Pipeline of local jobs accelerates at Stadium site
Date published: 9 September 2017
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the stadium was always designed to be a catalyst for economic activation in the city.
The precinct masterplan follows the Pure Projects report that recommends a diverse strategy for economic activation and community use including hotel accommodation, a sports performance and rehabilitation centre and child care centre.
“It makes perfect sense to masterplan the balance of the stadium site as a whole to deliver a flow of works that provides a sustainable pipeline of local jobs and continuous employment,” Cr Hill said.
Another potential project being considered under the masterplan is student accommodation for international students.
Mayor Hill will be visiting universities and high schools as part of an upcoming trip to China to spruik the city’s educational offerings with two universities operating in Townsville.
“I will be travelling to China in a few days and one of my goals is to bring back a proponent who wants to establish a 300-student accommodation block on the remaining land parcel of the stadium precinct.
“The coordinated approach that a masterplan offers is better value for money through a greater economy of scale by servicing up to four projects instead of one. It further permits sensible, co-ordinated and cost effective delivery of up to four projects at once. For the City to be able to have the additional facilities open when the Stadium commences would be terrific for the City.
“The stadium precinct will provide year-round activation of the area in line with our vision for the city. We want years of continuous works for local industry, not weeks.
“With interest from Hilton Hotels, adding a centre for excellence and rehabilitation and medium density accommodation we are achieving economic activation on the site.
“It is really exciting for the city that we are talking about more than a stadium.”
The council will enter a memorandum of understanding with the North Queensland Cowboys to develop the centre for excellence and rehabilitation. The masterplanning and MOU negotiations including the commercial arrangements will return to Council for determination at the same time as the Hilton Hotel proposal.
The centre for excellence and rehabilitation would potentially accommodate sports administration and training staff as well as housing medical professionals for their practices amongst other uses.
