50 year land bank study for high impact industry

The department has identified a need for more industrial land areas in southern Queensland over the next 50 years.

In particular, there is an urgent need to identify industrial land for use by industries that require separation from urban areas. These are generally described as large footprint, difficult to locate and high impact industries.

The Queensland Government is committed to facilitating job creation and economic growth in South East Queensland. Identifying potentially suitable areas for these types of industries and protecting them now for future development is critical to realise economic and employment growth potential.

The location requirements for large footprint, difficult-to-locate and high impact industries are complex. We are identifying new industrial land for these industries in a sustainable way by:

  • not locating industrial zones in environmentally sensitive areas
  • considering infrastructure requirements
  • separating incompatible land uses
  • considering the commercial needs of these types of industries.

The Queensland Government's approach to identifying potentially suitable sites is two fold, through:

  • looking for new industrial sites (greenfield sites)
  • identifying potentially suitable sites in existing industrial areas

Greenfield sites

Two greenfield sites have formed part of the investigations, to determine their suitability to accommodate future difficult to locate and high impact industries. These sites are located at Ebenezer South and Wellcamp near Toowoomba.

Ebenezer South

On 18 July, 2010 the Queensland Government ruled out any proposal to build a high impact industrial estate on the Ebenezer South investigation area, located south of Goebels Road. Preliminary findings show the site would have only limited suitability for multiple high impact industries. The preliminary findings are available:

Wellcamp

Wellcamp is located near Toowoomba and investigations in this area are continuing. Further community consultation will be undertaken as the study progresses. Until this investigation is complete no decisions will be made about its suitability.

Sites in existing industrial areas

Studies are underway to identify potentially suitable sites in existing industrial areas located within:

  • the Brisbane metropolitan area
  • the Gold Coast
  • the Sunshine Coast
  • the Scenic Rim
  • the Southern Downs
  • the Ipswich and the Western Corridor
  • Gympie, and
  • the Lockyer Valley. 

Moving forward

Following the decision by the Queensland Government to rule out Ebenezer South Investigation area as a suitable industrial site location, the department will continue its work across southern Queensland to locate suitable sites. It is essential that the department plans now to ensure enough land is set aside to service South East Queensland's economic and population growth over the next 50 years.