The Industrial and Employment Strategy proposes a new spatial land use framework for industrial land to unlock new investment and employment opportunities. The Strategy outlines actions for addressing fragmented and inconsistent land uses which reflect past investments and development; by creating pathways for future investment key industry precincts for the long term benefit of region.

View the Industrial and Employment Strategy(PDF, 29MB)

Key findings

• Growing Services sector (over 4000 jobs in healthcare and 3291 jobs in retail which are now the largest employment sectors)
• Largest economic output is manufacturing at $1.8billion
• Development of significant areas of Industrial Zoned land is presently inhibited by historical coal overlays or lack of essential infrastructure (including roads and sewer)

Key recommendations

A single regional city focus

Traralgon to Morwell to grow together as the population centre for Gippsland, whilst establishing a corridor as an employment precinct, targeting jobs in health, aviation and food and fibre processing.  This will strengthen recognition of Latrobe City as Gippsland’s Regional City.

New business and employment

Pursue opportunities to re-align the workforce to high-tech skilled manufacturing such as renewable and alternative energy generation, advanced mining, agriculture, food and fibre processing. Australian Paper has also announced its plans for the establishment of new ‘waste to energy’ and other products; whilst investments in rail freight links to distribution hubs provide opportunities in regional logistics.

Home for heavy industries

Latrobe City is one of the few places in Victoria which contains the Industrial 2 Zone (heavy industry) to the north and south of Morwell. This land is well buffered with access to national highways, rail networks, energy, water and local labour force, providing opportunities for a long term and dedicated home for large format/heavy industry investment. The strategy includes recommendations to see this land made available for new investment.

Advocating for the removal of historical Coal Overlays from industrial land

The strategy includes recommendations to seek the removal of historical coal overlay restrictions from almost 500 hectares of industrial zoned land south of Morwell. This would enable large format and heavy industries to establish and support efforts  to diversify the economy by creating new jobs in new industries.

Improve declining industrial estates

Latrobe City has a number of declining industrial estates containing areas of derelict, vacant land which have fallen into disrepair and need to be cleaned up. The strategy recommends the implementation of local laws and new Industry design guidelines to improve the appearance of these areas; and in some instances a change in land zoning in close proximity to activity centres and residential land.

Industrial Framework Plan