Redland City Council will use part of the infrastructure charges paid by Walker Corporation to almost double the number of public car parks available at the Toondah Harbour precinct.
Councillors on Monday voted 6-4 to use the charges to build a multi-deck carpark with a minimum of 500 extra public carparking spaces and the potential for more secure parking as part of an Infrastructure Agreement with Walkers.
“This puts us on track for our city to sign off on the best possible deal we can negotiate and transform a dowdy ferry terminal into a magnificent waterfront attraction,” Mayor Karen Williams said.
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“This project will deliver $116 million of community infrastructure at no cost to ratepayers. This includes a modern ferry terminal that will be the gateway to Moreton Bay and North Stradbroke Island, sewer, road and ferry terminal parking upgrades, provision of park and other open space enhancements and waterfront boardwalks.
“The intent of this Infrastructure Agreement is that the currently available 847 parking spaces will increase to a minimum of 1449 parks – an increase of 71 per cent. As Mayor I am committed to this parking being free for our residents.
“Even before this week’s decision to build the extra 500 spaces in the multi-deck car park, more car parks than currently exist would have been provided as part of the project.
“The fact is that with the resolution there will be a minimum of 1449 public car parking spaces available, and the total number of spaces could potentially be significantly higher if a decision is taken to provide additional secure parking in the car park.”
The Council resolution gave Chief Executive officer Bill Lyon the authority to make, amend or discharge a Development Agreement and Infrastructure Agreement between Council, the State Government and Walker Corporation for the exciting project.
“By finalising this Infrastructure Agreement Council has secured community infrastructure for generations of Redlanders while at the same time providing the Walker Group with the confidence to take the project forward,” Cr Williams said.
“Walkers needed the certainty provided by such agreements and without the agreements they may have walked away from the project, so this decision is absolutely critical to this project becoming a reality.”
“This project will change the face of not just Toondah Harbour but the Redlands. It will deliver a world-class waterfront precinct we can be proud of and will put Redland City on the map.
“Today’s resolution is yet another milestone in a 50-year journey to make the Redlands an even more exciting destination.
“It follows the project’s recent referral to Commonwealth Environment Minister Greg Hunt, kick-starting a rigorous environmental approval process that will ensure this long-awaited project maintains the Redlands’ environmental character and meets community expectations.
“The infrastructure agreement provides flexibility for changes to be agreed if the project changes as a result of the Federal Government review.”
Once signed by all parties the Infrastructure Agreement will be made public, this is expected to occur next month.
The project includes:
– A new ferry terminal and tourism precinct
– New marina, marina plaza and waterfront boulevards
– Greater public open space and access to the waterfront, including a new public foreshore parkland
– A range of residential options
– More than 1000 construction jobs per year and 500 jobs per year on completion of the project
– An estimated $2.3 billion in economic activity in the region.
