Townsville City Council has today formally adopted an amendment to its planning scheme to create a new, jobs-generating industrial precinct on the former Lansdown Station site at Calcium near Woodstock.
Mayor Jenny Hill said Council recently received notice that it could adopt the amendment to its scheme, with conditions, from the State Government.
"Council is committed to establishing an environmentally sustainable, advanced manufacturing, processing and technology estate on the site that will drive economic growth and job creation for North Queensland," Cr Hill said.
"This growth and job creation are important for our economic recovery from the COVID-19 global pandemic as well as our long-term future.
"Council welcomes the State Government's approval of our proposed amendment and will continue to engage with project partners to progress potential projects for the Lansdown industrial precinct."
Cr Hill said council acknowledged that some residents still had concerns about future development in the precinct negatively impacting on the health and amenity of the area.
"Council has taken these concerns very seriously," she said.
"That's why we imposed a raft of additional requirements, including those conditioned by the state government, that any future development on the site will have to meet, on top of the rigorous standards already in-place."
These additional rules include:
- retaining part of the site in the rural zone to protect water quality;
- increased scrutiny and level of assessment of applications to use the land for industrial purposes to ensure they do not impact the environment;
- new rules in the sport and recreation zone to minimise noise pollution;
- additional rules and provisions in the industry zone relating to landscaping, noise amenity, vibration and groundwater to ensure that development creates minimal impact on surrounding uses; and
- additional provisions for the protection of water quality and groundwater resources.
Planning and Development Committee chair and local councillor Les Walker said Council had commissioned a groundwater study in the area, work on which is currently underway.
"This study will provide base line information on groundwater resources and inform future master planning and development proposals in the Lansdown area," Cr Walker said.
"Council is undertaking this study to address issues raised by the community during the planning scheme amendment public consultation process regarding groundwater and potential future development impacts on it.
"Council has also committed to implementing an ongoing groundwater monitoring program, once the Lansdown Groundwater Study has been completed."
Council is also progressing the design and construction of critical trunk infrastructure to service the site in the future.
