LOCAL politicians have urged the State Government to renew its focus on the Peel Business Park in the hope the multi-billion dollar proposal will get the green light.
Murray Wellington MLA Murray Cowper turned renegade against his own party on Monday when he accused the Government of using plans for a new satellite city in Keralup as a “white elephant” to avoid progressing the Nambeelup-based park.
“It is well known that ongoing State Planning support for Keralup has been at the expense of much-needed development in more vital areas of the Peel region,” Mr Cowper said.
“The Nambeelup Industrial Park has been a major casualty and we have already seen business move out of the region, along with key job opportunities lost as a direct result of delays caused by an ‘unofficial’ suspension of the Peel region planning proposals for this area in favour of Keralup.”
The proposed park has been on the Government drawing board for several years and if approved could potentially yield an annual return of about $2.6billion, revitalising Peel’s flagging economy.
The park would also create about 17,000 jobs by 2051, with a weekly wage hike of up to 32 per cent within the park.
But Planning Minister John Day refuted claims the Government was deliberately halting Peel developments in favour of Keralup.
“The State Government is not progressing the development of Keralup at the expense of other developments in the Shire of Murray and the Peel region,” Mr Day said.
“A draft Nambeelup Industrial Area District Structure Plan was advertised for public comment in 2012 [and] in May 2013, the plan was endorsed by the Murray Shire, subject to a range of matters being addressed.”
Mr Day said a finalised development plan in line with environmental studies and regional planning proposals was under way.
Mandurah MLA David Templeman said progressing the park should be “a greater priority” for the Government, while City of Mandurah chief executive, Mark Newman said the City continued to support the development of the park.
