Regional Economic Development

Designs on new Maroochydore CBD

BUILT ENVIRONMENT construction giant John Holland is taking a stake in the re-imagined new Maroochydore city centre, looking at a completed development value of more than $200 million.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with John Holland representatives, the University of the Sunshine Coast and SunCentral Maroochydore Pty Ltd . The deal opens the way for negotiations on developing multiple lots in the city centre.

Discussions between the parties include potential pre-commitments from the Sunshine Coast Council and the University of the Sunshine Coast, subject to further negotiations.

Mayor Jamieson said the MoU demonstrated the “superb, quality investment opportunity that the Maroochydore city centre offers in one of the fastest growing and most dynamic regions in Australia”. 

“To have a company of the calibre of John Holland, with an international track record, seeking a significant stake in the new Maroochydore city centre is a huge vote of confidence by a Tier One property developer in the future of the Sunshine Coast,” Cr Jamieson said.

“We are creating Australia’s first truly smart city for the 21st Century – one which will generate thousands of construction jobs, more than 15,000 permanent jobs and provide a $4.4 billion boost for the local economy.
“John Holland obviously understands the value in being part of the early stages of this development and the growth trajectory of our region, with the development of a new CBD, the opening of the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the expansion of the Sunshine Coast Airport and our plans for an international broadband submarine cable linking the region directly to global markets.”

Sunshine Coast Council has already committed to having its primary civic presence in the core commercial precinct.

“This will include customer service facilities, a council chamber and work space accommodation for staff and Councillors, although we will continue to maintain a decentralised work force at Caloundra and Nambour,” Cr Jamieson said.

“Our council represents the whole region and will always ensure it maintains a strong presence in major centres like Nambour and Caloundra, in the interests of accessibility to our customers and our community.

“But equally it is important that our presence in Maroochydore is consolidated and housed in a corporate headquarters in our new city centre.”

John Holland CEO Joe Barr said the Maroochydore CBD development was a landmark project which would leave a legacy for future generations on the Sunshine Coast.
Mr Barr said the company believed the city centre had enormous potential, being in the heart of one of the nation’s most desirable and fastest growing regions and just 10 minutes from Australia’s newest international airport, due to open in late 2020.
“If you look at what’s happening right now and the infrastructure being rolled out, it’s very clear the Sunshine Coast is on the move and has an incredibly bright future,” Mr Barr said.
“John Holland is keen to pursue this development opportunity and we look forward to releasing further detail about our proposal in due course.”
The Sunshine Coast is not new to John Holland, having successfully delivered the $150 million Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital in Kawana, which opened in 2013.
The company also has a strong development pipeline with investments in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
University of the Sunshine Coast vice-chancellor, Greg Hill said the university was participating in the exclusive negotiations with John Holland, the council and SunCentral Maroochydore, with a view to a future presence in the Maroochydore city centre. This may include a combination of student accommodation, teaching and community spaces.
“This is an exciting opportunity, and, after working together for 20 years, our partnership with Sunshine Coast Council is being taken to a new level,” Professor Hill said.
SunCentral chairperson Doug McTaggart said submissions had been received from companies across a range of sectors since expressions of interest in the core commercial precinct opened last year.

“The core commercial precinct in the Maroochydore city centre includes lots for commercial office buildings, retail space and approximately 600 residential apartments, as well as a new waterway, parks and plazas,” Dr McTaggart said.
“John Holland’s proposal for the Maroochydore CBD is certainly impressive and discussions with their representatives are well advanced.

John Holland’s submission could see the company awarded development rights over key commercial lots currently in the market.

“This is just the beginning. It’s very clear that the Sunshine Coast region is coming of age and the future is here” Mayor Jamieson said.

www.johnholland.com.au

www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

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Cairns Marine Precinct upgrade is afloat

THE Federal Government has confirmed funding of $24 million toward the upgrade of the Cairns Marine Precinct.

Agreements have been signed with Norship Marine, BSE Cairns Slipways and Tropical Reef Shipyard with funding to flow from the Federal Government to undertake a variety of works to increase the capability and capacity of the existing shipyards.

The Cairns Marine Precinct provides facilities and support services to the Australian Defence Force while providing a critical contribution to the local economy and local jobs, according to Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne. 

