High hopes for ambitious SDA

QUEENSLAND Government plans for a specific industrial development zone south of Cairns are full-speed ahead.

The State Development Area (SDA) will proceed despite the opposition of Cairns Regional Council and canegrowers.

There are fears that valuable sugar-growing land will be swallowed up by the SDA in the Wrights Creek area.

But Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt has given assurances that the loss of canegrowing land will be minimal, with suggestions any reduction will be replaced elsewhere.

The council says it has provided for more than adequate industrial land in the southern corridor for future needs, but the government claims council figures of 85ha are grossly underestimated when in reality up to 210ha will be required,

The government wants to create a “world-class” SDA to include a $150 million co-generation power plant next to the Mulgrave Mill at Gordonvale and a major shipping maintenance hub connected by rail to the Port of Cairns.

A new road behind the mill linking the highway would take trucks out of town and a bio-manufacturing plant would produce biodegradable plastics.

The whole idea is to provide a source of employment for people from the Edmonton and Gordonvale areas so they can live close to their workplace.

We look forward to the final plans. Nick Dalton Deputy editor