Wyong Council calls on Government to assist with employment zone

Wyong Council has called upon the State Government to step in and further assist in the development of the Wyong Employment Zone.

Last year, the Minister for Planning exercised power under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act in order to expedite the rezoning of the land to create local jobs.
Wyong Mayor, Councillor Bob Graham, said that the successful development of the Wyong Employment Zone, was integral to generating job growth in the Shire.
Council needs to levy Section 94 Developer Contributions costs in the Employment Zone in order to cover infrastructure costs associated with the development. The costs currently amount to about $247,000 per net developable hectare, with an additional water and sewerage charge of $8000 on new lots.
Wyong Mayor, Bob Graham said that Council understood that the State Government is proposing an additional levy of $100,000 per hectare on the Wyong Employment Zone.
“We believe that the imposition of any further charges on this area will seriously jeopardise the areas financial viability and have a significant negative impact on job generation in the Shire,” said Mayor Graham,
Council is calling for the State Government to exempt the Wyong Employment Zone from the proposed State Government’s Regional Infrastructure Levy. Council contends that the need for additional infrastructure in the area is generated by the growth in the residential population rather than by the employment zone.
“Exempting the Wyong Employment Zone from this Levy is an outstanding way for the State Government to step in and give us some assistance where it really will help,” said Mayor Graham.
“Unemployment is a critical issue in the Shire and we need to develop this Employment Zone to create jobs and support growth locally.”
Council is further requesting that the Premier and the State Government step in and help with the upgrade of Sparks Road.
“For the Wyong Employment Zone to be a success we need to upgrade Sparks Road and a number of intersections so we can move increased traffic volumes in and out of the area,” said Mayor Graham.
“The State Government has already identified some $10 million of funding in the Central Coast Transport Action Plan and we are requesting that this be allocated to assist with upgrading intersections along Sparks Road,”
“We are also asking the Roads and Traffic Authority for a further $11.2 million to meet their responsibility in upgrading the existing Sparks Road surface.”
The Wyong Mayor said that he was grateful for the interest the Premier was personally taking in the Shire and looking forward to constructive discussions with him when he visited the Central Coast within coming weeks.

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