STALLED DEVELOPMENTS: Promised projects that haven’t begun
From new shopping centres to high-rise apartments and resort developments, here’s the latest on 20 projects that have been promised across the Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast regions.
Rockhampton
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Over the years developers have spruiked flashy plans for exciting new projects across the Central Queensland region; many of which were either never submitted to council for approval or stalled despite getting the green light to go ahead.
We’ve done a deep dive into the projects proposed for the Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast regions in times gone by to find out what their futures look like.
Capricorn Resort
With weeds taking over the gardens and the once-largest resort pool in the Southern Hemisphere turning greener by the day, whether the Capricorn Resort will ever reopen as a full-service resort remains unclear.
The resort closed abruptly in 2016 and while Japanese restaurant Tsuruya and the Capricorn Golf Course remain open, the rest of the resort appears completely abandoned, overgrown and crumbling – a sad scene for the many guests that visited over the decades.
Plans for a $600 million redevelopment were submitted to the Queensland Government in 2013 with approvals continually extended over the years.
The redevelopment is for a five-star world class integrated eco-tourism resort on the 1500-hectare site.
It would include 300 rooms, 1-2 star caravan and recreation vehicle park, eco-friendly cabins, wellness centre, parks and recreation facilities and airstrip.
Wagyu cattle is currently on the property and a farm would be part of the redevelopment for farm stays, cattle and sheep farming and educational activities.
The existing 331-rooms would be refurbished.
A residential community of 8000 properties and village centre with retail, restaurants and sales offices would also be built.
A solar and wind farms will be constructed to power the redevelopment.
The construction is expected to be completed over 20 years, creating 8500 jobs and once operational it would employ 2160 people.
The latest government approval project lapse date is November 2022.
Zilzie Bay resort:
It was hoped the sale of Zilzie Bay Resort in 2018 would lead to a reopening or redevelopment but the site has continued to remain vacant and abandoned.
A Chinese company, the Yuexing Group, bought the 41.8 hectare resort and golf course for $6.9 million, and a further 12.5 hectares of nearby land for $1.1 million.
A project scope was tendered to Place Design Group to include world-class accommodation and tourism facilities, lakes and water features, retail and restaurant facilities.
There were also plans for ocean access to Great Keppel Island from Coorooman Creek.
The project, however, was placed on hold due to COVID-19.
Developer Chris Dadson built the Great Barrier Reef Resort in the early 2000s which was open for a few years and hosted many weddings and events before it closed in 2014.
The 18-hole golf course, was constructed in 2006 and was the largest synthetic golf course in the world at the time.
Mr Dadson also subdivided the nearby land and sold it off in residential lots.
Airport motel
Plans for a $12 million 101-unit motel and function facility at the entrance of the Rockhampton Airport were presented in 2014.
The staged development also included plans for a restaurant, 320-plus commercial car park, corporate offices, training/meeting rooms and a childcare facility.
Wade and Trent Hind of Calibre Earthmoving and Environmental were behind the development at the Hunter Street site.
At the time there were concerns about flooding but it was reported the site did not go under in the 2011/12 flood and there would be very insignificant impact from floods.
No official development application was lodged for the project.
The Morning Bulletin understands discussions with council have been ongoing in the past six months about the project.
Plaza Hotel
In early 2019 the Rockhampton Plaza Hotel owners unveiled plans for a $1.6 billion, 38-story high-rise building which would include apartments, a school, gymnasium, hotel management college, five-level shopping centre, 1600 sqm rooftop restaurant and entertainment venues.
A formal development application was never submitted.
Rockhampton Regional Council’s planning scheme has a maximum of 12 storeys in certain areas.
Chang Holdings bought the property in 1996 for $3 million and it has been reported to have been closed since around 2015.
The seven-story 66-room building has been listed for lease a number of times in the past few years but nothing has eventuated.
The last potential management partner, Vision Hotel Group, stepped away due to what it claimed was non-compliant pest control in the contract.
It was reported there were holes in the floor and roof, towels and cleaning materials left in hallways, piles of linen left in rooms, stained carpets and a leaking roof on the sixth floor.
The gardens and swimming pool are visibly unkempt from the road.
It was last listed for rent in February with no price provided.
William Street residential development
A $14 million inner-city residential/commercial building was earmarked in 2016 for 37 William Street, on the corner with East Lane where a carpark is currently located.
