General News
1 March, 2024
New masterplan to promote innovation
A NEW masterplan has been adopted by Corangamite Shire Council at its recent meeting to develop Camperdown’s Production Precinct.
The Camperdown Production Precinct Masterplan was adopted at the February Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, following four weeks of public consultation that began in December 2023.
The plan features actions to be taken to develop the precinct, categorized under five themes:
● Servicing and infastructure;
● Environment;
● Cultural heritage;
● Movement and access, and;
● Environmentally sustainable design and net zero.
Councillor Laurie Hickey said the plan was developed through collaboration with council’s planning officers, the Victorian Planning Authority, and a committee which he and planning and building services manager Aaron Moyne had chaired.
“The main intent of the masterplan is to provide a framework for developing industry within Corangamite, and essentially within Camperdown,” he said.
“This is because Camperdown sits strategically on a freight network, with road and rail between Melbourne and Geelong and between Warrnambool and Portland.
“Camperdown also has a role in providing agricultural and manufacturing functions that are very close to our primary industries.
“It’s an ideal opportunity for the town to foster initial growth, industry growth and employment as well.”
Cr Hickey said there was land available for development within the precinct to meet future expansion recommendations 20 to 30 years forward.
“The shire’s commitment is reflected in road upgrades, including turning lanes and the immediate locality, and it sought solutions for the immediate trade waste limitations with drinking water, storm water and domestic sewerage priorities all for future developments,” he said.
“There’s a number of opportunities within this project for renewable energies to be developed within the precinct, and all sort of formulations of generation that are under scrutiny.
“Essentially, we need to move towards net zero, and everything is on the table.”
All future works within the precinct will work towards the vision of “a precinct promoting innovative business opportunities that value add to the food and fibre industries, underpinned by sustainable value creation”.
Councillor Geraldine Conheady said the plan was developed around ideas from the Corangamite Shire Industry Strategy of 2012.
“It’s been a long time coming, and it’s great to see the Camperdown Production Precinct Masterplan come forward,” she said.
“It’s a really great document that’s designed to support enablement in that precinct, which is sorely needed in Camperdown, and also designed to capture opportunity for Camperdown and the wider shire.
“That’s something that we’ve talked about since the beginning of our term here in council is creating opportunity and investment in the Corangamite Shire.
“This has developed a planned approach to the creation of a quality business park, which we’ve been receiving substantial support to get that type of a business park created in the Camperdown area.”
Cr Conheady said the plan aims to attract future business and industry, as well as funding and investment, while supporting existing industry.
“It’s all to the benefit of the Corangamite Shire via job creation and value-add for local products and support for our important food and fibre sector, specifically the trade waste requirement,” she said.
“That’s something we’ve seen to be a particular need in the Camperdown Production Precinct.
“Not a lot can happen until we get that attended to, but we have been working hard with Wannon Water and advocating for funding for that major project to come through.”