By Laura Michell
More than 4000 jobs could be created in Epping in the coming years as Whittlesea council moves to unlock two new development sites.
The council is in the process of approving a development plan for the vacant 27-hectare site at 75 O’Herns Road and 100B Yale Drive that will allow it to be developed for employment opportunities, with a reported potential to create 750 jobs.
Both sites will be added to the council’s Cooper Street Employment Precinct.
The council has also written to Planning Minister Richard Wynne requesting that 25 Vearings Road be rezoned for employment uses. The land is currently used for agriculture. Rezoning it would create 140 hectares of employment land, with a claimed potential to create 4000 jobs.
Mayor Kris Pavlidis said Epping was identified as a major employment precinct.
“The City of Whittlesea is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Australia and council needs to support and grow a range of existing businesses and create more employment opportunities critical for economic prosperity,” she said.
“We are committed to increasing local job opportunities for local residents and reducing the amount of travel time. We need to ensure the City of Whittlesea is the right place for business to thrive, with a number of prime locations ready to invest in now and in the future.”
Cr Pavlidis said the council had an economic development strategy that was aimed at attracting 10,000 new jobs to the municipality in the next five years.
“Achieving our vision will require co-ordinated action across council and encouragement from the broader community, including businesses, investors, developers, other levels of government and regional partners to work together to achieve economic and local jobs growth,” she said.
