Northern Beaches ready for growth
Cait Bester | 27th August 2010
Stockwell managing director Mark Stockwell applauds as Mayor Col Meng turns the first sod for construction of stage two of Northern Beaches Central yesterday. Lee Constable MAYOR Col Meng turned the first sod to mark the start of construction on stage two of the Northern Beaches Central shopping centre yesterday – but it is only the start of a phenomenal amount of growth predicted for the area.
With more than 20,000 people expected to make the Northern Beaches their home in the next 10 years, a high school, medical clinic, bus station, housing estates and a new shopping precinct have been all planned by council to cater for the growth.
Mackay Regional Council director of development services Peter Cardiff said the Northern Beaches had been classified as a primary growth area in the Mackay region, with another 5000 to 7000 dwellings expected to be built to accommodate the influx of residents.
Mr Cardiff said a ring road would be essential with all the activity happening in the northern suburbs.
“The Northern Beaches centre at Rural View will evolve to become the centre of activity for the residents in this locality, providing shopping, community, recreational and hospitality uses,” Mr Cardiff said.
“Immediately to the south of the Northern Beaches centre, there will be a new high school – the Northern Beaches High School, which is expected to open to students in 2014.
“To the north of the centre a precinct is emerging for ancillary uses, including a hardware store and medical clinic.
“This northward growth pattern has been foreshadowed by Council's planning scheme for some time and the infrastructure to support this growth is now programmed for delivery.
Mr Cardiff said the upgrade of Mackay-Bucasia Road would serve the community well, however, council was examining the issue of public transport in the area.
“Council is now looking to improve public transport to the area with a bus station programmed to be included within the Northern Beaches centre. In time, express buses are planned to run between this centre, Mt Pleasant, the City Centre, Paget, the airport and CQU,” he said.
“With all this activity in the Northern Beaches, it's essential the State and Federal governments commit to the development of the ring road – they can't ignore the reality that with continued growth in this northern corridor will come increased pressure on the existing three river crossings. A fourth bridge, linked to the ring road west of the built-up area is essential and will be a great asset to Northern Beaches residents working in Paget or in the mines.
“With continued population growth in the Northern Beaches, Council is developing an Open Space Strategy, which will see most areas linked by a network of planned trails tracking along the many watercourses extending through to the fantastic beaches the area has to offer.”
Earthworks machinery will start rolling on site next week for the start of stage two of the Stockwell shopping centre development at the junction of Eimeo and Mackay-Bucasia roads.
The completed centre will provide the residents of the Northern Beaches with a choice of two supermarkets, Woolworths and Coles, about 30 specialty retail shops, a McDonalds drive-through restaurant, three commercial suites and 580 car spaces.
An intersection with traffic lights on Eimeo Road will also be built to access the expanded centre. Later, stages three and four will expand the centre by a further 35,000sqm and will include a Big W.
Stage two of the centre is planned to open for trade by mid-2011.