From the region’s first 7-Eleven to retail outlets such as Bunnings and Anaconda and a $60m high-rise tower, here are 15 new developments across the Fraser Coast.
The Fraser Coast is a hub of activity right now, with plenty of exciting developments underway. From the region’s first 7-Eleven, currently under construction, to the new Bunnings super store in Hervey Bay and huge housing projects, there’s plenty to look forward to. Not only will the projects bring more homes, retail experiences and new facilities, the ventures also bring the promise of more jobs. “We‘ve seen more growth across the region recently than previous predictions had expected,” Fraser Coast Council deputy mayor Paul Truscott said. “Houses are popping up at a great rate. “In the three months from April 1 to June 30 this year, council approved 193 building applications for houses, flats and units worth more than $65 million. “Growth is a double-edged sword – it is great for the region as it creates jobs in the building and retail sector and as we gain population, we attract more services. “Growth also brings challenges as we plan, and then revise our plans, to provide the roads,
water, sewerage and community facilities as they are needed.”
Here are 15 development projects going ahead on the Fraser Coast.
1. Pialba – Spotlight and Anaconda
A new development is quickly taking shape on Boat Harbour Drive, with the retail complex
to house a Spotlight outlet and become home to the region’s first Anaconda store.
The development is set to go ahead in two stages. The first will front Boat Harbour Dr and
Hunter St, and include a showroom, shops and a food outlet.
Stage two will add a gym, another showroom, more shops and another takeaway food
outlet. Almost 450 parking spots would be provided across two levels; 371 of these will be
underneath the building fronting Hunter St.
2. Maryborough – 7-Eleven, Forty Winks and Red Rooster
The Fraser Coast will get its first 7-Eleven service station, currently being built next to the
city’s McDonalds restaurant on Ferry St.
The development will also include a Forty Winks outlet and the city’s Red Rooster
restaurant will move from Ferry St to a site next to the new businesses.
The store is expected to in late 2022, and will provide about 10 ongoing jobs and
additional roles during the construction phase.
7-Eleven retail area lead north Alan Plews said the investment in new stores in the past 18
months reflected the company’s commitment to Queensland.
3. Maryborough – Energy Storage Industries — Asia Pacific battery manufacturing
factory
A battery manufacturing factory being built in Maryborough will bring new jobs to the
region. Built by Energy Storage Industries — Asia Pacific (ESI) the $70 million
project promises to “produce low-cost, long-life, environmentally friendly batteries that
allow large-scale energy storage” and is the first of its kind in Australia.
ESI director Stuart Parry said the facility would help the company establish a reliable and
environmentally friendly energy storage industry in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
“Our products are essential to Australia’s renewable energy future,” Mr Parry said. “Our
batteries have a 10 to 14-hour storage capacity and a life cycle of 25 years — something
that is not provided by other battery technologies.
“The low-cost, environmentally friendly electrolyte also means that the product is ideally
suited to remote locations, national parks and the Great Barrier Reef.”
4. Pialba – Bunnings
Bunnings’ new $55 million dollar home is taking shape just metres from its existing
premises in Pialba at the intersection of Main St and McLiver St.
When completed, the expansion will create 20 jobs for the region, Bunnings area manager
Andy Stewart said.
“The new warehouse would also create around 145 jobs throughout construction,” Mr
Stewart said.
“Building on the things customers like about our current store, it would feature an even
wider range of home improvement and lifestyle products.”
The project is expected to be completed this year.
The development will feature a new warehouse, outdoor nursery, landscape and material
yard, trade yard and cafe.
5. Urraween – Childcare centre
Construction is underway on a childcare centre in Urraween, which will accommodate 95
children and employ 16 staff.
The centre is under construction at the intersection of Urraween Rd and MaryboroughHervey Bay Rd and will include a 27-space carpark and three outdoor play areas, along
with a single-storey building.
It will include six rooms, according to documents lodged with the Fraser Coast Regional
Council.
