CBD Development Incentives - Stimulating growth for Townsville's future
Townsville is Queensland’s largest urban area outside the South East, and Australia’s biggest tropical city. Our diverse economy, strong growth and strategic location have seen Townsville widely recognised as a model of regional economic success. More details about Townsville's Economic Development are available here.
With its focus on business and culture, Townsville’s Central Business District (CBD) is an economic and social gateway to North Queensland. It plays a vital role in the history, lifestyle and administration of our city and is a gauge of our civic maturity, prosperity and confidence.
The CBD Development Incentive program has been established to provide an immediate stimulus for desirable development within our CBD.
Given its role and importance, various state and local planning and economic studies have prioritised the development of the CBD. To consolidate the findings of these studies, council has developed the CBD Master Plan. This plan will establish growth targets centred on achieving 30,000 people living or working in the CBD by 2030.
To assist this objective, the 
CBD Master Plan (7.8MB) includes an implementation program outlining key initiatives and their timelines. These include ongoing investment in community infrastructure such as the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre, Townsville Ocean Terminal, public spaces, waterfront pathways and pedestrian bridges. Others include direct government investment through regionalisation of services and consolidation of government functions and accommodation within the CBD.
Whilst these initiatives will be of great strategic importance to the development of the CBD, their implementation will take time. The CBD also needs an immediate stimulus to build confidence, activity and momentum and to ensure the objectives of the CBD revitalisation are realised. This is best achieved through the use of facilitative, financial and regulatory incentives that provide an immediate stimulus in creating the conditions for increased private investment.
Accordingly, council has developed the CBD Development Incentives (970kB)
The information provided within this summary is general and should be used for guidance purposes only.
For further assistance and advice, or to make an application under the CBD Development Incentives, please contact the Planning and Development Division on 1300 878 001 or investtownsville@townsville.qld.gov.au.