PLANS for a new Bungower Road tech park have been adapted after community feedback and have entered phase two.
The proposal, first put to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council in 2020, is predicted to provide up to 1100 jobs and create a business park with green space and ancillary facilities.
The founders of the navigation technology company Sealite are the major players behind plans for the $540 million technology park at Somerville.
Lead proponent Chris Proctor says it is “future-proofing” local employment through innovation and community growth.
He said the park would be safeguarded from potential heavy industrial use and was expected to address the “critical shortage” of land for industry on the Mornington Peninsula as well as harness the 30-year focus identified in Melbourne’s industrial and commercial land use plan.
“The heritage building located on site will be carefully revitalised, ensuring the character and original beauty of the building is retained and the community can enjoy it,” he said.
The site forms part of around 3500 hectares zoned as Special Use Port Related, but deemed surplus to the Port of Hastings needs in 2018. It was declared regionally significant industrial land by the state government in 2019.
Over the next month, Mornington Peninsula Shire will hold information sessions and seek community feedback.
To get the go-ahead the site will need to be rezoned, as most industrial and warehouse-based uses are banned under ‘special use’ if they are not linked to a port-related or marine service industry.
The exhibition of Amendment C243morn will be finalised on Friday 12 May. For further information on the proposal go to mornpen.tech.
Procter said his plans would incorporate the pre-existing Brunnings homestead heritage site into the open space area to ensure the protection of the homestead and any significant trees.
First published in the Mornington News – 28 March 2023