The application was lodged by Audax Partners. According to the application, the hours of
operation are limited to 6.30am to 7pm Monday to Friday. The new childcare will be close
to other education centres, including St James Lutheran College and Bayside Christian
College.
6. New Fraser Coast Council administration buildings
Tens of millions of dollars is set to be spent on new council administration buildings in
Hervey Bay and Maryborough.
Earlier this year, the plans for Hervey Bay’s future library and council administration
centre were revealed as part of a $100m project that will give the beachside community an
impressive CBD.
A new public plaza, library, council administration centre and community spaces are some
key features.
The redevelopment, to be built on the corner of Main St and Torquay Rd, will include a
larger Hervey Bay Library, and Council Administration Centre which incorporates a
Disaster Resilience Centre.
Meanwhile, in August, after months of debate, the council voted to build Maryborough’s
council admin and customer service centre at The Hub at 350 Kent St, and renovate the
existing library on Bazaar St.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott said he was “very
excited” that council passed a resolution to allow them to do their “due diligence” on
looking at options for the development.
7. Hervey Bay -The Green retirement village
A huge retirement village featuring a restaurant, clubs, medical centres and 1000 units is
proposed for Hervey Bay.
Plans for the development lodged with Fraser Coast Regional Council reveal the developer
is eyeing a block at 193 Pialba Burrum Heads Road for the project.
The land, west of the Grinsteads Rd and Pialba Burrum Heads Rd intersection at
Dundowran Beach, is currently vacant.
According to the development application before council, the 47ha estate is called The
Green, and will include 1000 residential units, seniors’ residences, medical centres, clubs
and a restaurant.
In the application, the village is described as a “first of its kind, model lifestyle community
for the future”, which will showcase “cutting edge green technology” and a “back to basics
lifestyle”.
8. Urangan – $60 million hotel development
A $60 million investment in Hervey Bay tourism infrastructure is set to change the face of
Urangan Marina.
The investment, which has been kickstarted by the State Government, has the potential to
create more than 200 local jobs and extensive economic opportunities for the Fraser Coast
region.
The centrepiece of the Marina Square development is a 144-room, four-star hotel, the
construction of which would see 210 jobs created: 175 during the build and 35 full-time
roles in the long-term.
The facilitation agreement with Hervey Bay Boat Club and Club Property Solutions signals
an important step in the development of Marina Square at Urangan Harbour.
Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari said the project will prove a boost for jobs and
apprenticeships.
“This will mean more work for our tradies and the local construction industry, and that
will drive growth in our tourism industries,” Mr Tantari said.
“It will also commence the redevelopment of the boat harbour that has been talked about
for some time, enhancing Hervey Bay’s reputation as the premium whale watching
destination in Australia.”
9. Pialba – 16-storey tower development
A 16-storey development in Pialba was approved in March last year on what would be a
“transformational” development for the city’s CBD.
The developer of the site at 16-18 Charles St has four years to action the application which
includes a 16-storey residential tower, 150 units, rooftop bar and restaurant and several
ground floor retail and hospitality spaces.
It was understood that while technically the height guide for the land was eight storeys,
that does not mean the planning department is bound by that one element.
Instead, it is assessed on a “performance outcome” basis meaning planners are required
not be fixated on height but to look at the project and its benefits as a whole.
The proposal was considered to be “in the vicinity of” the cultural precinct where buildings
can be up to 20 storey"
10. Maryborough – Guzman Y Gomez
Mexican takeaway giant Guzman Y Gomez has unveiled plans to open a store in
Maryborough.
Plans for the new shop lodged with Fraser Coast Regional Council reveal the fast-food
giant is eyeing a shop at 306 Alice St. The building is currently home to auto electrical
services shop. According to the development application, the proposed eatery will be open
24 hours, seven days a week. It will also include a two-lane drive-through.
The application comes one year after Guzman Y Gomez opened a store on Main St in
Hervey Bay.