Rockhampton Regional Council revealed plans for a seven-storey building with 35 apartments and two commercial spaces on the ground floor.
Terrace houses with two-storeys were also planned to be built along Market Lane to the rear.
The development went by the wayside due to the downturn in the economy at the time for the sale of the units.
Roxi’s Marketplace
A new retail precinct, Roxi’s Marketplace, was proposed in 2017 off Moores Creek Road, behind the North Rockhampton cemetery.
A project by well known Rockhampton developer Ravi Setu, the $5m development was to have a delicatessen, convenience shop, fruit and vegetable shop, coffee shop, eatery and service station.
It was reported it would support 100 jobs once open and 30-40 jobs during construction.
The land was put on the market in January 2019 for $995,000 with the full development approval, however has not sold.
Ellida
The housing estate has been in the works for more than a decade, but construction has yet to begin.
Stockland revealed plans for the $575 million residential estate in 2010 to include 2,200 residential lots, parkland, a community hall clubhouse, sports courts, pedestrian and cycle pathways and park shelter and barbecue facilities.
Dubbed Ellida, it was to be built in Parkhurst near the shopping centre, off William Palfrey Road.
The retail and property giant bought the land for $10 million in 2011.
The first three stages were approved in 2018 with an approval until 2022.
Cambridge Hotel
The former Cambridge Hotel site on Bolsover Street near the Pilbeam Theatre remains a dirt car park more than six years after the hotel building was demolished.
The hotel suddenly closed in June 2015, putting 20 people out of jobs, and the building was demolished in the November.
While there have been rumours over the years, no development plans have ever been officially lodged with the council for the site.
The property at 71 Bolsover Street was put on the market in 2019 for an undisclosed price however it was only listed for seven days.
It last sold in 1998 for $1.85 million to a private Sydney-based company, RAP Investments.
Former St John’s Hospital site
From hospitals to a 200-unit riverbank high-rise, the site at 42-46 Victoria Parade has been vacant for many years.
Australian golfer Adam Scott bought the block in 2007 for a reported $15 million.
Plans were first approved in 2006 for a high-rise development.
The last approval was for 10-storeys and expired in 2017, leaving the site with no existing approval.
No further development application has been lodged and the land use remains ‘vacant’.
The site was formerly the Tannachy, built in the 1880s for the one of the original shareholders of the Mount Morgan Mine.
It became Tannachy Private Hospital in 1922 and in 1961, the Rockhampton Anglican Diocese took it over and renamed it St John’s Hospital.
The hospital stopped operating around the mid-90s and all of the buildings were demolished around 2001.
The Pearl Wellness Resort and Spa
The wheels have started to move again recently on the long-awaited Pearl Wellness Resort and Spa at Tanby Point, Emu Park.
Spruiked as the region’s first five-star resort, the multimillion-dollar development was first approved in 2011.
The development will have 201 units with 333 bedrooms, commercial space, a 50-seat high-class restaurant, conference rooms, a lounge bar, indoor sports facility and a health spa retreat.
Earlier this year the developer, Moondaze, applied for a commercial hotel liquor license with proposed trading hours from 10am to 12am, Monday to Sunday.
The latest council approval sought for the development extends until 2027.
Gracemere Shopping Centre expansion
A sign stating “future retail development” has been erected on the vacant land across from Gracemere Shoppingworld for years but it remains unclear what that would look like.
Shopping centre owner McConaghy Group completed a $30 million expansion in 2011 when Woolworths, Best & Less and McDonalds were opened.
The Morning Bulletin has not been able to find plans for a further development.
Great Keppel Island resort redevelopment
The redevelopment at the Great Keppel Island Resort would be one of Central Queensland’s most anticipated projects.
Hugely popular in the 80s and 90s, the slogan “get wrecked” on Keppel was widely known.
Tower Holdings took over the resort in 2006 and it was closed in 2008, terminating 120 jobs.
Since then the resort has gradually fallen into disrepair and has been subject to vandalism and arson.
Over the years it has become a political football with millions promised for the island for upgraded power, water, infrastructure and access.
A resort redevelopment was approved in 2013 and included a new five-star beachfront hotel with 250 suites, day spa, restaurants, swimming pools and retail shops.
There would also be a 250 berth marina with yacht club and ferry terminal, including retail precinct, 700 luxury villas and 300 luxury apartments.
