Plans for a Macarthur Business Park, which could deliver up to 20,000 new jobs at Menangle, are a step closer.
Wollondilly Shire Council has now given the Moreton Park Road proposal conditional support.
Council says it wants to ensure that critical infrastructure is provided to enable the massive project to go ahead.
It also wants conservation of environmentally sensitive land including koala habitat around the site.
“Local jobs are a priority for this Council, and the proposed Macarthur Business Park would provide thousands of additional jobs close to home for our community as it grows,’’ the council said in a media statement yesterday.
“Added to the Southern Gateway and Wilton Industrial proposals, this now means proposals for more than 20,000 local jobs are progressing.’’
The Macarthur Business Park plan is led by Walker Corporation.
It proposes the development of land for employment purposes, including business industry, commercial office, large format retail and other commercial uses
Getting the green light would also help deliver critical infrastructure for the Macarthur region.
This would include including a new full interchange to the Hume Highway, an east-west road linking the Hume Highway to Appin Road, conservation of environmentally sensitive land and protection of a significant portion of koala habitat.
Council will now submit the draft Planning Proposal to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure with a request for a Gateway determination which specifies the necessary additional work and steps required and will include additional community consultation.
“This proposal could deliver thousands of jobs across multiple sectors close to our growth areas, as well as provide critical regional infrastructure, protection of koala habitat and the delivery of social infrastructure and public open space,’’ said Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould.
“Through the preliminary community consultation, the community raised legitimate concerns around insufficient infrastructure, environmental impacts, and the impacts on surrounding villages. There was also general support for new employment opportunities and improvements to infrastructure.
“Council’s conditional support of the proposal is based on a number of amendments to the proposal and dependent on several outstanding issues being addressed through the Gateway process.’’
