By Corey Everitt
The State Government has given the green light to 22,000 jobs in Officer South, but there is one crucial hurdle to overcome before the expansion of industry in the South East.
The Officer South Employment Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) lays out the town’s transformation from sprawling paddocks to one of the shire’s largest industrial centres.
The PSP was gazetted on 28 February, paving the way for an expected 22,000 local jobs.
However, as the major leaders in the South East have known for years, the full development is limited until Thompsons Road is extended from Clyde North through Officer South to Pakenham.
As the Federal Election is on the horizon, the project is one of the many core issues Cardinia Shire Mayor Jack Kowarzik will be raising with prospective or incumbent MPs.
Close to 70 per cent of Cardinia residents leave the shire for work, many of them have no choice but to join regular peak-hour congestion.
The council welcomes the PSP approval but is eager for the Thompson Road extension as it would be a significant one-two combo for “fostering high-skill local job opportunities and cutting congestion.”
“This means our residents won’t have to rely solely on the Monash Freeway to access well-paid, high-skilled jobs,” Mayor Kowarzik said.
The extension is laid out in the PSP to alleviate increasing bottlenecks through the freeway and Princes Highway. For industry, much of the heavy vehicles will have alternative routes to Dandenong, Port of Hastings and even a future South East Airport.
Officer South will be a central link between the industrial and commercial areas stretching from City of Casey through to Pakenham.
A 2022 report by planning consultants REMPLAN said that between Casey and Cardinia, more than 80,000 jobs would be unlocked by the extension. A further 60,000 would be created by increasing demand on supply chains and consumption to total an injection of $58 billion to the economy by 2060.
Greater South East Melbourne Councils (GSEM) has led the charge on Thompson’s Road for many years. Chair Simon McKeon AO welcomed the approval of the PSP. “However, for this precinct to realise its full potential, Thompsons Road needs to be extended and upgraded,” he said.
The South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) said the promise of Officer South is not just “jobs”, but “higher-skilled and high paid careers”.
“Industry 4.0 is here, and SEMMA members are embracing advanced technology including AI, robotics, 3D printing and building on the skills we have to ensure we have a Future Made in Australia,” SEMMA CEO Honi Walker said.
The precinct stretches south from the freeway to Patterson Road and the majority of land zoned for industry resides in the southern half of the precinct where a close arterial road is crucial for a sound investment.
“Thompsons Road extension is not just a road – it is the arterial that will give our regions’ industrial economy the lifeblood to attract new business, innovation and most importantly – people,” Walker said.
“It needs to be poured, paved and painted pronto so we can prosper.”
Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the Federal Government has been investing in Pakenham roads through the many current or recently finished projects – when it came to Thompsons Road through Officer South, King left the matter in the hands of the State Government.
“We work in partnership with State Governments and should the Victorian Government identify the extension of Thompsons Road to Kooweerup Road in Pakenham as a priority for future investment, we would consider funding through the usual Budget processes,“ Minister King said.
Recently, the State Government announced they will upgrade the roundabout of Thompsons Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road into a signalised intersection in collaboration with the Federal Government.
On 25 February, the Gazette asked Premier Jacinta Allan if this could pave the way for the extension.
“We always have discussions with the Federal Government about how we can secure support for really important road projects,“ Premier Allan said.
“Of course doing this work provides for further opportunities to look at what more we could do into the future.“
The 2022 REMPLAN report estimated the budget at $785 million while stating that there is “$4.40 in benefit for every $1.00 of cost“ for the extension.
Today, Cardinia Shire Council is asking for Governments to dedicate $900 million to the project.
“This initiative is about creating a more vibrant and diverse local economy. By facilitating job creation closer to home and reducing commute times, we are directly benefiting our residents and businesses within Cardinia Shire,” Mayor Kowarzik said.
