Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has adopted a new policy that recognises the importance of economic development in the Region’s intensive horticulture industry.
The new Temporary Economic Development Incentives for Intensive Horticulture policy provides a cap of 50% of the total infrastructure charge to a maximum discount of $100,000 per approval.
TRC Planning and Development Committee Chair Cr Chris Tait said that Council had received several development applications from large scale greenhouses in the Region and, in some cases, applicants have requested a discount on infrastructure charges.
“The Region has seen some massive new and expanded facilities,” Cr Tait said.
“The new Boomeroo Nursery, Intensive Horticulture facility, will produce 300 million seedlings; Asterion will export $1 billion worth of dried medicinal cannabis per year and FKG’s 42.5 hectares of glasshouse facilities.
“Horticulture is a growth industry with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics forecasting a three per cent increase in the commodity’s national gross value to $11.7 billion in the 2019/20 financial year.
“Council has identified high technology greenhouses as a sector that will bring new opportunities to the Region and will have a positive economic impact, particularly on regional areas.
“Council will offer up to $1 million in discounts for the incentives program in a bid to drive development across the horticulture industry.
The new temporary policy is effective immediately and will run as a trial until 30 December 2020.
