koala habitat protection, leaders say. Read the latest.

How the Southern Gateway Business Park could look.

A booming business park proposal delivering thousands of jobs to growing suburbs on the outskirts of Sydney requires critical infrastructure including a Hume Motorway interchange, and koala habitat protection.

Mirvac’s bold $956m Southern Gateway Business Park vision for Moreton Park Rd, Menangle promises to deliver 4700 jobs and generate a huge economic output of $669m during construction and more than $800m annually once operational.

Wollondilly Shire Council conditionally approved the planning proposal at last week’s meeting, following 57 submissions from the community and government agencies that raised concerns over infrastructure and environmental impacts.

Deputy Mayor Matthew Deeth said following advice from Wollondilly’s planning panel, the council recommended several amendments before plans progressed to the next stage.

Ultimately, the state government will determine the project.

Wollondilly Shire Council Deputy Mayor Matthew Deeth.

“We are looking for jobs in the shire, and we really need to get this balance right to ensure infrastructure is in place and our environment is protected,” Mr Deeth said.

Key requirements include upfront delivery and funding of essential infrastructure for the future business park, which lacks access to drinking water, wastewater and electricity services.

“We want to see a commitment to the funding of the associated infrastructure for the proposal including the proposed Hume Highway interchange,” Mr Deeth said.

“Council is also seeking confirmation of funding, delivery time frame and scope of works for water and wastewater infrastructure works required to connect the land to the Sydney Water network.”

Councillors also voted for a reduction in the park’s size to 113 hectares, by removing conservation-zoned land in Menangle, as well as introducing environmental and fencing buffers to protect koala corridors.

Industrial buildings could be sprouting up to form the Southern Gateway Business Park.

“We need to have protection in place for heritage items such as the Gilbulla Estate, and we have recommended the implementation of a minimum buffer of 390m between the eastern rezoning boundary and the Nepean River to protect the koala corridor,” Mr Deeth said.

Other measures were also put forth by the council to restrict heavy vehicle access to local roads, to minimise disruptions for nearby residents at Mirvac’s Menangle Village and commuters accessing Menangle Park station.