The Officer community will soon be invited to have their say on a new precinct plan in the suburb’s south.
Work is underway to finalise a precinct structure plan for the Officer South Employment Precinct for community consultation.
Covering approximately 1069 hectares, the precinct comprises a State Significant Industrial Precinct (SSIP) and Regionally Significant Commercial Precinct (RSCP), as well as residential land.
It stretches by Cardinia Creek to the west, the Princes Freeway to the north, Lower Gum Scrub Creek to the east and the Urban Growth Boundary to the south.
The precinct identifies land for major industrial development linked to the principal freight network and transport gateways, allowing for continual growth in freight, logistics and manufacturing investment.
The proposed plan will also deliver more employment opportunities in service industries, office and commercial activity, research and development and retailing.
A draft amendment will be released for public consultation before being introduced into the Cardinia Planning Scheme.
Pakenham MP Emma Vulin encouraged the community to review the proposed amendment during the consultation period.
“Local jobs close to home is vital for my electorate,” she said.
“This draft plan is needed to create a balanced local community in Officer South with opportunities for industry, commercial activities, and new homes for families.”
The amendment proposes industrial and commercial use and development for approximately 630 hectares of the precinct, which is estimated to create up to 22,000 jobs in the long term.
In addition, the draft amendment also proposes the development of approximately 1600 new homes.
An infrastructure contributions plan is also being prepared, which will ensure developers within a new precinct contribute to the cost of providing new intersections, local open space and community facilities.
The Victorian Planning Authority has been finalising technical studies and preparing the precinct structure plan and infrastructure contributions plan for public consultation, in partnership with Cardinia Shire Council, state government agencies and service authorities.
Planning minister Sonya Kilkenny said Officer South is identified as a “significant commercial and housing precinct” within Melbourne’s urban growth boundary.
“We want to make sure future growth and land use is carefully planned so that we can deliver more housing choice and thousands of jobs,” Ms Kilkenny said.
Public consultation will commence on Monday 25 September.
