Charters Towers Regional Council looks to fix empty shop problem with temporary rent-free deals

An NQ council is planning to tackle its empty shop problem by offering artists and ‘entrepreneurs’ rent-free stores on the main street, mirroring success recently seen in Innisfail.

Empty shops on Gill St, April 2025

Charters Towers Regional Council is planning to tackle its empty shop problem by offering artists and ‘entrepreneurs’ rent-free stores on the main street, mirroring success recently seen in Innisfail.

On April 7, Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt announced that Gill St and Mosman St may soon be buzzing with activity thanks to a new initiative called ‘Renew Charters Towers’.

“It is about unlocking the potential of empty shops and unused buildings,” Mayor Schmidt said.

“While this initiative is about temporary activation, the impact could be long lasting - bringing energy, foot traffic, and opportunity to the Charters Towers CBD.”

The plan is to get small creators and businesses into empty stores on rent-free, rolling 30-day “licences”.

Empty shops on Gill St, April 2025

The initiative is being run in partnership with Renew Australia, a shopfront activation charity which normally focuses on places like Sydney and Melbourne, but has entered into an agreement with the Queensland Small Business Commissioner to deliver its program across several small North Queensland towns.

Innisfail has seen the most success with the program, recently opening up temporary stores like FNQ Handmade Collective and pilates studio TheWelleth on Edith St.

According to Renew Australia, the use of a licence, instead of a lease, creates more flexibility for both the occupant and building owner by allowing them to proceed without triggering the Retail Leases Act.

Interested landlords are expected to offer up their empty spaces rent-free, while occupants cover utilities and connection fees.

Mayor Schmidt said Renew Australia provides the insurance and liability cover.

“The utilities have to be picked up by the person who sets up in there, and the real estate gets to keep their ‘For Lease’ sign in the window,” she said.

“It’s a win-win for everybody.”

Charters Towers Regional Council Mayor Liz Schmidt handed over ownership of Big Rocks Weir to the state government. Picture: Supplied.

Due to Renew Australia having charitable DGR1 status, engagement with them also gives property owners a chance to reduce their land tax and property insurance costs.

Gold City Tiles owner Ruth Bell has been operating on Gill St for 38 years and has witnessed a lot of changes.

Mrs Bell said she wasn’t across all the details of the council’s plan, but she thought the focus on artists and ‘creatives’ would suit tourists and overseas visitors.

“It would be good to have the shops filled up,” Mrs Bell said.

“I have a lot of tourists come in here thinking I’m a local handmade tile artist and are looking to buy something... I’ve had people ask where they can buy shoes, and they specifically say ‘we want a shoe you can’t buy in any other town’.”

Towers Property and Co Real Estate owner principal Julia Fraser said she was very interested to know how the initiative would work.

“We get approached by people wanting a temporary retail space often, like a pop-up shop, and they’re usually asking to occupy the empty spaces on Gill St with an expectation of minimal rent,” Ms Fraser said.

“In reality, most commercial space owners will tend not to entertain the idea due to the costs associated with accommodating and maintaining such a short-term tenancy.”

Ms Fraser said neither herself, or anyone on her staff, had been approached by council about the ‘Renew Charters Towers’ idea.

Of the four business owners who spoke with the Townsville Bulletin - including one who owned a vacant Gill St building - none had been approached by council and two didn’t even know about the project.

Mayor Schmidt said the initiative is set to run from now to October and she’s hoping they can get people into some shops in time for peak tourist season.

“I want business owners to know there is an important rule that participants can’t compete with existing stores. Applications will be well-vetted to make sure we don’t have a dress store going in next to a dress store or anything like that,” she said.

Anyone interested in registering their property or applying to occupy a property is encouraged to reach out to Charters Towers Regional Council.

Originally published as Charters Towers Regional Council looks to fix empty shop problem with temporary rent-free deals