Previous CBD Engagement

Over the last few years, starting with the visit by Gilbert RocheCouste from Villagewell in 2014, Council has endeavoured to understand the Rockhampton community’s concerns and priorities for the CBD and to respond to these as best as possible. These have included a number of projects, some involving significant community engagement processes, which potentially impact the future planning of the CBD:

  • Smart Regional Centre Strategy
  • Improving Way-finding and Walking in Rockhampton CBD
  • Population Distributions and Residential Development Study
  • Rockhampton Region Towards 2050 – Community Profile
  • Riverfront Revitalisation Community Engagement - For further information about the ongoing Riverfront Revitalisation project please click here.
  • Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme
  • Rockhampton: A Great Place. The Art & Science of Town Centre Renewal (Villagewell)
  • Community wide survey on the perception of the CBD – the CBD Revitalisation Survey Report(PDF, 2MB) was delivered to Council and will be considered as a fundamental tool for future planning.

    Major Findings – CBD Revitalisation Survey

  • Cafés, shopping & dining are the main reasons people come to the CBD.
  • Cafés, enjoying the Riverfront and dining are most liked.
  • Reasons why people don’t come to the CBD: Parking (53%), Better variety of retailers elsewhere (42%), More convenient elsewhere(37%), Not enough to do (34%) and Safety concerns (26%).
  • Personality of CBD is tired, timid, boring, negative, stagnant and a bit sad.
  • Suggestions: Clean it up and fill in the shops (69%), Improve parking (57%), Better facilities on the Riverbank (57%), More festivals & events (48%) and Improve safety (44%).
  • One in three people (33%) indicated that they would consider living in / or near CBD

Council’s commitment to optimising the success of the CBD remains as strong as ever and to this end, has recently engaged Urbis to assist in crafting a Redevelopment Framework for the CBD. Grounded in extensive community engagement and input, the Framework will contain strategic, long term directions for economic, community and cultural development to promote government and private sector investment in the CBD. Creating an accessible, sustainable and interesting place to visit, work and live will be dominant themes.

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