Green light for $10m Kembla Grange car storage facility

By Shannon Tonkin
Updated November 5 2012 - 11:44pm, first published January 28 2011 - 10:09am

Plans for a $10 million car storage facility at Kembla Grange are expected to be approved by an independent planning panel on Thursday with the proposal receiving the green light from authorities.The Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) will be presented with a glowing report on the project, which proposes to store up to 4000 new cars at the Reddalls Rd site after they arrive via the Port Kembla car terminal.Major car terminal operator Patrick Autocare is behind the application.The report, prepared by Wollongong City Council staff, said RailCorp, the RTA and Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water had also approved the plans.The site would have the capacity for about 70,000 vehicles a year, with plans for most cars to be stored for up to three weeks before they are distributed by car carrier to dealerships across NSW.The development application foreshadows plans to eventually link the 14ha site to the rail network so vehicles can be transported to Sydney via rail, potentially reducing truck movements on Mt Ousley and Picton roads.Port Kembla Port Corporation chief executive Dom Figliomeni gave his full support to the proposal, saying if approved, it would provide a great opportunity to grow and develop the industry within the region."The port strongly supports the application and we've been in discussion with Patrick Autocare for a long time about it," he said."It has great economic and financial potential for the region and reaffirms the industry's commitment to relocate to the Illawarra."Mr Figliomeni also supports the provision of rail in the future.If approved, the facility will be built in four stages, creating 100 jobs during construction and 25 permanent jobs when operational.The first stage would involve paving half the storage area, construction of a security building and perimeter fencing, while the second stage would include workers' car parks, pavement of the remaining section of land and installation of floodlights and surveillance equipment.Works for subsequent stages encompass a processing building and hail-proof mesh.The proposal has in the past attracted support from Keira MP David Campbell, Wollongong MP Noreen Hay and the Illawarra Business Chamber. A spokeswoman for Patrick Autocare said the company would make a statement after the decision on the proposal was announced.

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