Hub jobs boost

By Alison Noonan
PLANS for a new industry hub in Lyndhurst could bring thousands of jobs for Casey residents.
Casey council last week welcomed a proposal by the City of Greater Dandenong to rezone land along Western Port Highway from rural to industrial in a bid to attract new manufacturing industry to the area.
The move follows a recent amendment by the State Government to include the land within the urban growth boundary to allow for major industrial expansion.
The change is expected to create 25,000 to 30,000 additional jobs and consolidate the Dandenong South industrial area as the industrial and manufacturing heart of Melbourne.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said the expansion would be a vital boost in the battle to reduce Casey’s current high unemployment rate.
“The benefits for Casey would be fantastic,” he said. “We have a major problem with residents leaving the city to go to work, so even though this new industry land is in Dandenong I would say almost half of workers will come from Casey.
“This move is long overdue.”
Mayfield Ward councillor Kevin Bradford said the new site would bring huge economic benefits to the entire region, particularly in Casey’s southern sector.
“This is good news for the whole region,” he said. “Council is constantly trying to improve employment prospects within the area and create more jobs.
“There is definitely not enough industry, especially in Cranbourne. Council’s major focus this year has been to make sure future methods are in place to increase light industrial land in the south.
“This is a huge step forward in creating employment in Casey.”
South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) spokesperson Paul Dowling said industrial land was critical to the south east region and described the proposed expansion as “imperative” to maintaining Dandenong as “manufacturing heartland”.
“The south east produces more than 40 per cent of Victoria’s manufacturing products,” he said.
“There needs to be increased provisions for employment because it is the fastest growing area.
“The growth in Dandenong South is huge and there is a fairly limited manufacturing industry in Casey so this new land is critical.”
Mr Dowling said the ability for both Casey Council and Greater Dandenong Council to work together was a principal strength of the region.
“This is a unique initiative that will enhance employment in two of Victoria’s fastest growing areas.
“We definitely welcome the move because if Dandenong runs out of land it has the propensity to stifle employment,” he said.
Greater Dandenong manager planning and design Jody Bosman said the new land was vital to Casey, which had long struggled to provide local industrial employment for residents.
“A very high percentage of our current manufacturing workers come from Casey so this will create further jobs for the region,” he said. “One of the problems historically has been the lack of industrial land in Casey. It is this shortfall of land that creates unemployment.”
Mr Bosman said the Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme amendment was part of council’s strategic vision to increase its industrial base and continue to provide employment and grow the economy in the area.
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