A REZONING shake-up around Portland and Heywood is expected to create more jobs and businesses.
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Glenelg Shire will redraw planning boundaries in the corridor between the city and the rural township in a bid to stimulate new industrial estates.
Council chief executive Sharon Kelsey said the area was “ripe” for investment and said the clearer strategy aimed to reduce disputes.
“Around Portland itself there’s a legacy of conflict between light industry and residential,” Ms Kelsey said.
“What it does is provide delineation between groups and minimises the potential for conflict.”
The changes will come in under the Glenelg Sustainable Settlement Strategy (GSSS) and will apply to a dozen townships around the shire.
In a statement, Glenelg Shire mayor John Northcott said the changes also aimed to lure more tourism to the shire.
“The strategy also addresses the revitalisation of the foreshore and redevelopment of former bulk liquid storage sites in inner Portland, as well as encouraging the re-establishment of rail services to Portland,” Cr Northcott said.
The strategy will apply to Casterton, Dartmoor, Nelson, Cape Bridgewater, Narrawong, Condah, Sandford, Digby, Merino and Tyrendarra. “References to improved connectivity, including pedestrian and cycling links, are found throughout the GSSS strategic directions and structure plans,” Cr Northcott said.
“The re-establishment of the Heywood to Mt Gambier railway line and upgrade of road connections between Hotspur and the chip mill at Myamyn are supported to help sustain timber-related industries.”