Highlands residents can have their say in the plans for a new local employment precinct.
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The Southern Highlands Innovation Park (SHIP) is being proposed between Moss Vale and Berrima.
It aims to be a major employment hub in the shire, surrounding regions and will be in close proximity to Sydney, Canberra, Wollongong and the Western Sydney Airport.
The area comprises about 1053 hectares of existing industrial zoned land, and has been identified for employment-generating land since 1979.
"The Innovation Park offers an important opportunity to refine and attract the right future industries and jobs that will be important to our community in years ahead, and ensure these industries are in the right locations," said Wingecarribee Shire Council's executive manager of strategic outcomes Deniz Kilic.
Long-term aims for the project focus on the agricultural and equine sectors, and resources and advanced manufacturing, which include an emerging biotech research sub-precinct.
The consultant team Architectus, Astrolabe and SGS Economics and Planning were appointed by the council to prepare a Master Plan and Governance Strategy for the project.
This will be used to guide the proposed land use, buildings and other structures within the precinct, and to plan for future employment opportunities.
Council conducted landowner and tenant consultation in February, 2024 through workshops and interviews.
Plans are now in place to work towards creating and exhibiting a draft Master Plan in the coming months.
People can go along to a community consultation workshop at the council's civic centre on April 10, from 5.30pm.
Reserve a spot, fill out a survey about the project and learn more about it via participatewingecarribee.wsc.nsw.gov.au/ship.
