Shopping centre gets go ahead

Gracemere’s June Harp says the community is keen for the development and after a number of false starts she hopes “this time ... we might be lucky”.

Chris Ison

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• A whole new world for shoppers

GRACEMERE shopping centre developer Robert McConaghy says he hopes to name a construction start date within the next few weeks.

His optimism comes after an agreement between the McConaghy Group and Rockhampton Regional Council to end months of conflict and stalemate over the positioning of a bus stop.

“Today’s decision overcomes a major hurdle and means we can immediately progress the project starting with updating plans with the major retailers and service providers,” he said.

“I know that the delay in construction has caused disappointment throughout the community but I can assure the local residents that in the end they will be provided with a shopping facility to the latest modern retail standards as well as short and long-term job opportunities in the construction and retail industries.”

The Brisbane-based developer revealed his company had also been negotiating with Ergon Energy to solve the issue of insufficient power in the local network to service the proposed shopping centre.

“Within the next few weeks we hope to bring forward a construction timeline so that locals can be kept up to date with progress, including start and completion dates,” he said.

The news was greeted warmly by Gracemere’s June Harp. “We’ve been waiting a long time but this time it sounds as if we might be lucky,” she said.

The compromise comes after seemingly endless months of negotiation and will mean a reduction of two spaces in the car park to make room for a bus stop.

Cr Sandra O’Brien, who represents Gracemere, said she could see no reason why Mr McConaghy’s workers should not be on site at 7am.

“I would like to congratulate the developer for recognising the safety concerns and acting to protect children and the elderly by agreeing to a bus stop on site. The community has waited a long time for this outcome and I hope today will be the start of something very big for Gracemere,” she said.

Mayor Brad Carter said: “This means the council and the developer are now in agreement on the bus stop.

“It is a good outcome. We are not holding up the development of the shopping centre.”

DELAYS

Gracemere Shopping World was first approved in April 2007.

The $30 million development is planned in two phases. Phase one will bring a major supermarket and speciality stores with 360 parking spaces.

Phase two will add a second supermarket, department store, food court and other speciality shops.

The project has been delayed by a number of factors, including a dispute over payment for upgrading Gracemere’s electricity supply.