Industrial land supply is at critical levels in Camperdown.
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Despite being the business heart of Corangamite Shire, many business owners have been hamstrung by the lack of land available to set up shop, especially for agricultural operations that require larger lots.
It's forced some into bootleg enterprises, operating illegally from backyard sheds and forgoing necessary insurances.
But there are plans brewing in the town, with developers taking matters into their own hands.
Camperdown's Jason Baulch is one, whose vision is to carve a space for more industrial development in Camperdown.
Known by most around town as 'Bart', the director of South West Haulage was successful in rezoning his farmland to industrial use ahead of Christmas.
It means more than nine hectares of land on Old Geelong Road, Camperdown, will be rezoned following approval from Corangamite Shire Council at its final public meeting for 2021.
It marks the end of a six year-long struggle with strict planning regulations and red tape, Mr Baulch said.
"It's been a battle to find a suitable industrial block in Camperdown," Mr Baulch said. "We didn't want to leave this area.
"When I first started this process everyone thought I was a bit of a dreamer and couldn't make it happen.
"Now that we have the green light we'll develop the whole lot ourselves.
"I've created an opportunity for others now."
Mr Baulch is seeking input from other business owners in the region interested in establishing themselves in Camperdown with the vision of eventually subdividing his land to create an industrial estate.
Plans to build a weighbridge at the site have been approved by the council with works to commence this year.
"Pretty much anyone interested in industrial land can approach me and we'll come up with a plan together," Mr Baulch said.
"I've already had pretty strong interest from a number of companies wanting to buy a block."
There is a lack of industrial land across the shire, deputy mayor Geraldine Conheady said.
"I think it's really important that we facilitate adequate supply of industrial land in Corangamite to create opportunities for industry," Cr Conheady said.
"We have an ideal situation where we're seeking to provide an extension to an existing industrial precinct.
"This is supporting industry in our agricultural sector and will provide positive economic development outcomes."
There's a flurry of activity happening in the precinct with Camperdown Dairy currently developing a new milk processing facility on Old Geelong Road and Australasian Solutions looking to create an industrial hub estate around its new milk manufacturing plant on Depot Road, with a total area of around 70,000 square metres.
It will benefit the community as a whole, Cr Jo Beard said.
"It is great to see a developer coming along and actually instigate this rezoning for the betterment of the community," Cr Beard said.
"We appreciate landowners coming up with these proposals."
Corangamite is one of many shires with a static, or declining population. Attracting new business and farming operations is a focus of the shire's 2025 plan.
Elders Camperdown real estate agent Rob Rickard said demand was at an all-time high.
"Over the last 18 months there's been lot of demand for people not only looking to relocate from a residential point of view but to locate business into more affordable areas for commercial and industrial land," Mr Rickard said.
"Things in south-west Victoria are travelling extremely well because we've been fortunate to miss out on the major impacts of COVID in terms of the agricultural industry which has been very strong.
"A lot of the towns in this region are driven by the agricultural industry and when things are going well we tend to find inquiries for industrial type real estate strengthens a fair bit.
"As a result interest for land where people can build an industrial shed for engineering businesses increases."
Mr Rickard has already seen a number of expressions of interest in the growing Camperdown industrial precinct.
"I think Jason's land will be an outstanding site and already people have expressed interest about wanting to build something there.
"It's not ideal to have businesses operating in backyards of residential areas area so I think it will alleviate a bit of those current issues and help the council in trying to retain a bit of business or attract new business to our area rather than going to Colac or Geelong or Ballarat.
"Camperdown is central to those regional centres with cropping and grazing land to the north and dairy country to the south."
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