Sectors on the Rise
The Region has a small manufacturing sector that produces specialty products, including hearses, digital-based photographic products, quality racing equipment for jockeys and horses, safety and automation devices and systems, auto-balers for waste management and metal piers.
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Unique Character & Landscape
The Glen Innes Severn Local Government Area (LGA) has a unique landscape, rural character, and a strong sense of community with cultural importance. It is the home of the Ngoorabul people who traditionally roamed the area between Glen Innes and the coast.
The LGA includes the major town and residential township of Glen Innes, as well as four (4) villages (Emmaville, Deepwater, Red Range and Glencoe) and four (4) hamlets (Glen Elgin, Wellingrove, Wytaliba and Dundee). These locations are contained within a total area of 5,487 square kilometres (km²), in the state geographical area known as New England High Country. This includes 1,190 km² of National Parks and 231 km² of State Forests.
Elevations range from 100 metres above sea level, at the north-eastern boundary of the LGA, to 1,500. Council’s economic development and destination brand is “Glen Innes Highlands” encompassing all of the features of our area, culture and community.
Natural Endowments
Climate - the Region has a high altitude, cool temperate climate at a subtropical latitude. It is characterised by four distinct seasons, cooler temperatures, low humidity, relatively high and reliable rainfall, high light intensity and, in some exposed localities, strong, consistent winds.
Geotourism
The geology of the New England North West region is complex and encapsulates the geological history of the breakup of the Gondwana continent and the formation of the east coast of Australia.
Our region has the opportunity to build on its abundant natural and cultural assets in order to leverage an emerging global trend in geotourism and attract international visitors.
By embracing the National Geotourism Strategy and aligning product and experience development with it’s wholistic framework, New England North West has the potential to embark on a journey to be nominated as an Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark.
UNESCO Global Geoparks
= ‘single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development’.
Local Development Assessment Unit & NSW Planning Portal
Council also provides developers with an opportunity to attend weekly Development Assessment Unit meetings to discuss developments prior to the lodgement of their development applications.
The Development Assessment Unit comprises Town Planning, Building Surveying, Engineering and Community Services representatives who are available to discuss technical aspects of the development.
THE NSW PLANNING PORTAL
Work continues at Glen Innes Severn Council to help get DAs through for residents and businesses. This online portal and improvements to DA processing times is the reason the new Skywalk was funded.
Watch the video here
Significant Development Committee
The Investment Pathway initiative brings together different roles within Council to provide a seamless point of access for new investors and a collaborative, responsive, partnering approach by Council - improving the customer focus of Council when dealing with new investors.
It aims to reduce timeframes, improve flexibility of options and reduce cost for new investors – making it easier for them to invest in the Glen Innes area compared with other options in northern New South Wales. Council provides this Investment Pathway through its Significant Development Committee of Council.
This Committee provides an opportunity to discuss proposed developments with proponents in a confidential forum prior to lodging a Development Application.
Motor Sports Complex
Motor sports are under-represented in regional Australia. Glen Innes Highlands’ strategic location at the intersection of the New England and Gwydir Highways, a few hours from Brisbane and the coast make it an ideal centre for these crowd-drawing sports – and there’s land available.
Renewable Energy
Three significant renewable energy projects have already been approved for Glen Innes Highlands district by the NSW Government. Demand for renewable energy is rapidly increasing – there are few communities where installation of solar panels is growing as fast as Glen Innes Highlands, up by almost 20 per cent in the past year.
Car Dealership
Our growing population together with the flourishing new wind and solar farming industries open the way for a new car dealership to service Northern New England and the North West slopes.
Niche Crops
Several niche crops are ideally suited to Glen Innes Highlands’ soils and cool climate. Just one example, lavender. With demand outstripping supply, Glen Innes Highlands offers a climate similar to the world’s best lavender-growing regions. Small-scale plantings confirm the plant thrives in our environment.
Greenhouse Horticulture
The success of the large-scale greenhouse tomato farm at Guyra, 59km south of Glen Innes, is an indication of the suitability of the New England Highlands to this type of farming. With large areas of level land available, Glen Innes Highlands offers huge potential
Dairy Farming
Sales are up, profits are up, export demand is up. All that’s needed are more people seizing the opportunity to develop cow, sheep and goat dairy enterprises. With good, well-priced land, existing cold storage and freezer facilities and ready access to Toowoomba’s international freight hub, the time is right.
Medicinal Cannabis Farm
Luxury Retirement Village
The active and semi-retired markets are flocking to Glen Innes Highlands. Why? The cool climate, community, beauty of our township, our heritage and more. With Glen Innes over-indexing on aging-population and increased visitation by the grey-nomads there seems to be a demand-base waiting to be influenced by a luxury product. An opportunity exists for an investor to consider a purpose-built luxury retirement village in our area.
Entertainment Precinct
Appealing to the family market in Glen Innes there is potential for an entertainment precinct to be developed that could include a ten pin bowling alley, kids indoor/outdoor play park, café/bar/restaurant, rock-climbing and other family-friendly activities. Perhaps combined with the motor-sport complex to attract our neighbouring towns and villages for a weekend of fun, where the kids can roam, experience and play and the adults can stop for a coffee or join in the fun for some good-old bonding with their kids.
Industrial Hub
Council has land available for development into a significant regional industrial estate with connections west via the Gwydir Highway, east to the coast and north to Toowoomba’s Wellcamp international air cargo hub.
Equestrian Facilities
With Tamworth’s Equine and Livestock Events Centre a huge success – it is frequently booked out – there’s potential to cater for overflow.
Health Services & Aged Care Facilities
Ecotourism
Washpool and Gibraltar Range World Heritage National Parks present opportunities for ecotourism enterprises, including mountain biking, wildlife photography and hiking.
Home & Micro Businesses
Faster internet access makes Glen Innes Highlands a perfect base for businesses operating from home – whether digital, artisanal produce, craft or service. Work remotely and commute occasionally to cities from neighbouring town Armidale or Inverell, less than an hour’s drive away.
Trades & Professions
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Related Sites
- Glen Innes Severn Council
- Glen Innes Highlands Hub
Acknowledgement of Country
Glen Innes Highlands acknowledges and pays respect to the Ngarabul people as the traditional custodians of this land, their elders past, present and emerging, and to Torres Strait Islander people and all First Nations people.
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