$5 million upgrade of Kingaroy’s CBD in March or April
Keith Campbell (Photo: SBRC)
January 23, 2018
Public consultation for the first stage of Kingaroy’s multi-million CBD upgrade seems likely to occur in March or April.
On Tuesday, South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell said he will be meeting with JFP Urban Consultants (JFP) next week.
JFP were commissioned to start design work on the Kingaroy project last November.
The company previously worked on the Nanango Town Centre streetscape project.
Mayor Campbell said he hoped next week’s meeting would help the Council set a firm timeline for when the public consultation process can begin.
It is believed the streetscaping project would include construction of a large sealed car park on vacant railway land at the rear of Haly Street’s shops that would connect to the existing King Street carpark.
Haly Street and part of Kingaroy Street – possibly as far as Markwell Street – would both be beautified.
Depending on public feedback, the upgrade may also include the closure of part of Glendon Street so the Town Hall forecourt could be extended across the road to form a “civic square” town centre.
The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed strong interest in being involved in the project at its December meeting.
Several other groups are also understood to be keen to have a say.
Mayor Campbell said he expects the designers to develop concept drawings to show what changes are being proposed, in a similar way to the Nanango CBD, Blackbutt Memorial Hall and Wondai Town Common projects.
“I think these are essential for any public consultation process,” the Mayor said.
“People want to see what the changes might look like, not chat about ideas.”
In December, the Council voted to apply for a $2 million grant from the infrastructure stream of the Building Better Regions Fund.
If its grant application is successful, the Council will also contribute $3 million of its own funds towards the project.
Work on the CBD upgrade is expected to begin next financial year.
This is such a great project. I only hope that the feedback is actually listened to this time around !
Will this mean that the dirty, untidy, unsafe and ugly buildings in Kingaroy Street opposite the BP/ RSL be demolished, surely. They do not do any thing but represent a very tired part of Kingaroy and does not allow those visiting our town to leave with the thought that Kingaroy is progressive.
No, it just means there will be some token effort somewhere in town whilst the bulk of the budget will be put towards extending the Council Chamber forecourt or some such – I would put money on the fact that the “improvements” will some how only be enjoyed by staff at the council.