23 February 2012

Barring more rain, the third and fourth stages of the Hervey Bay Airport Industrial Park should be open by the end of February.

The development works for the expansion of the estate has been undertaken by local company QCivil.

The project included the development of 16 new lots. The fully serviced lots also have access to recycle effluent for watering landscaping or for use in manufacturing.

“The project was not as straightforward as we hoped,” Fraser Coast Mayor Mick Kruger said.

“The sub-soil was so poor that extra material had to be removed and extra rock brought in to build the road base.

“Then just as the road was ready to be sealed, it started to rain which held up the project.

“Everything seems to be on track.”

The opening of the blocks will ensure the region has adequate supplies of serviced industrial land to meet demand, Cr Kruger said.

“The region is poised to take advantage of the boom in the resource sector,” Cr Kruger said.

“Land in the boom areas is becoming too expensive so companies servicing the resource industries are looking at industrial land in nearby regions.

“The Fraser Coast has a mixture of industrial estates developed by Council, private enterprise and the state government ready for them.

“The region has already seen a boost in house sales as workers live here and work there; and homeowners take advantage of the higher house prices in the resource areas to relocate here.

“Once they see our beautiful lifestyle, coupled with the existing industries and services that are available, they will want to set up here.”