Plan to create Winchelsea industrial estate

A FARMING block in north Winchelsea would be developed into an industrial estate to provide more commercial land for the growing town.

The Surf Coast Shire is advertising a proposed planning amendment and 23-lot subdivision for 25 Cressy Road, which is a 3.9-hectare site just north of the railway line.

It would link with a developing industrial site opposite the rail line and is in line with council and community growth plans to use the area as an employment precinct.

The proposed estate would create lots averaging 1,336sqm, which planning documents indicate properties would land at the ideal price point and size for the proposed tenants of the new estate.

The land is presently leased for grain storage, with a planning report indicating its present user is exploring a new site nearby.

The report cited economic assessments on Winchelsea industrial land supply as justification for the proposal.

“We believe the rezoning and development of this land for industrial uses is both logical and will result in the orderly planning for Winchelsea.

“There is a significant demand for these industrial lots and there is no current supply in Winchelsea.

“The project will provide an economic boost to Winchelsea in a town where significant growth is anticipated.”

A 2021 report from Spatial Economics found just five empty industrial lots in town, with the supply strain turning away potential investors.

“There has been no take-up of industrial land in recent years reflecting limited supply of land rather than constrained demand,” the report stated.

“There is a theoretical nine years supply of industrial land. This number is highly variable and if just one large lot was utilised the number of years of supply would fall drastically.

“To facilitate and support residential growth there will be an increasing demand for well-located small industrial lots.”

Land constraints and price increases at Torquay is also expected to increase demand for Winchelsea commercial property.

The shire is accepting public submissions on the planned amendment and development proposal until February 27.