City chief executive Patience Harrington highlighted the interest in the Barnawartha North site during this month’s council meeting.

“We’ve got currently on the books at least two, if not three, genuine private sector interests that this council is liaising with,” she said.

“It’s not only the economic return which I think is important to us, it’s the social return of an industrial site like Logic, where people do have jobs.

“They have jobs that are both blue collar and white collar, i.e. different income levels, but it’s securing a future for younger generations in Wodonga.” 

Ms Harrington said Logic, which is home to a Woolworths distribution centre and rail-truck transport hubs, was home to 782 jobs and delivered $824,000 annually in rates for the council.

Last year, Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie told a Melbourne economic forum featuring regional leaders that there was a 1000 jobs at Logic and she expected that figure to double within three to five years.

Ms Harrington said there was 70 to 80 hectares of land ready for occupation at Logic and about $6.2 to $6.4 million was owed on the original $33 million spent on land purchases in the area which borders the Hume and Murray Valley highways.

“There’s also considerable land there for...future-proofing, so things like...the inland freight route, which is really critical and going to see communities like Albury-Wodonga, but Wodonga in particular and Wangaratta grow, (can be served),” she said. 

The future of Logic was raised in the context of the council adopting an industrial land strategy.

Councillor Danny Lowe flagged the possibility of an airport at Logic with a focus on freight.

“It’s mentioned a lot of times through this land strategy….whether an airport should be placed there for exporting,” Cr Lowe said.

“It would increase the capacity locally for our agricultural industry and also be another attractor for Logic.”

Member for Benambra Bill Tilley last year gave public support to an air freight base in the area.

“My grand vision would see an air freight terminal, perhaps at Barnawartha, carrying fresh produce and manufactured goods direct to the world and right out of our own backyard,” Mr Tilley said at the opening of Wodonga’s new Hume Bank branch.