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Approval has been granted to proceed with building a new Council Works Depot on land off the floodplain at the new industrial estate at South Murwillumbah.
The project has been made possible thanks to $10 million from the jointly funded Australian and NSW governments Infrastructure Betterment Fund and will allow Council to relocate its Works Depot to higher ground. The project is set to increase Council’s capacity to serve the community efficiently while ensuring resilience against future flooding.
Relocation of the Works Depot will see Council shift from its current location in Buchanan Street in South Murwillumbah as part of Council’s innovative Land Swap Program, a visionary initiative aimed at fortifying the Tweed’s major employers and service providers, such as Council, against natural disasters and emergencies.
Director Engineering David Oxenham said a critical milestone was achieved in early October 2023 when the development application for the new Works Depot was approved. Approval to proceed with the project was provided by Council at the meeting on 15 February 2024.
“This is a notable achievement as the large scale and importance of this project meant the development application had to be reviewed and approved by the Northern Rivers Planning Panel,” Mr Oxenham said.
“The new Works Depot will allow Council to better service the community with state-of-the-art facilities. By moving the facility off the floodplain and out of harm’s way, it means we will be able to respond to any future natural disasters in a more timely manner.
“The site also provides laydown areas for other agencies, like the State Emergency Service (SES), to respond swiftly to emergency situations.”
Mr Oxenham said tenders for the detailed design and construction of the new facility would be called soon.
As part of the new Industry Central Land Swap Project at South Murwillumbah, Alder Constructions was awarded the contract to undertake the design and construction of all public infrastructure at the site, including roads, stormwater, reticulated sewer, water supply and telecommunications.
“The proposal has been designed to fit within the existing industrial precinct, providing high quality buildings without impacting on neighbours through noise, privacy or overshadowing,” Mr Oxenham said.
“The site's infrastructure has been thoughtfully planned to accommodate current and future needs, with sustainable design features such as electric vehicle charging, bicycle parking and solar power.
“We are grateful to the Australian and NSW Governments, through the Infrastructure Betterment Fund, to allow this significant project to proceed.”
The project is carefully designed to meet various rules and regulations, including the Tweed Local Environmental Plan. It aligns with the goals of the area and ensures it won’t harm the natural or built environment in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
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