Convention Centre/Stadium key to Economic Growth as part of Rockhampton City/Riverfront Master Plan
Posted on September 14th, 2015
The Convention Centre as stage one of the Convention Centre/Stadium is key to Rockhampton’s economic growth and is an integral part of the overall master planning required for the city’s riverfront redevelopment according to Capricorn Enterprise, the region’s peak tourism and economic development organisation.
Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll said “In Rockhampton, an overarching and comprehensive master plan must consider three very diverse precincts that take full advantage and bring together as a whole the City reaches of our most precious asset – the mighty Fitzroy and also address current and future traffic management, parking, additional commercial development and most importantly, the creation of jobs and economic uplift.”
Chairman of Capricorn Enterprise and local engineer Graham Scott said “we need the best long term solution that maximises the economic, social and environmental values of the riverfront and provides great enabling infrastructure including parking and access to all current and future precincts”.
The Convention Centre/Stadium and the Rockhampton Riverfront Revitalisation are two of the region’s Priority Projects and Capricorn Enterprise believes they are very much linked by the Riverfront Masterplanning process. Three (3) very distinct precincts must be included in the city’s Master Planning of the entire Riverfront and city centre area as opposed to a focus on just one area of Quay street in isolation.
Capricorn Enterprise says the “state government and local council are to be absolutely commended for their $15 Million and $7 Million commitment respectively to the Rockhampton Riverfront Redevelopment” but believes that if the Rockhampton Regional Council does not focus on an overall Master Plan, future opportunities for further funding, including the Convention Centre/Stadium could be at risk. The three very distinct precincts along the Rockhampton Riverfront are;-
- Quay Street – Heritage/Arts/Cultural precinct
- Victoria Parade – Modern mixed use commercial/short stay and residential precinct
- Huish Drive – Sporting/recreational/major events precinct
The AEC Group report commissioned last year by Capricorn Enterprise and CQNRL Bid revealed that a combined Convention Centre/Stadium, which would form part of the overall Riverfront Redevelopment master plan, is a sound economic proposition and is estimated to directly employ 47 full time equivalent people during construction with 81 flow on jobs, plus 41 direct full time employees for the operational phase and 15 flow on jobs, generating $23.8M in industry output for CQ businesses, with an additional $26.7M through flow-on activity. During construction, wages and salaries are estimated to total $3.5M through direct activity and $5.4 million indirectly.
“The convention centre as stage one of the convention centre/stadium has undergone extensive economic modelling and public consultation and will be a catalyst project in the Sporting precinct of the riverfront, and is walking distance to the nearby commercial precinct along Victoria Parade.
“It is so important to integrate the correct uses in the right places, so that our chances of obtaining future funding is not jeopardised in any way. Part of the riverfront master planning needs to also cater for expansion of the existing Pilbeam Theatre and Art Gallery and provide much needed multi-level carparking at the rear of the site to service this precinct” she said.
Chairman of Capricorn Enterprise Graham Scott says “our members and stakeholders of Capricorn Enterprise see this as a critical opportunity for economic development that we need to get right.”
