Town centre green light
Date: 26 March 2010


State Government backs Smithfield development
A Controversial plan for a major town centre at Smithfield has won State Government backing, despite protests from the suburb’s existing businesses, who fear being sent broke.

The State Government says it is paving the way for an economic boost in the northern beaches, and a developer behind the $ 500 million Smithfield Town Centre plan says it will ultimately create 2500 jobs.

“The construct phase and flow-on alone would create 1000 jobs,” Trinity Investments managing director Steve Pellegrino said.

Planning Minister Stirling Hinchliffe yesterday announced he had ticked off an amendment to the Cairns Plan allowing for the centre’s development.

It was approved by Cairns Regional Council last year, but had to pass a test showing it did not contravene “state interests” to win Government approval. Mr Hinchliffe said the centre would become “a community focal point for new jobs and housing north of Cairns”.

It is expected to include a bus transit hub, 24-hour medical centre, entertainment, dining, shopping and business precincts, apartments and “green corridor” links to the Cattana Wetlands.

The Retailers Association, which represents independent retail businesses across Australia, has been a critic of the plan, calling it an economically unsustainable and “developer-driven” idea.

But yesterday director Scott Driscoll said the group had to “deal with reality” and would work with the council and developers to turn its approval into a positive.

Area councillor and Deputy Mayor Margaret Cochrane said major retail developments in the town centre would need to pass financial and needs analysis tests first.

“I ensured that they were part of the planning scheme to protect existing facilities and to make sure major developments didn’t just spring up at the expense of existing businesses,” Cr Cochrane said.

Mr Pellegrino said the decision would be a catalyst for further growth along the northern beaches,
including expansion of the James Cook University campus and major road and infrastructure upgrades.

The plan will now be advertised for feedback before final approval.

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