Suncorp to stick with CBD office

SUNCORP did not have any plans to move from Townsville’s CBD but had seen a migration in activity to Aitkenvale, its CEO for banking and wealth David Carter said yesterday.

Mr Carter was commenting on the decision of competitors Westpac and Bank of Queensland to close retail branches in the CBD, while Westpac is also looking to relocate its business banking centre.

Mr Carter, in the city to address a CPA Australia regional convention, said Townsville’s CBD seemed to be “changing a little bit as to where it is”.

“We see a bit of migration of activity generally in Townsville towards Aitkenvale,” Mr Carter said. “I guess business, whether it’s banks or others, will locate where the customers are.

“One of opportunities in Townsville is to bring more activity into the CBD, more residential and other things happening.

“We are located in close now and I don’t think we have any great plans to move but if our customers are not here, then we need to be where our customers are.”

Mr Carter said many cities had developed “almost the wrong way around”. “We put jobs in one spot and then developed housing a long way away from it. I think as a country we are now realising you put jobs and housing together,” he said.

Mr Carter said housing was coming back into the centre not just in bigger cities but also at regional centres such as Toowoomba. People wanted a home that was relatively easy to look after and they wanted lifestyle.

“One thing the CBD normally has is the ability to bring lots of lifestyle activity together whether that is cultural pursuits, eating out or entertainment,” Mr Carter said.

“The opportunity for all of the CBDs around the country is to get that mix of housing right so that you can get people living in the CBD and that will be what drives the CBD.”

Westpac has said it will close its CBD retail branch on May 12, while BoQ closed its city branch last month.