Hervey Bay City Centre

Fraser Coast residents are being asked to review and provide feedback on a new Draft Master Plan to guide the future shape and direction of the Hervey Bay City Centre over the next 20 years.

Deputy Mayor Darren Everard said Council had been overwhelmed by the support and significant community input into early consultation rounds, which resulted in a range of ideas about what should be preserved and what could be improved for our future city centre.

“Fraser Coast Regional Council is partnering with the Australian Government through the Hinkler Regional Deal to breathe new life and opportunities into the Hervey Bay City Centre,” he said.

“The redevelopment of the Hervey Bay City Centre will be the catalyst for activating an attractive, vibrant, resilient, environmentally sustainable and liveable community and economy.

“The Hervey Bay City Centre Draft Master Plan has pulled together the views of all to offer a picture of what the future looks like, but more importantly, how to get there.”

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said getting community input on what will be one of the most significant redevelopments in Hervey Bay was a key stage in the process.

“Talk of creating a true city centre in Hervey Bay has been around for years, even decades, and now its funded and planning is underway, it’s important that it has the right facilities to accommodate growth in the region,” he said.

“I encourage Hervey Bay residents, families, businesses and community organisations to get involved and have their say on the draft master plan.

“The aim of the Hinkler Regional Deal is to have a clear delivery plan for the infrastructure and new opportunities in Hervey Bay, and Bundaberg, to ensure these projects support the future needs of the region. “A number of commitments under the Hinkler Regional Deal are progressing well: the Hervey Bay Airport upgrade was finished last year and the Fraser Coast Hospice will open next month.”

Actions proposed in the Hervey Bay City Centre Draft Master Plan include, but are not limited to:

• Streetscape improvements;
• Improving walking, cycling and scooter networks;
• Better connection between the beach and the City Centre;
• New outdoor venues for events;
• Phasing out surface car parking for new retail, employment and community service uses;
• Enhancing City Park as Hervey Bay’s main civic parkland;
• The development of a new library and Council administration centre;
• Improving public transport access;
• Encouraging better buildings; and
• Encouraging the university to grow and diversify education options.

Cr Denis Chapman said Council was conducting a second round of engagement to consult with the community to test and refine the thinking proposed within the current draft.

“Council is seeking feedback from the community to understand their views on the draft Master Plan and the strategies proposed, and which of those are the priorities in the short, medium and long term,” he said.

Residents are encouraged to review the Draft Hervey Bay City Centre Master Plan, complete the online survey or find out other ways to have a say by visiting Council’s Engagement Hub page at https://frasercoast.engagementhub.com.au/hervey-bay-city-centre-revitalisation-project

All survey participants who provided contact details will go into the draw to win a $250 Buy Local Gift Card. The survey closed on 15 October 2021.

Council will also held stakeholder workshops, two ‘open house’ events at the Beach House in October and had a kiosk display at the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre in Pialba for two weeks. The kiosk was attended in person at stages and included copies of the Draft Master Plan and survey forms.

Once it is formally adopted later this year, the Hervey Bay City Centre Master Plan will be used as a key decision making tool to protect and guide local growth as it occurs over the next 20 years.

The Hinkler Regional Deal for the Bundaberg–Hervey Bay region is an Australian Government initiative in partnership with the local councils that seeks to build on the area’s strengths to provide economic growth and long term employment.

Under the Deal, the Hervey Bay City Centre redevelopment will receive $40 million from the Australian Government.

For more on the Regional Deal, visit www.regional.gov.au/regional/deals/Hinkler.aspx

For more information on the Hervey Bay City Centre Revitalisation and the master plan project, visit https://frasercoast.engagementhub.com.au/hervey-bay-city-centre-revitalisation