Wingecarribee Shire residents are invited to get onboard and have a say in the planning of a new local employment precinct. The Southern Highlands Innovation Park (SHIP) will be a one-of-a-kind innovation park being proposed between Moss Vale and Berrima, and Wingecarribee Shire Council wants the community to help determine its future.
The planned Innovation Park aims to become a regionally significant employment hub comprising of around 1,053 hectares of existing industrial zoned land. The Precinct will seek to provide a unique opportunity to attract sustainable and innovative industries and become a major employer and economic driver for the Shire and broader regions.
Wingecarribee Shire Council's Executive Manager Strategic Outcomes, Deniz Kilic says it's important as our Shire continues to evolve, that we properly and adequately plan ahead for the future needs of our changing and growing community.
"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 Mr Kilic.
Council appointed consultant team Architectus, Astrolabe and SGS Economics and Planning to prepare a Master Plan and Governance Strategy for the SHIP. This strategic work will be used to guide the proposed land use, buildings and other structures within the precinct, and to plan for future employment opportunities.
What is the vision of the SHIP?
The vision of the SHIP is shaped by interwoven frameworks from 'Southern Highlands', 'Innovation' and 'Park' concepts, which characterise locational, employment and ecological and sustainable features for the Southern Highlands Innovation Park.
Having been identified for employment-generating land since 1979, the precinct is strategically located in close proximity to Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong and the new Western Sydney Airport. This prime locational situation presents a good opportunity to plan and develop a precinct with a strong focus on design, lifestyle, innovation and sustainability in a regional setting.
The long term aims of the SHIP are to reflect Wingecarribee Shire's four primary economic strengths and opportunities -agriculture and equine sectors, resources and advanced manufacturing - including an emerging biotech research sub-precinct and to present all of these within a multi-faceted environment.
What's happened so far?
Council has already conducted landowner and tenant consultation in February 2024. This was conducted through a workshop and interviews.
You can view the timeline of the SHIP project so far at Participate Wingecarribee on Council's website. This timeline is regularly updated to show which stage the project is currently at.
What's yet to come?
Council is now working towards the creation and public exhibition of a draft Master Plan for the SHIP in the coming months. The public exhibition period will enable broad community consultation and feedback. This time will allow for opportunities for sharing ideas, having discussions providing feedback and submissions through the broader consultation process.
How to get involved?
Council's Strategic Outcomes team is now calling for the participation of the community in an upcoming in-person Community Workshop and online survey, currently available on the Participate Wingecarribee project page (link below).
The Community Workshop is a chance for residents to gain a better understanding about the SHIP project and precinct, to ask any questions, and to contribute to the future of the project.
Community Consultation is being held at:
Where: Council's Civic Centre Theatrette, 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale
Date: Wednesday 10 April 2024
Time: 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm
