Cundletown: Transport hub to create ‘significant employment’ with rezoning of 67ha
A major rezoning proposal on the edge of the Pacific Highway at Cundletown could transform the area into a booming transport employment hub. The 67ha Sage 2 of the Northern Gateway Transport Hub will be decided on by Mid-Coast Councillors.
Mid-North Coast
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A large section of unused land smack-bang in the middle of one of the Mid-North Coast’s busiest transport routes is set to be rezoned and transformed into a thriving employment metropolis.
About 67ha of land at Cundletown will be rezoned by MidCoast Council, making it DA-ready for a willing developer with an interest in transforming the site into a major business hub for transport-related activities.
MidCoast councillors are set to approve the stage two rezoning for the Pacific Highway project on Wednesday, three years after it approved rezoning for the $15 million stage one of the Northern Gateway Transport Hub right next door.
It is understood that this 7ha parcel of land has been acquired by the Jim Pearsons Transport Group who plan to build a new truck depot on site.
The trucking company cited the location as a ‘becoming an integral changeover point in the JPT system’, as its location will improve drive times and reduce noise and congestion in and out of the Taree township.
The Northern Gateway Transport Hub is located near the Cundletown Pacific Highway interchange and has been designed to support transport related activities and industries.
Paul De Szell, MidCoast Council’s Director of Liveable Communities, said: “Given the proximity to the Pacific Highway, this is the perfect place to transport goods to both Sydney and Brisbane.”
“This important project has been a long time coming and is a development that has the potential to create jobs and help stimulate the local economy.”
It has been identified as a high priority project in both the Hunter Regional Plan 2036 and the MidCoast Regional Economic Development Strategy.
The second stage of the project seeks to rezone the 67ha of land to General Industrial to enable development of the transport hub, while a new development control plan provision will address visual amenity, traffic, flooding and ecological issues.
“This development is part of Council’s vision for the future of the area, which is supported by the local business community,” Mr De Szell said.
Business Taree and Mid Coast Business Chamber President John Stevens said the local business community is on board.
“This development has been a point of focus for both Business Taree and the Mid Coast Business Chamber because it has the potential to unlock a number of different opportunities for business and the community by supporting a strong logistics industry,” he said.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to reshape the northern entrance and really revitalise that area, and it will instil confidence in all business across the region if it goes ahead.”
Given Council is one of four landowners in the 67ha site, final approved for the rezoning project will need to be given by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
Provided the rezoning is adopted by Council tomorrow, a formal request will be made to the Department for Gateway determination to occur.
A Gateway determination usually takes about 12 months, so it is expected the project will be DA ready by the end of 2021.