PLANS for a new industrial estate near the Pacific Mwy west of Pottsville have been given a push along after Tweed councillors last night voted to move ahead with rezoning the site.

Councillors voted to refer the rezoning plans to the NSW Department of Planning as one of the first steps to creating a light industrial estate and future employment opportunities.

However Greens Party councillor Katie Milne expressed reservations, saying she would have preferred some conditions previously looked at to be re-considered.

Councillor Warren Polglase warned “any good council” would push ahead with planning for a future employment area to complement residential growth.

The site in Kudgeree Ave, Cudgera Creek, has already been identified within the Far North Coast Regional Strategy 2006 as a potential future growth area.

Council planners said a rezoning of the land would be “underpinned with a new development control plan to coordinate future development, infrastructure provision and environmental management”.

Earlier yesterday Cr Polglase said it was important the council pushed ahead with the rezoning to create jobs, even though bureaucratic “red tape” meant it might not get final approval for another two years.

“Pottsville is an area where there are about 4000 people now living,” Cr Polglase said.

“If we can generate some opportunities in regards to employment and small business, it will prevent a lot of people from travelling to get a job.

“Pottsville is the growth area for the Tweed shire.

“We need a major employment generating base in the southern part of the shire.

“This is the area for it. It is close to the freeway.”