North Rail Yards project tender given to Townsville company

A major redevelopment of the North Rail Yards project has taken a step forward, with the person responsible for the project now announced. He reveals his plans + vision for the site.

Brad Webb and Townsville MP Scott Stewart inspect the North Rail Yards project. Picture: Chris Burns.

Townsville family owned company BM Webb has won the tender to develop the North Rail Yards project, which will require the removal of contaminated soil and restoration of the heritage buildings.

The developer said it would match the $35m in State Government funding set aside in this year’s budget for the CBD housing project’s first stage.

BM Webb head Brad Webb said it was a “high risk” project but an important milestone in developing the central business district, as he inspected the site with Townsville MP Scott Stewart on Friday.

Council formed enterprise North Rail Yard Development’s chairman John Rosel confirmed that after “significant negotiation” it had entered into a development agreement with MB Webb.

This had been resolved after the company completed a public expression of interest and a tendering process for the land over the past 12 months.

The damaged North Rail Yards project. Picture: Chris Burns.

Mr Stewart said it was important that the project was being developed by a local businessman.

“We don’t need people from down south coming in here and telling us what they think needs to happen,” Mr Stewart said.

‘We’ve got a local bloke who has invested time, energy and money into this place, he will make this place an absolutely fantastic attraction not only for this city but right across the north.”

Mr Stewart said the first stage of the project would deal with addressing the contaminated soil, which had collected over a century of the rail yard’s use.

The North Rail Yards. Picture: Chris Burns.

The additional step would involve addressing housing opportunities.

“It is so centrally located, it is such a great spot, you’ve got a train line behind us but you’ve a stadium within walking distance, access to some of the great restaurants in town, this is the place to be.”

Mr Webb pointed out the rusted and graffiti trawled work sheds, which he believed were salvageable, but he said it would not have been possible to restore them without support of state and local governments.

“We’re still mobilising gear and getting gear ready so we’re really just starting … we’ll be moving here quicker than what you think,” Mr Webb said.

He was yet to determine how much decontaminated soil was needed to be removed, and was planning to source the timber to restore the work sheds.

But the developer was uncertain how long it would take to complete.

“How long is a piece of string, because I could be digging down 600ml or I could be digging down two metres,” Mr Webb said.

“It’s a high risk project, but who’s going to do it?

“We don’t think as a family company we will make any money for 15 years out of this section, but long-term it will be a really good thing for the city.”

A council city spokeswoman said the North Rail Yards Development company was established in 2022.

“It is great to see development of the site progressing,” she said.

Originally published as North Rail Yards project tender given to Townsville company