Uralla Shire Council is in the process of rezoning an 81 hectare parcel of land on Rowan Avenue, part of which is set to become the town’s newest industrial estate.

Council’s director of infrastructure and regulation Robert Bell said the aim is to purchase a block of roughly five hectares to take advantage of the industrial boom Armidale’s airport expansion is set to bring. 

“We’re keen to make sure the development doesn’t conflict with Armidale Airport industrial precinct,” Mr Bell said.

“The uses of the land could be for anything - that is fabrications, truck parking area or any of that light work.

“It wouldn’t be for heavy industrial use.”

A report put before Council on Monday night said the rezoning could boost local jobs.

“The industrial-zoned land is subject to an offer to purchase by Council for the purpose of ensuring there is suitable employment land available to meet opportunistic industrial needs that arise in Uralla,” it said. 

Mr Bell said a zoning application had to go through the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to amend the town’s Local Environmental Plan before the sale of land could take place.

That process required Council to publish the proposal for 28 days to allow for public comment.

Now the project is in front of the landholders for consideration before final sale negotiations can take place.

But Mr Bell says residents won’t have to wait too long to set up their businesses on the new land. 

“We’ve had some preliminary work done on the best layout,” he said.

“We’re talking about an 18 month to two year time frame.”

If all goes according to plan the deal will mean the current owners will be able to build on the remaining portion of the 81 hectare block, while small business opportunities will open up for residents. 

“If we go back to the old Local Environment Plan, people could have a shed in their backyard,” Mr Bell said.

“As we’ve changed the Local Environment Plan not to allow that, we now need somewhere where those people can have those businesses.”