11. Maryborough – new service station and BP redevelopment
An application to upgrade a Maryborough petrol station, which will mean houses removed
to make way for a car wash and convenience store, has been approved with conditions by
the council.
The application for the BP at the intersection of Maryborough’s Saltwater Creek Rd and
Woodstock St, went before the Fraser Coast Regional Council in May. Deputy Mayor Paul
Truscott said while the proposal was approved, conditions were put in place.
That included limiting the hours of operation from 4am to 10pm daily for the service
station, 6am to 8pm Monday to Saturday for the car wash and 7am to 6pm on Sundays.
Mr Truscott said the council also approved the application on the condition landscaping
included semi-mature trees for planting, not young trees, that the removal of homes be the
preferred option over demolition and the colour scheme and character of the development
be sympathetic to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, a new petrol station at St Helens, near Maryborough, is well underway. The
petrol station will include a car wash and food and drinks outlet. Procon Developments set
forward the plan for the new service station.
The application was approved in 2019 and is under construction.
12. Maryborough – Maryborough Motel redevelopment
A controversial motel redevelopment which will allow for budget housing has been given
the green light. The Maryborough Motel at 298 Walker St currently provides short-term
accommodation for travellers and tourists, as well as acting as a conference centre.
The application for a material change of use, which will allow a redeveloped version of the
site to include permanent rental accommodation, was approved at a council meeting six
votes to four.
According to the proposal, the new motel will allow short-term accommodation for
travellers, but also include units for long-term living which is “currently in demand”. The
new-look motel will provide 44 units, 23 of those being in the existing motel and 21 as part
of the new accommodation.
13. Nikenbah – New Fraser Coast basketball centre
Basketball on the Fraser Coast is one step closer to having a new home, now that council
has approved a funding agreement for the first stage of a multimillion-dollar facility.
The $3m basketball stadium, which will be built at the Fraser Coast Sport and Recreation
Precinct at Nikenbah, will include two indoor courts and an outdoor court.
Mayor George Seymour spoke in support of the Hervey Bay Basketball Association’s
proposed facility at the council meeting in September. “This type of infrastructure is so
very important for our community,” Mr Seymour said.
Councillor Denis Chapman said it was great that basketball could now be at the Fraser
Coast Sports and Recreation Precinct.
“We might even be a bit of a hub for basketball here,” Mr Chapman said.
14. Eli Waters – new Aldi development
A new supermarket has been proposed for Hervey Bay, with a development application
lodged for an Aldi at Eli Waters.
The selected site for the 8000sq m development is at the corner of Serenity Dr and PialbaBurrum Heads Rd. There are three Aldi stores on the Fraser Coast – one at Maryborough,
one at Urraween and one at Urangan.
If the project is approved, developing the site is expected generate 30 store jobs as well as
construction jobs.
The store would initially serve a population pool of 20,567 people and an additional 1847
people by 2031, the proposal says.
While catering to Eli Waters and Dundowran, the development application notes the
intersection of Serenity Dr and Pialba-Burrum Heads Rd will need to be upgraded to
handle increased traffic.
15. Torbanlea – $229m train factory
In August, the sod was turned on the $239m factory that will generate 800 jobs on the
Fraser Coast and transform the township of Torbanlea.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders and Transport Minister
Mark Bailey were joined by Hervey Bay MP Adrian Tantari and Fraser Coast Mayor George
Seymour at the 120ha site on Ritchie Rd at Torbanlea for the official sod turning.
The project was announced in October 2021, as part of the government’s $7.1bn plan to
boost Queensland’s train manufacturing industry and build and operate 65 trains.
As well as helping to bring the Maryborough region back to its roots as a manufacturing
powerhouse, Ms Palaszczuk pointed out the benefits the project would have for local
workers and businesses.
She said early work would begin this year with major work at the site to be completed in
2023.
Article courtesy The Courier Mail 12/10/22
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