Final Streetscape Plans Unveiled

An artist’s impression of Kingaroy CBD’s new streetscape after dark … wider footpaths will allow outdoor dining and rest benches; in-ground lighting will provide better illumination; and light poles honouring each of the region’s towns and villages will highlight Kingaroy as the South Burnett’s regional capital

September 8, 2020

The public will have the chance to comment on final plans for Kingaroy’s $11.3 million CBD revitalisation project later this month.

The plans for the new streetscape will displayed at Kingaroy Shoppingworld from September 21-25 with instructions on how to provide feedback.

Morning and evening community information sessions will also be held at Kingaroy Town Hall next Monday (September 14).

A site office for the project will also be opened at 180 Kingaroy Street at the end of the month which will be staffed until the project’s completion.

The site office will act as a first point of contact for residents and businesspeople who have questions or issues about the project once work gets under way.

Work on the first section – the Alford Street block between Youngman and Glendon streets opposite Shoppingworld – will begin in November.

The full project, which will take in the area bounded by Kingaroy, Youngman, Haly and Alford streets, is scheduled to be completed by June 2022.

The news that plans for the project have been completed was shared at the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s meet’n’greet at Kingaroy Town Hall on Tuesday night.

The presentation was introduced by South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto, who paid tribute to former Mayor Keith Campbell and his Council for driving the project, and past and present members of the KCCI for working patiently with Council for several years while funding was sought.

The Mayor also praised Council staff for working tirelessly to develop plans for the work, and contributing their ideas about how to make the project better.

SBRC Planning Manager James D’Arcy and Project Manager Allen Christensen told KCCI members the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) was contributing $4.5 million towards the project with Council contributing a matching amount.

Additional funding from Council, Transport and Main Roads and Ergon was expected to push the final cost above $11 million.

Under the terms of the BBRF agreement, Council is obliged to begin work within 12 weeks of signing.

The agreement stipulates the core $9 million in funding is not to be spent funding Council staff or equipment.

Because of this, Council will be employing local contractors as much as possible and only engaging external contractors where particular skill sets or equipment cannot be sourced locally.

Work will be carried out on below-ground infrastructure as well as above-ground beautification.

The aim of underground works is to upgrade ageing water, sewerage and telecommunications infrastructure and “future proof” the CBD so that technology upgrades can be installed easily without requiring pavements to be ripped up.

Above-ground works aim to reinvigorate the CBD to position Kingaroy as the region’s capital, helping to encourage economic development and future growth.

As part of the work, CBD footpaths will be widened by a metre.

This will allow outdoor dining areas to be established and street furniture such as benches and light poles to be installed.

Four per cent of the CBD’s parking bays will be redesigned for people with disabilities, and parking areas for RVs and caravans will also be established to encourage tourists to visit.

The CBD will also be replanted with trees. While the exact mix of evergreens and deciduous plants is still to be determined, Mr Christensen said the preference would be to use natives and local varieties because they were used to the climate and drought tolerant.

Council CEO Mark Pitt said it was inevitable the project would cause some disruption to CBD businesses as it was rolled out over the next two years.

He wanted to apologise in advance but said Council would seek to minimise disruptions as much as possible.