Wingecarribee Shire Council moves Southern Highlands Innovation Park forward

A report by council's strategy and place coordinator was put to the Wednesday, July 19 meeting. It says council received eight tenders ranging from $185, 900 to $966,517, including Sydney based Architectus Australia's tender at a "lump sum price" of $236,819.

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The report described the SHIP as a regionally significant employment precinct between Moss Vale and New Berrima.

"The precinct is strategically located in close proximity to Sydney, Canberra, Wollongong and the new Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis," the report states.

"This Precinct provides a unique opportunity to attract sustainable and innovative industries and become a major employer and economic driver for the shire and the broader region."

Phase one of the master plan is complete and included "contextual and constraints analysis, a high-level land use and competitor analysis and feasibility model, an emerging vision and high-level structure plan".

Council recently secured grant funding [$274,000 including GST] from the Department of Regional NSW to complete phase two of the master planning process.

"Council is now seeking to prepare the detailed master plan and governance strategy, which will be developed through a collaborative process with government agencies, landowners, industry and the broader community," the report said.

"The successful consultant will be required to build on the phase one emerging vision and structure plan and prepare a detailed master plan to guide future land use, urban structure and built form."

According to the report, the tender evaluation panel unanimously chose Architectus Australia Pty Ltd due to their "significant experience and capability in delivering projects of a similar nature, multi-disciplinary and qualified project team, value for money and ability to deliver the project within a reasonable timeframe".

At Wednesday's meeting administrator Viv May asked the council officer presenting the report about the Plastics Recycling Facility proposal relating to the SHIP.

"The council and the community would not now have that problem [proposed plastics recycling facility] if the work that's happening now in relation to the master planning of the site for uses had been undertaken previously?" Mr May said.

"In other words if the council had done its job properly earlier we wouldn't have that problem?"

The council officer presenting the SHIP report responded: "Could an applicant lodge a development application that's permissible on its own? Yes. Would we have a lot stronger basis to support our argument? Definitely."

He said a master plan and flow-on amendments to the development framework were "really critical" to provide strong evidence based on the types of development the council would want to see in a precinct like that.

Mr May told the council the land was an exciting opportunity for the shire and the region "sitting on the Canberra corridor and so close to the Illawarra".

A recommendation that the council accept the tender for the Southern Highlands Innovation Park Master Plan from Architectus Australia Pty Ltd at a lump sum price of $236,819 (inclusive of GST) was declared carried by Mr May.

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