Kiama Municipal Council has received a planning proposal to amend the Local Environmental Plan to allow for the 2.95 hectare block on Sims Road, facing the Princes Highway, to be used as industrial land.

The proposal suggests six businesses envisaged for the site: a wholesale landscape supplies business, a firewood business, and four fabrication or manufacturing businesses.

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"As outlined in this [planning proposal], rezoning of the land will facilitate both industry and employment growth for the adjacent township of Gerringong and surrounds with careful integration with the existing surrounding land uses," a report lodged with the council said.

But the proposal has generated concern among the community, with residents taking to social media and forming a petition in protest.

Wesley Hindmarsh, the creator of the petition, said on the Change.org website: "Agricultural land is a valuable asset to our community and should be preserved... This proposed development will have a substantial visual and auditorial impact on beautiful Gerringong and sets the precedent of further industrialisation of rural agricultural land".

In a social media group for Gerringong residents, Rosemary Sutherland wrote: "I am thinking more that it will destroy the very essence of Gerringong and its unprecedented beauty. It would be such a mistake".

But while many in the group expressed concern, not all were upset by the proposal.

"I don't see the problem. It's a small parcel of land that is no good for farming and with some sensible vegetation screening I don't see the issue," Justin Nancarrow said.

The proposal refers to the council's 2020 strategic planning statement, which notes the lack of available light industrial land is forcing businesses to relocate to neighbouring municipalities.

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It also says the applicant can only partly operate in the Kiama local government area due to the unavailability of industrial land.

The future industrial development of the land is expected to generate $20 million annually in gross regional product, the proposal says, and generate about 62 full-time jobs.

Kiama Municipal Council will decide whether to support the planning proposal; if so, it will proceed to the Planning Minister for further determination.

Submissions can be made at the Kiama council website until 5pm on Tuesday, May 18.

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