Council's riverfront re-development vision

Published on 22 April 2015

Cyclone Marcia is set be a major turning point in the story of the historic heart of Rockhampton.

Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow said, "this is a once in a generation opportunity to align government attention and community will to give our historic riverfront, our graceful streets and our gritty but beautiful laneways the kind of makeover that we normally see in the capital cities of the world."

"We have all of the building blocks in our wide-open streets,  truly beautiful buildings and with the river just a stone's throw from the commercial heart," Cr Strelow said.

Mayor Strelow said there were a lot of common themes in recent community consultation. 

"The consensus story is of more people living in and using our beautiful Victorian buildings. Of restaurants, boutique shopping and nightlife in East Street and on the Quay, and of a riverbank  redeveloped to fit our leisurely community lifestyle.

"With restaurants, music, fountains to play in, markets, community spaces, public art and places to relax.

"Achieving this goal is going to need a strong united call to both levels of government to help us," she said.

Rockhampton Regional Council has lodged a submission for support for a $30m makeover.

"We were left a mountain of debt after the first term of amalgamation and then had the Financial body blow of deamalgamation, followed closely by the slump in the resources sector. To be honest many of our businesses are struggling and without a major project to bring jobs - further decline is inevitable I know people have other projects, dreams and opinions but it is a matter of each in it's turn.

"If we don't all get on the same page and do so quickly our children will tell the story of missed opportunity."