I am aware that an application in Benowa has been lodged with the city and look forward to a thorough assessment by our City’s development team.
Many neighbourhood centres on the Gold Coast are on large sites, often spanning up to 10,000 sqm, and are primarily under private ownership.
These centres, developed 20 or 30 years ago, often no longer align with our community’s contemporary commercial and retail expectations.
As a result, many owners of these sites are exploring redevelopment opportunities.
Given their strategic locations, these key sites present an opportunity not just for revitalisation, but also for delivering much-needed residential housing supply during the current housing crisis. Integrating residential development into these redevelopments is essential to addressing housing shortages as our city grows by more than 300,000 people to one million residents in the 2040s.
It also helps to ensure the long-term success of retail and commercial tenancies. A built-in residential population provides a steady flow of foot traffic, which is critical for the viability of businesses within these centres.
Neighbourhood centres play a vital role in our communities, serving as local hubs that offer essential services such as schools, shops, cafes and restaurants, hospitals and medical facilities.
Research from the work the city is currently doing developing its local growth management strategy is telling us people are more accepting of well-placed residential developments when they are supported by these kinds of amenities. By co-locating housing, commercial and retail offerings within these centres, we also importantly reduce reliance on cars, meaning residents can access services easier within a short walking or riding distance.
Beyond housing, redeveloped neighbourhood centres can also incorporate local design elements that reflect community expectations, including better landscaping, public plazas and green space, and eating and drinking outlets.
Many currently outdated sites currently use their land inefficiently, with large car parks occupying valuable space.
By relocating parking to basements or podiums, these areas can be transformed into vibrant, inviting community spaces rather than expansive bitumen parking lots.
Property owners are starting to recognise that maintaining the status quo is not sustainable. Without revitalising these spaces and integrating housing, these centres risk losing tenancies, foot traffic, and long-term business viability as customers will choose to shop at locations elsewhere that are more modern and enjoyable experiences.
Residential development is the key to ensuring our neighbourhood centres remain vibrant and sustainable for the future.
Mark Hammel is the chairman of the city planning committee