Palm Island Retail and Commercial Centre
RPS has worked with Economic Development Queensland and the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council to facilitate the construction of Palm Island’s first ever retail precinct.
Challenge
According to Palm Island’s local council, residents spend millions of dollars on the mainland in Townsville every year due to a lack of retail presence on the island.
To strengthen the island’s economy and provide job opportunities for residents, the State and Federal Governments contributed a combined $11 million towards the development of a town centre, including a retail precinct. However, local zoning regulations did not permit for a major development of this nature on the chosen site.
Solution
Based on the Palm Island Centre Development Plan created by RPS in 2015, our team prepared and lodged a development application with two primary goals:
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Varying the island’s Planning Scheme for development so it aligned with the Palm Island Town Centre Development Plan
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Rezoning the relevant land for use as the site of the retail precinct
As a result of RPS’ work the development application was approved, and construction of the Palm Island Retail and Commercial Centre was finalised in early 2020.
