North Rail Yards next PDA site to be transformed
Date published: 23 November 2018
Townsville City Council is searching for a project partner to masterplan and redevelop the North Rail Yards.
The former rail workshops are located in the Townsville City Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA) and present a major opportunity for urban renewal.
Council will partner with the private sector to revitalise and redevelop the site with the potential for residential, commercial, new public open spaces and walkways.
Mayor Jenny Hill said the redevelopment of the North Rail Yards was an important part of the Townsville 2020 masterplan.
“This site has huge potential for urban renewal and will help to transform that area of the city,” Cr Hill said.
“We want the private sector to be imaginative and tell Council what they believe is possible on the site.
“The North Queensland Stadium is coming out of the ground, work is about to start on Central Park and the North Rail Yards site is another exciting project in the Waterfront PDA.”
Planning and Development Committee Chair Cr Les Walker said Townsville 2020 provides a clear vision for the future of our city.
“Townsville 2020 is about ensuring our community has world-class experiences for locals and visitors,” Cr Walker said.
“Council will work with the private sector to discover the best options for the North Rail Yards site and ensure the best outcome for our community.
“Importantly, Townsville 2020 provides the business community confidence to invest and we’re hoping for strong interest from the private sector to progress this project.”
Council purchased the North Rail Yards site in 2013. The Townsville Railway Station and the North Rail Yards Workshops were established in the 1880s but the site has been vacant since the Workshops since 1990.
Local Councillor Colleen Doyle said she wanted potential development partners to be imaginative with the site.
“The site has a lot of character and we want to make the best use of what’s on the site and how it can be incorporated into a new development that meets the modern needs of our community,” Cr Doyle.
Council is calling for interested project partners to apply and a short-list of suitable applicants will be compiled.