Mr Pyne said the projects would include over 170m of wharf construction, upgrades to electrical and fire systems, workshop construction, security systems, hardstand resurfacing and construction of an additional 135m of slipway rail.

“More than $400 million of maintenance work on the replacement fleet of up to 21 Pacific Patrol Boats will be conducted here,” Mr Pyne said.

Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the delivery of this commitment would ensure Cairns was well placed to secure additional maintenance and sustainment work for commercial customers and the Royal Australian Navy.

“Over 1,300 people are employed in the shipbuilding, repair and service sectors in the region,” Mr Entsch said.

“This work will sustain immediate construction jobs, and also long term shipbuilding and maintenance work right here in Cairns.”

This $24 million investment is in addition to the Federal Government’s $420 million investment to develop additional wharf space and other support facilities at HMAS Cairns.

While the government is investing in the upgrades, the works themselves will be managed by the shipyards involved.

www.defence.gov.au

www.cairns.qld.gov.au

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Call for certainty on Qld infrastructure projects

A MID-YEAR  update to the Queensland Major Projects Pipeline report has shown that state revenue from major construction projects is expected to rise by 140 percent by 2021.

The report, released by the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA), Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) and the Infrastructure Association of Queensland (IAQ), suggests that public infrastructure and local procurement preferences will deliver a major boost to Queensland’s economy over the next five years.

It also confirmed that the increased number of civil construction workers recruited during the mining construction boom period between 2003 and 2013 meant demand could be met if projects do not suffer serious delays or obstructions.

The first of its kind in Australia, the report detailed a five-year pipeline and forecast of both public and private sector engineering projects in excess of $50 million across Queensland. The half yearly report update identified the need for continuous access to up-to-date information. Its authors said the infrastructure industry’s outlook could change quickly, based on whether or not a major project was on track. 

QMCA president Iain Ward said he was pleasantly surprised by the findings.

“Things are really looking up for Queensland,” Mr Ward said.

“I’m encouraged by the mid-year results and look forward to seeing further improvements as new opportunities are identified and funded.

“I’m also excited by the progress some of our larger projects are making, such as Inland Rail, Cross River Rail and Adani that are all great wins for the state.

“Now what we need is surety so we don’t lose momentum,” he said.

“Our industry is closely tied to Queensland’s economy so we’re vulnerable to a range of external factors. As well as influences such as commodity prices and the Australian dollar, there’s also the very real threat of damaging global trade sanctions, which have the potential to be devastating.

“We need to build a sustainable industry that is confident and resilient to political change which means making a commitment to future projects and securing funding in a more timely manner.” 

IAQ CEO, Steve Abson, said funding announcements for major projects had improved the outlook for the infrastructure sector, and members were reporting more confidence in Queensland.
“The biggest challenge we now face is the ability of all levels of Government – Federal, State and Local – to commit to future project funding,” Mr Abson said.

“There are some significant projects in the pipeline, particularly for regional Queensland, and considerable question marks over how they will be funded.”

CSQ CEO Brett Schimming said since the original report was launched in April, the value of the major funded Queensland engineering construction projects had increased.

“Specifically, funded work in the pipeline has increased by 17 percent to $25.1 billion, work under construction has lifted 19 percent to $19.6 billion and announced work has increased 47 percent to $3.9 billion,” Mr Schimming said.

“While it has been a difficult transition from the sharp falls which followed the historic highs reached in 2012/13, increased funded and committed projects have reduced the risks to the industry and it would appear the worst has now passed for Queensland.”

Mr Schimming said the outlook for Queensland’s construction workforce continued on the path outlined in the April report with the civil construction workforce expected to focus on delivering public infrastructure for the next few years.

http://csq.org.au/csq/media/Common/publications/QMCA-2017-MPR-Update.pdf

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New potential pumped hydro storage sites identified

MORE THAN 18,000 sites across New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have been identified as possible locations for pumped hydro energy storage.

The sites have been identified as part of work being carried out by the Australian National University which is supported by a $449,000 grant through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). 

The aim of the study is to develop a nationwide map of potential sites for establishing off-river pumped hydro storage and builds on the 5,195 potential sites identified in South Australia, Queensland, ACT and in and around Alice Springs earlier this year.

“Investing in renewable storage technologies, such as pumped hydro and batteries, will play a key role into securing an affordable and reliable energy network in Australia,” Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said.

