When Urbis design director Glen Power took on the riverbank redevelopment project, he wanted to create something that would rival the public spaces of Brisbane, Mackay and Townsville.
“We want this to be better than the Townsville Strand, better than the Cairns Esplanade and the Mackay Waterfront. Why shouldn’t Rockhampton have its own public realm space that is widely celebrated and used?” Mr Power said.
“We wanted to create something that Rockhampton would be incredibly proud of.”
Mr Power said the current Quay St layout had gone through an “exhaustive” design process of nearly 10 iterations in response to multiple site visits, constraint assessments as well as resident and business owner feedback.
GOING AHEAD: An artist’s impression for Rockhampton Regional Council’s riverbank development, which was supposed to begin phase one of construction on Tuesday.
He said larger shade trees had been located on an alignment around 7m from the building facade edge in an effort to open up views to the buildings from passing vehicles and pedestrians; as well as the inclusion of additional parking after concerns were raised by stakeholders.
“We lessened the impact of that in response to concerns,” he said.
“It is about celebrating the heritage facades, the river, the climate, providing a level of amenity and protection from the environment that I guess has been drilled into us from every Rockhampton person we met.”
Mr Power said the construction would lend itself to help the pockets of business people throughout Rockhampton as well.
“There is value in what it could bring to the residents and the retailers on that street. Greater footfall means greater opportunity,” he said.
“It is such a beautiful place, why shouldn’t it be celebrated?”
Mayor Margaret Strelow with members of the project crew Rodney Leis and Adrian Bacchetti with an artists impression of the planned riverbank development.