Published Thursday, 24 July, 2008 at 09:30 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
PREMIER RULES OUT BRIDGES INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
The Queensland Government has resolved that the controversial proposed Bridges industrial estate near Yandina will not proceed.
Premier Anna Bligh today released the Sunshine Coast Enterprise Needs Investigation and Bridges Investigation Project report, which identifies numerous hurdles to the proposed estate.
The report identifies environmental impacts, danger of flooding and problems with the physical features of the site which made development undesirable.
Ms Bligh said, while the report concluded that Bridges is an area that could have helped to meet the long term need for industrial land on the Sunshine Coast, in the end the pros did not outweigh the cons.
“Since November 2006 we have carried out three rounds of community consultation and strong opposition to industrial development at Bridges was expressed at each turn,” she said.
“The main concerns raised by the community included loss of good farmland and impacts on the environment.
“The Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington has personally raised this with me a number of times and his advocacy informed this rigorous investigation,” said the Premier.
“The local community has clearly said they do not want the Bridges estate and I support their stance. The Bligh Government supports sustainable development and that clearly does not include Bridges estate.”
The report predicts almost 850 hectares of extra industrial land will be needed on the Sunshine Coast by 2031, beyond the vacant sites already zoned for this use by Council.
It identifies other potential sites within the existing Urban Footprint besides the Bridges estate, that can now be considered by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
“The proposed 215-hectare Sunshine Coast Industrial Park at Caloundra is expected to meet the future needs of the southern part of the coast,” said Ms Bligh.
“Both the State Government and the new Regional council want to see the Sunshine Coast flourish and are committed to creating a more progressive and productive local economy.
“The key to this is creating local jobs and more industrial land in appropriate areas will play a vital role.”
Media contacts: Premiers Office 07 32244500; Matthew Klar 0437435 223 and Robert Hoge 0419 757 868
Premier Anna Bligh today released the Sunshine Coast Enterprise Needs Investigation and Bridges Investigation Project report, which identifies numerous hurdles to the proposed estate.
The report identifies environmental impacts, danger of flooding and problems with the physical features of the site which made development undesirable.
Ms Bligh said, while the report concluded that Bridges is an area that could have helped to meet the long term need for industrial land on the Sunshine Coast, in the end the pros did not outweigh the cons.
“Since November 2006 we have carried out three rounds of community consultation and strong opposition to industrial development at Bridges was expressed at each turn,” she said.
“The main concerns raised by the community included loss of good farmland and impacts on the environment.
“The Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington has personally raised this with me a number of times and his advocacy informed this rigorous investigation,” said the Premier.
“The local community has clearly said they do not want the Bridges estate and I support their stance. The Bligh Government supports sustainable development and that clearly does not include Bridges estate.”
The report predicts almost 850 hectares of extra industrial land will be needed on the Sunshine Coast by 2031, beyond the vacant sites already zoned for this use by Council.
It identifies other potential sites within the existing Urban Footprint besides the Bridges estate, that can now be considered by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
“The proposed 215-hectare Sunshine Coast Industrial Park at Caloundra is expected to meet the future needs of the southern part of the coast,” said Ms Bligh.
“Both the State Government and the new Regional council want to see the Sunshine Coast flourish and are committed to creating a more progressive and productive local economy.
“The key to this is creating local jobs and more industrial land in appropriate areas will play a vital role.”
Media contacts: Premiers Office 07 32244500; Matthew Klar 0437435 223 and Robert Hoge 0419 757 868