Fuelling the inner city
NEW plans for a food and drink outlet coupled with a service station is in the pipeline for South Townsville.
RPS Australia East has lodged a planning application with Townsville City Council, for the site at the corner of Mcilwraith and Dean streets.
“Townsville has a growing population who live and work in the inner city, the CBD, Palmer Street precinct and South Townsville,” the application read.
“These inner-city areas are strategically positioned to support population growth through infill development which the city plan indicates a clear intent to facilitate.
“Currently there is no convenient fuelling stations and a shortage of convenient fast food outlets catering for this increasing inner-city demand.”
Planners claimed the proposed site was well positioned for the development, being close to CBD Flinders St and Palmer St precincts.
Its location sits the development on the “principal” southern departure route from the inner city via Abbott St and Port Access Road.
According to the docu- ments, a pre-lodgement meeting with the council was held in June.
“Townsville City Council were accepting of a need to accommodate a convenient service station within close proximity to the CBD and the limited availability of appropriately sized sites which also provide appropriate truck access to service the site,” the documents read.
Planners claimed a lack of fuel station “results in inef- ficient commercial activity for business and residents alike and adds to the innercity expense”.
They said the development would ensure continued growth throughout the Palmer St entertainment precinct.
“The proposal will enhance the public interaction and pedestrian experience transitioning from the Ross Creek parkland, North Queensland stadium and on to Palmer Street,” the application read.
“The service station complements the precinct and is cleverly designed so that the fuel forecourt is positioned behind the food and drink (outlet) and service station buildings to maintain streetscape appeal and pedestrian interaction with the food and drink tenancies directly fronting Dean Street.
“The proposal is not an overdevelopment of the sub- ject site and allows opportunity for continued development of the site, when Townsville’s population growth and market conditions strengthen in demand and viability.”
The planned site will feature 21 on-site car parking spaces to cater mostly for the service station after it was determined there was enough street and nearby pay carparks nearby for the food outlet.