The Victorian Government wants to attract investment by unlocking industrial land. Photo: Victorian Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.
The Victorian Government is moving to unlock more industrial land across the state in an effort to attract investment, create jobs and provide greater certainty to business.
Labor’s Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny released the government’s 10-Year Plan for Industrial Land, which will help unlock more than 5800 hectares to kickstart investment.
The plan indicates when and where land will be released and rezoned, a process backed by a faster planning approval system, streamlined procedures and a coordinated delivery of infrastructure.
“We’re unlocking the land we need for the industries that power our economy – from freight and logistics to advanced manufacturing,” Ms Kilkenny said.
“This 10-year plan is about backing industry, backing jobs, and backing Victoria’s economy for the long haul.”
Regions earmarked for more intense industrial activity include the northern and western corridors of Melbourne and regional Victoria. The plan will protect the most valuable sections of industrial land through zoning controls.
Industries such as freight, logistics and manufacturing are ideal for the zones identified by the government.
It said the plan would create a pipeline of employment precincts across Melbourne’s greenfields, opening up square footage for industry to create capacity for 100,000 jobs.
Regional areas such as Avalon, Bendigo, Ballarat and Parwan will be opened up, as will urban areas in Merrifield North, Derrimut Fields, Altona North and Hastings.
Minister for Economic Growth Danny Pearson said: “This plan gives business confidence, cuts delays, and backs the people who build things, make things and move things — creating jobs and keeping Victoria’s economy strong.”
The government expects that $9.5 billion in new investment will be unlocked once land is fully developed. Rezoning is set to be streamlined with the Industrial Land Gateway Service, which allows sections of unzoned precincts to be brought forward when planning and infrastructure standards can be met.
These measures are designed to reduce red tape.
An additional $10 million Trunk Infrastructure Fund has also been created to connect land to power, water and road networks so businesses can be up and running sooner.
More details can be found on the Victorian Government’s website.
