Beating Heart not new
Sue Brooks February 23rd, 2010
A point of clarification or correction is needed in relation to the front page story (FCC 23/2/10). The $170 million dollar ‘beating heart for the Bay’ was mostly approved by the then Hervey Bay City Council in August 2007 prior to amalgamation. The development was one of the first to be approved with the eight storey height limit allowed under the current Hervey Bay Planning Scheme. The development is not ‘new’ and was never ‘a secret’ and was mentioned in the Chronicle at the time of approval I believe.
Hervey Bay City Council in fact gave the green light over 2.5 years ago. Recently the development has been extended with a further parcel of land adjoining the site at 23 Main St approved in December last year. I expect that the developers may need to seek an extension of time if they cannot commence construction within the allocated time frame allowed after gaining their approval in 2007.
The face of Hervey Bay is set to change dramatically if all the approved developments go ahead. There are many other significant 8 storey developments and mixed use developments already approved but not commenced. Two examples that come to mind are the redevelopment of the Beach house Hotel to 8 storeys and the site on Boat Harbour Drive diagonally opposite Bunnings. While I don’t support and haven’t ever supported wall to wall high rise alongside our foreshore I believe this Charles/Main St development will be a positive step in revitalizing the ‘beach end’ of Main St.
FYI Details of approvals…
513/3-051287 – Approved 15 August 2007 – Invergowrie Properties P/L – MCU- Multiple Units in Excess of Two Storeys & Shops (245 Units & Shops) & ROL – 3 Lots into 2 Lots – 16-18 & 20 Charles St Pialba and Lot 3 Charles St Pialba
513/3-051288 – Approved 15 August 2007 – Invergowrie Properties P/L – MCU- Multiple Units in Excess of Two Storeys (12), Shops, Office & Restaurants – 9-25 Main Street Pialba
513/3-081847 – Approved 9 December 2009 – Invergowrie Properties P/L – MCU – Offices & Shops – 23 Main Street Pialba
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It all sounds interesting but how a sprawling city like Hervey Bay can ever have a ‘CBD’ is beyond me.
While we are talking CBDs, I can not for the life of me understand how council will get any change in Maryborough’s main streets. Tenants in CBD shops at the moment struggle to get even the simplest of repairs done by greedy land lords and below average real estate agencies so please can someone explain how exactly council plans to ‘revitalise’ the CBD as your fellow councilor O’Connell keeps telling us?
I did however have to laugh at the sms to the editor today from an author who somehow thought council was stumping up $170m to build the Hervey Bay precinct. It just goes to show how naive many in the community are and how little most know of the function of councils.