COUNCIL PROJECT MOVES UP A GEAR
The proposed rezoning of the 1800ha plot of council-owned land at Bidwilli Rd, Calcium, into Townsville’s newest high-impact industrial precinct is now in the hands of State Government after the council voted through its plan, though it does contain a number of changes to appease community concerns.
Townsville City Council argues the Lansdown Industrial Precinct is needed to attract new job-creating industries to Townsville to strengthen the economy and spur population growth.
Imperium3’s battery plant, motorsport facility Driveit NQ, Pure Minerals’ Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub and a solar farm by
Edify Energy have been flagged. Woodstock resident Elisabeth Poole, who presented her case yesterday, said she had requested an urgent meeting with State Development Minister Cameron Dick to outline concerns, which include feared contamination of water and the proximity of the land to the local school.
The community hopes it will not have to take on an expensive legal battle, but Ms Poole said she personally would stop at nothing to ensure her children’s drinking water was safe.
Residents also queried why the State Government’s Townsville State Development Area at Stuart wasn’t being used for high-impact industries.
Mayor Jenny Hill and the council had unanimously stood firm despite 265 submissions of 269 against the Lansdown Industrial Precinct plan, instead making a “raft of changes” designed to further protect the environment, water and amenity.
Changes include removing part of the land that overlays the Ross River Dam catchment from the proposal altogether and new rules in the sport and recreation zone, which will house motorsport precinct Driveit NQ, to minimise noise pollution.
The council has also commissioned testing of the groundwater in and around the Lansdown Industrial Precinct, which will include bores on willing residents’ properties, to establish a baseline of quality.
Mayor Jenny Hill said parts of the TSDA, located 6km from the CBD, would not be ready for years as it was flood prone, and the Lansdown Industrial Precinct was needed so new job-creating industries could be attracted to Townsville.
But the Department of State Development in December last year told the Townsville Bulletin 810ha of extra land had been acquired to “accelerate development” and land at the TSDA was “available immediately” without filling.
Townsville City Council planning director Eber Butron during the meeting highlighted that any future industries that choose to build at Lansdown would have to undergo a “plethora” of in-depth environmental studies and a strict approvals process before any construction could take place.