An 18 hole championship golf course designed by Greg Norman is included and a new commercial airstrip.
Altum Property Group has been working to take over Tower Holdings’ lease of the site to progress the plans, but it was reported this week it would not receive the leases required.
Altum has now plans to build and let eco glamping tents on Great Keppel Island’s Fisherman’s Beach.
Rocky Stadium
A stadium at Rocky Sports Club was unveiled in early 2019 with seating for up to 16,000 people and indoor conference facilities for 1,000.
The project is estimated to cost $23 million and would be constructed over eight to 10 months, delivering 67 full-time jobs.
In September 2020, Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry’s announced $23 million in federal government funding to advance the project at Victoria Park within the Rocky Sports Club space.
Browne Park upgrades
Community consultation was first held back in 2018 to discuss an expansion at Browne Park.
The plan was to construct a new stadium that would hold 10,000 to 12,000 spectators, estimating to cost around $100 to $120 million.
In September 2020, the Queensland Government committed $25 million to the project and despite funding for it not being included in this year‘s state budget, planning for upgrades is “full steam ahead”.
QRL Central Division manager Rob Crow said in June he was working with Queensland Sport and Recreation to prepare for the first stage of construction.
Yeppoon Station Quarter
The dormant railway station at Yeppoon has been touted as a huge potential development site.
Queensland company Silverstone Developments purchased a 1.52ha chunk of the heritage rail station in March 2020.
A high-quality mixed-use retail and commercial space was stipulated under the purchase contract.
Prior to Silverstone's involvement, concept images were released by the State Government for a $38 million project with retail and commercial spaces.
Livingstone Shire Council have ownership of the remaining one hectare.
The railway station was closed in 2004 and structures began to be removed in 2007.
Train trips to and from the station drastically reduced over the years and by the 1980s only special heritage trips were conducted.
The station building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Allenstown Square expansion
The land beside Allenstown Square was cleared in 2019 but nothing has been done since.
Shopping centre owner Charter Hall had been buying up properties over the years, most of which weren’t on the market and the owners were approached privately.
A total of 15 properties in the surrounding streets were removed or demolished for what was believed to be making way for an expansion.
Charter Hall told The Morning Bulletin in 2019 it planned to lodge a development application with council.
To date, no development application has been formally submitted.
Stockland Shopping Centre expansion
Eventually, there will be a covered walkway from The Terrace to the cinema at Stockland Rockhampton – but when that will happen is anyone’s guess.
Plans for a $45 million expansion at the shopping centre were submitted in 2017 and included eight speciality shops, three large shops, a new 215-seat cinema and a lobby.
The development would go across the carpark between The Terrace entrance and the cinema.
The development was approved to be constructed in two stages.
Stockland has not been able to confirm when the development will begin.
Spotlight vacant land
The land in front of Spotlight was once home to a caravan park and over the years various plans have been touted for the Yaamba Road site.
In 2016, plans for a shopping precinct were revealed with shops, food and drink outlets and a service station proposed.
At the time of the announcement sports and lifestyle retailer Anaconda was spruiked to be one of the major potential tenants.
The following year in 2017, Aldi announced it would be constructing a store there.
Stockland lodged legal action against the development which was withdrawn in 2018 however no development has progressed.
The development permit for the Yaamba Road site expires in August 2021.
Melbourne company Glewnwaye bought the 2.7ha site in 2005 for $430,000.
The site was formerly the Ramblers Motel and Caravan Park which was demolished some years ago after a fire.
Norman Road shopping centre
As Norman Gardens continues to expand with the construction of more and more new houses, the need for a shopping complex grows.
A development application for a mixed-use complex with retail, lifestyle and food offerings on Norman Road was submitted in 2017.
In late 2020, Knight Frank Rockhampton released expressions of interest for commercial tenants for the complex.
It was hoped the centre could include a supermarket, restaurant/ cafe, medical centre, gym, childcare centre and service station.
The land is owned by Sydney-based specialist developer Dancorp.
Parkhurst Town Centre fast-food outlet
A fast food outlet at the Parkhurst Town Centre was approved back in 2019 and would be the first drive-through in the area.
The restaurant would be built in the corner of the existing car park, near the petrol station close to the highway.
There is no indication of what business would fill the site.
The development has existing approval until 2025.
Originally published as STALLED DEVELOPMENTS: Promised projects that haven’t begun
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