Edmonton town centre master plan

Following the completion of the public notification period on the Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No.1 of 2009, Council was made aware that Queensland Health issued a notice to resume approximately 22ha of land of the Edmonton Town Centre Site.

On 8 December 2010 and as a result of this land acquisition over the site Council resolved to discontinue the previous Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No.1 of 2009 and commence a new amendment to consider the new health precinct on the Town Centre site. The new amendment is entitled Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No. 9 of 2010.

Council is currently undertaking public notification of the Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No. 9 of 2010 until Wednesday 3 August 2011.

Why a town centre?

It is the responsibility of Council to provide strategic direction to manage long-term growth, in order to deliver the best possible outcomes for future generations.

Progressive, strategic planning is vital to ensure appropriate, sequential development of the region to cater for the needs of this future population. Council needs to plan now to manage this increased growth and activity, to ensure it occurs in such a way that reflects the aspirations of the people who live and work there.

The Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 identifies that approximately two thirds of the region’s population growth, or around 70,000 people, will be accommodated within Cairns. Up to 50,000 people will ultimately live within the Mount Peter Master Planned Area. The Edmonton Town Centre will service this future population along with the existing population as the major regional activity centre within the southern corridor.

The FNQ Regional Plan confirms the location for the Edmonton Town Centre as vacant land known as Mann’s Farm (west of the Bruce Highway). The Regional Plan also identifies the Edmonton activity centre as a potential mixed use residential and commercial area, designed to maximize the efficient use of land with a high level of access to public transport – known as a Transit Orientated Community (TOC).

The FNQ Regional Plan also identifies preparing a master plan for the Edmonton major regional activity centre in the Short-term (0–5 years). Accordingly, Council is planning for the Edmonton Town Centre.

A well-planned, active and vibrant Town Centre accommodating a mix of uses will encourage people to live work and play in the area. By planning now for a more self-sustaining community, the region’s future population will not be reliant on the Cairns CBD for all employment, business dealings or access to services. Without such planning, the outlook is not sustainable, and traffic congestion on the Bruce Highway will occur as the growing number of Southern Corridor residents commute to and from the inner suburbs each day.

What is a town centre?

The Edmonton Town Centre will be much more than just a shopping centre and will include a variety of uses including residential, community facilities, commercial, showrooms (e.g. furniture and white goods), dining and entertainment opportunities, offices and a retail component, as well as open spaces where people can gather and hold public events. This is much like the Cairns CBD, which offers a wide mix of retail and service businesses, accommodation types, facilities and activities.

A well-planned community will be more self-sustaining, with a variety of local jobs, quality services and facilities, a high provision of public transport and good connectivity both within the community and with other parts of the Cairns region.

How did the planning for a town centre begin and how has it progressed?

Planning for a Town Centre in the Edmonton Region has been recognised for more than a decade.

Published in 2000, the Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2010 first recognised the need for an employment centre at Edmonton. The plan stated that there was a need to identify and commence the establishment of a Sub-Regional employment/service centre at or near Edmonton to meet the demands of an increasing population.

In December 2004, Council, Queensland Transport, and the Urban Design Alliance of Queensland, held a workshop to plan for the future growth of Edmonton. The workshop considered three possible locations for a town centre and found that the Mill Road option was most suitable.  This location was confirmed by a Planning Assessment Report for determining the location of The Edmonton Town Centre prepared by Council October 2006. In November 2006 Council formally resolved to include the Edmonton Town Centre on the western side of the highway in the area generally known as Mann’s farm.

A Technical Working Group (TWG) was formed and met regularly during 2007 to progress the planning for the Edmonton Town Centre. The TWG included participants from the Council, Department of Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland Transport, Department of Main Roads and the land owner appointed consultants.

In May 2007 an Enquiry-by-Design (EbD) process was undertaken to plan the desired outcomes for the Edmonton Town Centre.  The Workshop involved local landowners as well as representatives of the Council; State Government Agencies, local businesses and consultants.

In December 2007 Council resolved to prepare an amendment to the CairnsPlan to reinforce the location and desired development outcomes for the Edmonton Town Centre west of the Bruce Highway. This (previous) Edmonton Town Centre amendment (2008 No.1) aims to reinforce the location, and desired development outcomes for the Edmonton Town Centre and has always been considered as an overarching amendment.

In August 2008 a detailed design workshop was held with Council Staff, State Government Agencies along with land owner appointed consultants attending. The outcomes of the Design Workshop were used to inform the basis the Planning Scheme amendment to facilitate the future development of the Edmonton Town Centre.

The current Edmonton Town Amendment 2009 No.1 is grounded by submissions received during the public notification of the first Edmonton Town Centre amendment (2008 No. 1).

In July 2009 Council resolved to endorse both a revised CairnsPlan Town Centres Amendment 2009 No.1 for the purpose of a first State interest review and a new Planning Scheme Policy – Requirements for Town Centre Master Plan.

Following a Councillor workshop in August 2009 it was agreed that the Town Centres amendment (Edmonton and Smithfield) would be split to separate amendments for each town centre.

In August 2009 Council resolved to undertake a Schedule 1 Amendment to the Planning Scheme for the Former City of Cairns, CairnsPlan to include the Edmonton Town Centre Amendment 2009 No.1. Council also resolved to endorse the amendment for the purpose of a first State interest review in accordance with the Integrated Planning Act 1997.

On 28 August 2009 the then Minister for Infrastructure and Planning advised Council may notify the proposed amendment subject to complice with Ministerial conditions.

On 9 June 2010 Council resolved to undertake Public Notification of the Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No.1 of 2009 for a period of at least 30 business days in accordance with Schedule 1, Part 2 Section 12 of the Integrated Planning Act 1997.

Public consultation of the Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No.1 of 2009 was undertaken from 15 June 2010 until 30 July 2010.  Following the completion of the public notification period Council was made aware that Queensland Health issued a notice to resume approximately 20ha of land (plus approximately 2ha for road provision) of the Edmonton Town Centre Site.

On 8 December 2010 and as a result of this land acquisition over the site Council resolved to discontinue the previous Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No.1 of 2009 and commence a new amendment to consider the new health precinct on the Town Centre site. The new amendment is entitled Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No. 9 of 2010 and will be undertaken in accordance with the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and under the Statutory Guideline 02/09 - Making or amending local planning instruments.

In June 2011 Council received correspondence from the State Government to advise that the Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No. 9 of 2010 may undertake Public Notification in accordance with the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and under the Statutory Guideline 02/09 - Making or amending local planning instruments.

Where to next?

The Edmonton Town Centre Amendment No. 9 of 2010 has now commenced public notification. The public notification process provides the opportunity for public submissions to be received on the proposed amendment. The public notification period will occur until 3 August 2010.