PARK PLAN KICKS AHEAD
Council’s creek- front project to be ready for stadium opening
TOWNSVILLE’S Central Park will undergo a major spruce up in time for the opening of the new stadium.
A creek- front promenade, a restaurant, playgrounds, fishing jetties and landscaping are all part of the Townsville City Council’s vision for the area on the banks of Ross Creek. A concept design was put before councillors yesterday and if endorsed by the full council later this month, construction is to begin in 2019.
The city council has also shelved plans to put a concert hall in the green space and instead will consider either Dean Park, the Queens Hotel redevel- opment or next to the Civic Theatre. Cr Ann- Maree Greaney said the first stage of the concept plan would greatly enhance Central Park, which runs between the Lowths and Victoria bridges, encouraging people to walk between the stadium precinct and dining and entertainment strips.
THE city’s Central Park is to be upgraded with a creekfront promenade, a restaurant, children’s playgrounds, jetties and landscaping.
But plans for a concert hall have been shelved, with the council saying it could now go in Dean Park, the Queens Hotel redevelopment or next to the Civic Theatre.
The council’s planning committee considered the Central Park and Dean Street Carpark Concept Design Report prepared by consultants AECOM at its meeting yesterday, endorsing plans to seek detailed design for the Central Park upgrade with construction to start in 2019.
Acting Mayor Les Walker said the Central Park plans – which still need to be endorsed by the full council later this month – were exciting and would provide important connectivity into the city from the North Queensland Stadium, as well as public open space.
Cr Walker said the plan had always been to have the Central Park upgrade completed in time for the first NRL game at the stadium in March 2020.
“This gives us connectivity from the stadium right through on the eastern side of the creek into our Palmer St and other precincts we are trying to activate,” Cr Walker said. “These will be local jobs, local investment and we are going to improve confidence.”
Central Park runs between the Lowths and Victoria Bridg- es. The concept design report option the council has selected includes a 4m- wide waterfront promenade, landscaping and seating, indigenous garden and celebration point at the existing Mabo dedication sculpture, fishing platforms extending out over the water with architecturally designed shade structures, a restaurant building including amenities as a lettable space, two children’s playgrounds with wet and dry areas, and shaded walkways.
Cr Walker declined to provide a cost estimate but indicated it will be shared by the council and State Government.
The report also provides a concept for the redevelopment of the Dean Street Carpark to include a multistorey carpark, 800 to 1000- seat concert hall and indigenous cultural facility.
But the council makes clear it does not intend endorsing the concert hall option yet.
“In the event that funding becomes available to actively pursue the construction of a concert hall, the Dean Street Carpark option will be added to other previously suggested locations, including within The Hive development and as an extension to the Civic Theatre, prior to a final decision being made by council,” a committee report says.
Cr Paul Jacob said the cost to build a concert hall and multistorey carpark in Dean Street Carpark would approach $ 30 million and believed the council should “bite the bullet” and develop a concert hall next to the Civic Theatre.
Cr Ann- Maree Greaney said the first stage of the concept plan would greatly enhance Central Park, encouraging people to walk between the stadium precinct and dining and entertainment strips such as Palmer St and Flinders St as well as provide people with more options to stop and enjoy one of the most pleasant vistas of the city.
The council also yesterday considered balance land in the stadium precinct, potential development opportunities for the old North Yards rail land and Mount Louisa recreation plans during a closed session.
Cr Walker said the council was progressing with its plans for those sites and that the North Yards site was an “exciting” prospect for the people of Townsville.