“The Turnbull Government is already supporting a major expansion of the Snowy Hydro scheme and looking at further hydro-electricity and pumped storage opportunities in Tasmania, the Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia and Kidston in Queensland.”

Pumped hydro energy storage involves using renewable energy systems to pump water uphill to a storage reservoir and releasing it through a turbine to provide additional energy into the electricity grid when it is needed. Pumped hydro accounts for 97 percent of energy storage worldwide. The potential sites have only been assessed on a geographic basis at this stage.

“As the Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel noted in his review of the National Electricity Market, pumped hydro storage systems are the most mature electrical energy storage systems available,” Mr Frydenberg said.

www.arena.gov.au

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McDonald’s Eagleby serves up diversity, innovation

THE NEW McDONALD’S restaurant at Eagleby, accessible off the M1 Motorway mid-way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast beaches, has thrived since it opened on November 17, providing more than 100 new jobs in the area.

The development of this particular McDonald’s restaurant is significant not only for its location at Eagleby, a quiet residential community on the eastern side of the M1 opposite the better-known regional township of Beenleigh on the western side, but also for its being able to draw upon the multi-cultural local community for staff.   

It also incorporates a range of innovations that are attuned to the local community and the adjacent motorway location, including an air-conditioned private meeting boardroom, available free of charge and complete with data screen and wifi.

Licensee of McDonald’s Eagleby, Janelle MacGinley, said the 24/7 restaurant had the advantage of being able to draw upon the multi-cultural richness that differentiates Logan from many other South-East Queensland cities. From the outset, Ms MacGinley said the McDonald’s Eagleby had been positioned to draw upon family values and emerging social themes of collaborative economic sustainability, supporting local employment opportunities across broad ethnicities and age groups.

“The interest for employment in our new Eagleby restaurant has been astounding, we had approximately 700 applications and interviewed approximately 300,” Ms MacGinley said. “The new restaurant will now provide more than 100 jobs in Eagleby which is fantastic for all age groups and all skill levels. 

“We are particularly excited about deepening our links into the local education community, giving local young people pathways into hospitality futures through work experience to gain employment program.  We worked closely with Beenleigh State High and in fact did a hiring session at the school. This provided an opportunity for many students to apply for a position, experience the interview process and hiring requirements,” Ms MacGinley said.

 “We are proud to harness the talents and enthusiasm of the local talent to diversify our Eagleby crew by creating jobs and energising the local community.”

McDonald’s Eagleby is the fifth restaurant in the Logan region for Janelle MacGinley, who is supported in the business by her husband, Peter, a local accountant.

“We know as a McDonald’s licensee that success comes from challenging the norm, from adapting and innovating, from creating new trends and pioneering different solutions.”

Ms MacGinley is now in charge of about 500 full-time and part-time crew and managers across her restaurants, including the new Eagleby operation.

Her staff is comprised of a diverse  range of people, from those who are still in high school or further education through to managers, including a number of graduates.  and she is well supported in the business with her accountant husband Peter.

“McDonald’s has changed and grown, but it still prides itself on being a first job for many, a community partner, and ready to serve its customers 24 hours, seven days a week,” she said.

A much-spoken about innovation is the air-conditioned private meeting boardroom at McDonald’s Eagleby, with its data screen and wifi. The room is available to all in the local community and businesses.

“We expect mothers groups, home-led retail enterprises, prayer groups, sporting groups, in fact any group will be welcome to utilise this facility,” Ms MacGinley said. “We recommend the meeting be pre-booked to avoid disappointment.  Establishing meeting spaces at no cost to the user is a bonus to the community as we strive to bring together students, community, and industry in the Logan region.

“To quote an important McDonald’s slogan, McDonald’s has good food, good people and is a good neighbour,” Ms MacGinley said.

www.mcdonalds.com.au

 

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Capricorn region fought floods and ‘fake’ news

THE economic impact of major flooding in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Debbie in April was bad enough without the economic hit that evolved from inaccurate and sensational media coverage of Queensland’s Capricornia region.

That was the overwhelming view of business leaders in the Rockhampton region, from a business survey conducted by Capricorn Enterprise with its members. Nominated as “the one thing that must be done better in future” was correct media reporting of the situation. 

The survey suggested sensationalist media reporting did more economic damage to businesses than the actual flood waters “and media outlets need to be held to account”.

