By Matthew Sims
The South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) has called for the upgrade and development of Thompsons Road to be made a priority as part of the Victorian Planning Authority’s (VPA) Officer South Employment Precinct Structure Plan (OSEPSP).
Covering about 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.
The VPA has been leading the preparation of a structure plan for the Officer South Employment precinct, working in partnership with Cardinia Shire Council, State Government agencies and service authorities.
As the peak industry association representing more than 200 leading manufacturing companies located across the South East, SEMMA provided a submission to the plan which supports South East Economic Corridor’s (SEEC) Strategic Context Report to 2060.
The report’s highlights included stating the South East Economic Corridor would be a nationally significant region for advanced manufacturing and engineering, the Casey/Cardinia Officer Pakenham State Significant Industrial Precinct (SSIP) would evolve to replace the Southern SSIP as the most significant industrial precinct in the South East and key health and education opportunities and transport gateways would support the region’s prosperity, such as a potential airport in the South East.
SEMMA chief executive officer Honi Walker said increasing the opportunities for Officer South was key to creating real and long-term jobs.
“Upgrading and developing Thompsons Road is essential as it represents a critical piece of infrastructure that can open up Officer South to encourage investment in manufacturing and other essential services,” she said.
The SEEC report outlined a 40-year timeframe and sought to address uncertainty by promoting flexibility via a Three-Horizons approach, comprising of consolidating the existing hierarchy and support long-term options through flexible planning; reinforcing a maturing regional economy by enhancing existing infrastructure, diversifying land use, creating amenity; and transforming the economy through innovation, major investment, and new opportunities.
SEMMA also outlined its support for advocacy body Greater South East Melbourne’s (GSEM) research into the net benefit of the Thompsons Road upgrade and extension would have on local jobs and population growth.
GSEM commissioned SGS Economics and Planning to research employment in the South East in September 2022, with its Greater South East Skills and Employment Analysis report showing that male, female and youth unemployment rates were higher in the Cardinia region compared to the Greater Melbourne average, lower female participation and fewer local jobs per working resident in Cardinia compared to the Greater Melbourne average.
Ms Walker said the Officer South Precinct and the development of the industrial land needs to be prioritised.
“There are many skilled workers in the region unable to find jobs at their qualification levels, consideration should be given to the innovative ways this Precinct could be developed to attract high-value high skilled industries that can bring a wider range of employment opportunities to the South East,” she said.
Reviews of submissions into the OSEPSP would continue until early next year, with the plan set to be approved late next year.
For more information, visit vpa.vic.gov.au/project/officer-south-employment
