At a November council meeting, Mitchell Shire Council voted unanimously to continue to explore the lease of 470 Seymour-Tooborac Rd, Hilldene.
Council looked into providing more industrial areas to Seymour in the Seymour Structure Plan in 2018, which was deemed needed to help keep jobs and people in the town.
The development of the industrial area was identified as a priority, and councillor Rhonda Sanderson said the lot on Seymour-Tooborac Rd was in one of the areas identified by the plan.
“This could be one of those big-picture, transformational projects, looking at the long-term vision for Seymour this is one of those things and initiates and starts it off, and this is the first in the area,” she said.
“When they were doing the research there was a lack of industrial super-lots and that was needed to help boost the industrial development of Seymour.
“We might need to do something which initiates it and a little bit out of the box, and that’s something we’re proposing to do here.”
The Victorian Government will chip in $1.6 million to help revamp the site and provide access before it is officially leased.
Council will also leave a provision for prospective tenants to buy the land.
Mitchell Shire deputy mayor Fiona Stevens said Seymour had long been calling out for more industrial land.
“Industrial land in Seymour is sadly lacking and going into the future it’s something we have a responsibility to address,” Cr Stevens said.
“We want the employment opportunities it brings and the existing industrial site on Yea Rd isn’t that good and we need to do better.”
She said the “mistakes” made in creating the Yea Rd site wouldn’t be repeated, and that community feedback and concerns would be taken on board as development continued.
Ms Stevens said concerns included traffic control, noise, dust, the impact on wildlife and more.
“Those concerns will be addressed further down the track,” she said.
“We have to start somewhere — we have someone interested but also have to be respectful to nearby landowners.”
Councillor Rob Eldridge also spoke in support of the plan.
“This is a hugely strategic move for Seymour, this is the early stages of it but if we follow it through this could have huge connotations for the community in a positive sense,” he said.
“This is a really big deal for Seymour and employment in the area.”
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