Proposal to secure land for logistics hub on Brisbane outskirts

<p>The Queensland Government was considering a proposal to secure a parcel of land on the outskirts of Brisbane for use as an industrial and logistics hub, Queensland premier Anna Bligh announced yesterday (Monday, September 24).</p> <p>Bromelton, in Beaudesert Shire, had been proposed by the Coordinator-General as a state development area, a move that would ensure considered industrial development takes place away from the centre of Brisbane, Ms Bligh said.</p> <p>&#8220The move allows the State Government to acquire a 50-year land bank for industrial purposes, and provide for the orderly development of industry,&#8221 she said.</p> <p>Bromelton’s strategic industrial location &#8220undoubtedly&#8221 played a key role in the announcement, she said.</p> <p>&#8220Bromelton could potentially become a location for a future road and rail freight terminal. </p> <p>&#8220It is the only future strategic industrial land available on the current national standard gauge rail line.</p> <p>&#8220This would alleviate pressure on the reduced capacity of the Acacia Ridge terminal, and would generate employment for surrounding residential communities.&#8221</p> <p>SCT Logistics owns a parcel of land at Bromelton.</p> <p>In March this year, its chief executive Geoff Smith told <em>Lloyd’s List DCN</em> the company expected to make a decision on the start date for the yet-to-be-developed Bromelton facility in Queensland within 12 months.</p> <p>&#8220We make our decisions pretty quickly,&#8221 he said at the time. </p> <p>&#8220This one is a big decision for us so we’ve got to research it &#8211 we don’t want to become a statistic on that [northern&#93 corridor. </p> <p>&#8220There are already two operators of sorts up there.</p> <p>&#8220We’ve just got to make sure we provide the right service at the right price. We’re going through the process at the moment.&#8221</p> <p>A three-week public consultation and exhibition process will start in October, to allow the government to consult with the community within the proposed state development area.</p> <p>The proposed &#8220boundary&#8221 covers a significant geographic area from Kagaru in the north and almost to Laravale in the south. The boundary also runs almost as far east as Beaudesert and out to Allanvale in the west.</p> <p>"One potential investor believes one 700 ha-site could be worth $780m, deliver 5,500 direct jobs, with as many an additional 12,000 flow-on jobs to the region,&#8221 Ms Bligh said.</p> <p>"If it were to proceed, they believe they have four tenants ready to move now."</p> <br />