Green light for park’s upgrade

PLANS to upgrade the city’s Central Park with a waterfront promenade, landscaping, playground and toilets have been endorsed by Townsville City Council.

Landscape upgrades to Palmer and Tomlin streets have also been included in the work which will start next year and be ready for the 2020 opening of North Queensland Stadium.

Mayor Jenny Hill said the council would upgrade the park as an entertainment- style precinct to complement the stadium.

“It’s about creating a really good public open space. We don’t have too many of those around the city. I reckon it will be great,” Cr Hill said.

She said Central Park could also be used for major events so that people walking to the stadium for a rugby league game or concert could interact through the Central Park precinct.

Central Park is on the eastern side of Ross Creek and runs between the Lowths and Victoria bridges.

The council accepted recommendations last year to undertake concept planning for Central Park and Dean St Carpark.

Infrastructure and urban planners AECOM were awarded a contract and partnered with the council to compile the Central Park and Dean St Carpark Concept Design Report.

The council this week agreed to endorse the report and hire consultants to develop a detailed design for early works, as well as undertake consultation about the wider plans.

The “key deliverables” for early work included a 4m wide concrete pathway along Ross Creek, general landscaping improvements through Central Park and the entrance to Dean St Carpark, pedestrian and feature lighting, playground area, toilet amenities and Palmer and Tomlin streets landscape upgrade.

The report includes other concepts for a restaurant and cafe, fishing platforms over the water and indigenous garden and celebration point around an existing Mabo dedication sculpture.

Cr Paul Jacob was a lone councillor to vote against endorsing the concept report, saying: “I believe it’s the wrong location for these facilities.”