Council welcomes Premier’s support for CBD Revitalisation

Published on 06 October 2016

Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow has welcomed the Premier’s announcement of support for the revitalisation of the Rockhampton CBD through the State’s Advancing Our Cities and Regions strategy.

The Palaszczuk Government today revealed the Rockhampton CBD as one of its four priority projects to activate underutilised government-owned land.

Mayor Strelow said the State Government’s support for two joint-venture projects for residential accommodation includes Council’s vacant land site at 37 William Street and 199 Bolsover Street.

“The proposal at this stage is for a seven story apartment building aimed at a different market to the riverfront apartments that have added so much vibrancy to our city,” Mayor Strelow said.

“It will be a combination of one and two bedroom apartments and a number of two story ‘live and work’ apartments with residential living upstairs and commercial space on the ground floor facing Market Lane.”

Mayor Strelow said Council had been working with the State Government on this project for around 18 months and the proposal is now ready for consultation.

“It is a deliberate tilt at seeing an increase in residents in the CBD,” Cr Strelow said.

“Density is what keeps shops alive in city centres and as we see in cities everywhere, students and young urban professionals want to live where the takeaway is easy and the coffee is good.

“Someone has dubbed our CBD redevelopment ‘Sparkle City’, and I love that!

“It’s about revitalisation, using the bones of our extraordinary CBD and putting them to work in a new way.

“The confidence shown by the State Government in supporting Rockhampton is welcome news and is a key component of our CBD Revitalisation planning.”