A coalition of Townsville's most prominent property developers has issued a powerful demand for a major planning overhaul, declaring the city's central business district is in a state of crisis and requires immediate intervention to survive and thrive.
A Unified Call for Radical Change
The push is being led by influential figures in the local development sector, including Tom Gilmore from the Gilmore Group, Scott Armstrong from the Armstrong Group, and Andrew Hrabe from the Sentinel Property Group. Their collective voice represents a significant portion of the city's private investment potential. They argue that without decisive action from the Townsville City Council and the Queensland Government, the CBD's decline will become irreversible.
The developers have pinpointed a critical issue: the current economics of building in the city centre simply do not stack up. High construction costs, lengthy approval processes, and restrictive planning rules make suburban greenfield sites a far more attractive and profitable proposition for investment. This has led to a stark imbalance, with vibrant activity on the city's outskirts while the historic heart languishes with empty shops and underutilised spaces.
The Blueprint for Revival
The group has presented a clear, multi-point plan to level the playing field and incentivise CBD investment. Their key proposals include:
- Height and Density Bonuses: Offering developers additional storeys or greater density in exchange for including specific ground-floor amenities that activate the street, such as retail shops, restaurants, or public plazas.
- Streamlined Approval Processes: Drastically cutting red tape and uncertainty by creating a fast-tracked development pathway for projects that meet agreed-upon design and community benefit criteria.
- Financial Incentives: Exploring mechanisms like targeted rate concessions or infrastructure charge relief for a defined period to make pioneering CBD projects financially viable.
- Parking Reforms: Overhauling outdated parking requirements that consume valuable space and increase costs, recognising the shift towards public and active transport.
Tom Gilmore emphasised the urgency, stating the need for a "carrot" to attract investment back into the CBD. He warned that the city centre is at a tipping point, competing directly with more straightforward suburban developments.
Council Response and the Path Forward
Townsville City Council Mayor, Jenny Hill, has acknowledged the challenges faced by the CBD. She pointed to recent investments like the $30 million redevelopment of the former DFO site into a new health and medical centre as signs of progress. However, she conceded that more work is needed to stimulate private sector confidence and investment.
The council is currently working on a new planning scheme, and Mayor Hill indicated that the developers' proposals would be considered as part of that critical review. The success of this partnership between the public and private sectors is seen as fundamental to reversing the decline. The goal is to create a policy environment where building a vibrant, mixed-use tower in the city centre is as economically attractive as developing a suburban estate.
The call to action presents a pivotal moment for Townsville. The coming months will reveal whether the council and state government can implement the bold reforms necessary to unlock private capital and breathe new life into the city's core, ensuring it becomes a destination for people to live, work, and visit, rather than a place to avoid.
