Land swap deal will save local jobs in Murwillumbah
26 February 2018
NSW Government provides $3 million for flood-free industrial land
A number of South Murwillumbah businesses devastated by the 2017 flood have put their hand up to move their operations to flood-free land, thanks to a ground-breaking $3 million land swap arrangement funded by the NSW Government.
Member for Lismore, Thomas George MP, made the announcement on site this morning in Murwillumbah’s Industry Central Estate, on behalf of the Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Minister for Small Business, John Barilaro MP.
Thomas George praised Tweed Shire Council for its initiative, saying the proposal was on the government’s desk just 10 days after the flood.
Under the deal, Council will now prepare the 16.11 hectare plot for development and apply for further State government grants to for the cost of infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer.
Businesses would have up to 10 years to relocate. Their former flood-prone land would be back zoned, most likely for community or agricultural uses in order to remove impediments from the flood plain.
Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Katie Milne, welcomed the funding and the land swap arrangement.
“I’d like to thank the NSW Government for this funding to assist our local businesses and protect local jobs,” Cr Milne said.
“We all remember how devastating last year’s flood was for businesses in South Murwillumbah, so we want to remove those building entitlements and ensure that the next generation will not ever have to sustain what was lost in 2017.
“We want to keep businesses within the shire, employing people and manufacturing. This has allowed those businesses to have the confidence to reinvest, to grow and to employ more people.
“Removing these buildings as obstacles in this vital flood flow path will also assist the free flow of flood waters which will help alleviate future flood impacts for the town.
“Council has worked very hard to bring this important initiative to fruition and this is a significant win for our whole community,” Cr Milne said.
Priority was given to businesses in high velocity flood areas or of high value (more than 50 employees who lost more than $1 million in the March 2018 flood).
The seven businesses interested in relocating employ around 300 people and include Shoobridge Transport, Williams Timber & Trusses, Hayes Steel and O’Connors Carrying Service.
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Caption: At this morning’s announcement of $3 million in funding for a land swap to remove high-value businesses from the floodplain in Murwillumbah were (from left): Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Katie Milne; Paul O’Connor, O’Connor’s Carrying Service; Tweed Shire Council General Manager, Troy Green; Member for Lismore, Thomas George MP; Jenny Hayes, Hayes Steel, Peter Shoobridge, Shoobridge Transport and Tweed Shire Councillor, Pryce Allsop, who is also a flood-affected business owner.