Railyards to put us on track

IT was great to see in yesterday’s Townsville Bulletin that the revitalisation of Palmer Street is now complete.

To say businesses in that area have been having a tough time during the COVID-19 pandemic is an understatement.

Walking up Palmer Street a couple of months ago it was like a ghost town.

The $1m for the redevelopment of the port end of the street doesn’t sound like a lot of money — a million doesn’t go far in this day and age — but it is a continuation of a project which began in the lead-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Deputy Mayor Mark Molachino and Townsville MP Scott Stewart said the development would “create interest and investment” in the street.

“It’s all about encouraging people to come in and invest in this part of town … and encourage businesses to set up for the long term,” Cr Molachino said.

“We know that we’re only a chip kick away from the stadium,” Mr Stewart said.

“We know that when punters come along to our games, they either come here before the game or they return back after the game.”

Another spot of interest that’s just a flick pass away from the game is the old railway yards across the road from the stadium. The 17.2ha property adjoins the CBD and Palmer Street.

As the largest freehold, mixed-used development site in the city area it’s something that, if developed properly, could help rejuvenate the CBD.

Just imagine a new shopping centre combined with residential units, accommodation, pubs, clubs, eateries and parkland.

Samuel Biggins, director of investment services at Colliers International, said the South Yards site was intended to be the natural expansion of the Townsville CBD and represented a huge opportunity for a forward-thinking investor, developer or land banker.

Let’s hope someone with Townsville’s best interests at heart can turn the block into something we can all be proud of.