Tweed’s Industry Central already a winner

PART of Tweed Shire Council’s community and business flood resilience program, Industry Central, has proven itself a winner as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred reached the region a few weeks ago.

The fledgling development of flood-free land at Lundberg Drive to be used in the land swap for flood-prone Murwillumbah businesses was due to be launched as the impending weather bore down.

Officialdom was put on hold while the Council moved to unlock the precinct to safeguard the vehicles and equipment of local businesses.

JH Williams was one business that took advantage of the offer.

General Manager Lyndon Poirrier said the company was able to put its flood evacuation plan to good effect.

“In conjunction with our trusted local contractors, we were able to decommission and move our manufacturing facility and the majority of our stock from our site to the elevated land allocated to us in Lundberg Drive in a programmed fashion over 36 hours,” Poirrier said.

“We would have struggled without the ability to utilise the soon-to-be facility that we are intending to relocate to ASAP.

“This outstanding initiative by the Council will certainly prevent a lot of the horror associated with events of this kind into the future.”

Tweed Shire Council General Manager Troy Green said that although it was not what he expected the area’s first use to be, it proved the precinct was a significant step forward in building resilience in the Tweed economy.

“Industry Central’s completed roads were used by many businesses to park their vehicles and equipment out of potential flood zones,” Green said.

“This project is evidence that businesses can invest with confidence in the Tweed and is a strong sign that Council is looking at ways to adapt to the impact of climate change by providing flood-risk free, employment-generating land.”

The final land swap agreement will see six successful applicants relocating from flood-risk sites to the new precinct following an expression of interest process.