Survey recipients also said the Rockhampton Airport closure had huge financial impacts on all businesses.

About 90 percent of survey respondents stated that they were able to trade during the Fitzroy River flood with all respondents stating they suffered income loss during the event. 

About 80 percent of survey respondents were Capricorn Coast – Yeppoon, Emu Park, Great Keppel Island – businesses and 20 percent were Rockhampton businesses.

During the two week period from March 27 to  April 9, 25 percent of businesses surveyed lost between $50,000 to $200,000 in revenue, with 50 percent suffering losses of between $10,000 and $50,000. Another 25 percent of businesses surveyed lost up to $10,000 in trade.

Surveyed businesses stated that the two main reasons for loss of trade and financial hardship was due to cancellation of flights because of the Rockhampton Airport closure and “media mis-information and/or sensationalism”.

“These results accurately reflect the public comments made by Capricorn Enterprise during the event as our peak holiday season was greatly affected by both southern media sensationalism and closure of the Rockhampton Airport,” Capricorn Enterprise chief executive Mary Carroll said.

“Not surprisingly, additional marketing is the major request from our members following the Fitzroy River flood,” she said.

Capricorn Enterprise worked closely with tourism operators and took part in a whole-of-state $2 million Tourism and Events Queensland campaign during April and May in the key markets of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and regional Queensland.

Ms Carroll said, “Studio 10 (Channel 10 network) was the only prime time breakfast program that helped us get the correct message out on Friday April 7, 2017, to a national audience, with their four-minute story then being viewed on Facebook 118,000 times with 1,424 shares and 100 affirmative comments.

“Channel 7’s Sunrisestated on air that they would return to our destination to deliver a positive news story and we will keep them to that promise. My comment demanding factual reporting on the Sunrise Facebook page on Saturday, April 1, received over 100,000 Likes, 267 shares and over 100 affirmative comments.  When is mainstream metropolitan media going to listen to the people?”

www.capricornenterprise.com.au

www.capricornholidays.com.au 

 

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Townsville gets Australia’s first City Deal

ALL THREE LEVELS of government have agreed on and released an Implementation Plan for the Townsville City Deal.

The Townsville City Deal – the first in Australia, described as the roadmap for the city’s future – has had its implementation plan agreed and approved by Assistant Federal Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor, Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill.

The plan outlines milestones over the next five years and maps out the key contributions of each government to deliver on the commitments.

Major projects covered by the Townsville City Deal include North Queensland Stadium, Townsville Water Security Taskforce, Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre, and the business cases for the Port of Townsville Channel Capacity Upgrade and Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor (TEARC).

The concept behind the City Deal is that it’s a full package of initiatives and investments that bring together all three levels of government and the private sector,” Mr Taylor said.

“All of the commitments in this roadmap are geared towards growing the economy of Townsville and strengthening Townsville as a prosperous and lifestyle-rich city. Following the agreement of the City Deal in December, our next goal has been to map out exactly what each government will do and when.”

Ms Trad said the Townsville City Deal was already delivering for North Queensland.

“We are committed to fully implementing Australia’s first ever City Deal in Townsville because we know that it will deliver jobs and economic growth across the entire region,” Ms Trad said. 

“A number of City Deal projects are already well advanced – expressions of interest have opened for work on the North Queensland Stadium, the Townsville Water Security Taskforce is in place and the board of the Townsville-based Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia has been announced.”

Mayor Hill said timeframes and implementation details would be refined as progress was made.

“This plan sets out a clear path for Townsville’s future prosperity and I thank our local stakeholders who are representing the community at the partnership forums to keep the City Deal firmly focused on what Townsville needs,” Cr Hill said.

“These partnership forums will also help identify new opportunities and attract other investment to complement Townsville City Deal initiatives.”

The Implementation Plan milestones include:

North Queensland Stadium – managing contractor to be announced in the second quarter of 2017;

Townsville Water Security Taskforce – delivery of interim report by the second quarter of 2017;

Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre – refinement of feasibility study by the third quarter of 2017;

Channel Capacity Upgrade - business case completed by the second quarter of 2017;

Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor (TEARC) – completion of business case by the end of 2017.

A report on the progress against key milestones will be released each year. The first will be released before the end of 2017.

https://cities.dpmc.gov.au/townsville-city-deal

 

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