Plans to kickstart city heart

THE plans for Townsville’s Central Park demonstrate why the new North Queensland Stadium is about so much more than a few footy matches.

The broader vision is an important part of the whole aesthetic of the stadium and the elements included go much further than just providing a stadium entry.

The council’s planning committee considered the Central Park and Dean Street Carpark Concept Design Report prepared by consultants AECOM at its meeting yesterday.

Councillors endorsed plans to seek detailed design for the Central Park upgrade, with construction to start in 2019.

As well as a creek- front promenade, the upgrade will include a restaurant, children’s playgrounds, jetties and landscaping.

Townsville City Council has, wisely, decided not to put a new concert hall in the area.

This is one of the last remaining green spaces in the city and it needs to be preserved and enhanced for the enjoyment of the public.

When the stadium opens, it will be a Mecca for people.

These plans give us a hint of what’s to come with the stadium development and the best part about them is that they need to be completed by the time the North Queensland Cowboys take to the field for the first game of the season in March 2020.

That gives fixed timelines for progress and puts the pressure on the council to get the job done as a priority.

With the community keen to see new projects start sooner rather than later, this could fit the bill.

Acting Mayor Les Walker said he was confident the council would achieve the project by stadium opening.

The cost of the development, which hasn’t yet been revealed, will be shared between the council and State Government.

This is a project that will help rejuvenate our city’s heart.