2016-03-01 Infrastructure and Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                1 MARCH 2016


Final Master Plan
As a result of the public submissions a number of changes have been made to the draft Master
Plan. The most significant of which are:
   Reduction in the proposed number of formal car parks in Rufous St from 39 to 20;
   Increase in the number of car parks next to Veggie Village from 26 to 51 in Stage 2 of the
     proposal, subject to DNRM approval;
   Decrease in proposed car parking in Stage 1 from 153 to 132;
   Increase in proposed overall car parking at the end of Stage 2 from 163 to 169;
   Increase in the amount of disability and scooter parking spaces;
   Small increase in the amount of green space to 4320sq metres.

3.   Traffic Analysis
     Holland Traffic Consulting, who has recently completed a Shire wide traffic study, was
     asked to review the potential traffic impacts of the master plan at the David Low Way
     Woodland Drive intersection. Their conclusion was as follows:
     With this additional information I can confirm that there would be no issue at the existing
     Woodland Dr / David Low Way intersection in accommodating the currently envisaged
     Rufous St master plan traffic volumes (with master plan of late Jan 2016), without need to
     upgrade that intersection to a roundabout.
     However acknowledging the concerns of residents it is recommended that Council’s
     Infrastructure Planning and Design branch undertake further investigation in to ways in
     which the intersection may be made safer. It is further recommended that the Branch
     undertake detailed investigations to determine the exact location of the proposed relocated
     pedestrian crossing near the roundabout at Heron St.

4.   Economic Impact
     As part of developing the Master Plan the PCG requested an economic analysis of the
     impact of creating an additional 1100 square metres of commercial office space for the
     development of a digital hub and to house IT enterprises along David Low Way (Refer
     Rufous St Development Economic needs Analysis IT Enterprise / Digital Hub, Attachment
     5).
     The assessment was undertaken by Council’s Major Projects Officer and adopted a
     methodology where it looked at understanding the requirements and likely customer base
     of a digital hub and also a more traditional approach of considering the positive and
     negative impacts on the available commercial space within the Peregian precinct including
     the recent history of such development and its drivers.
     A summary of the Impact Assessment report and its findings are as follows:

     What is a Digital hub/IT Enterprise
     A Digital Hub is a shared workspace which houses several activities under one roof such
     as co working, complementary businesses and programs, incorporating public and private,
     community and commercial. It provides high speed and cutting edge technical facilities and
     services, meeting rooms, event and training spaces.
     Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses can work from this flexible and shared
     workspace for a monthly fee, together with established high growth businesses located in
     longer term office spaces. These shared services amplify connection and innovation
     providing opportunities for ideas to flourish and businesses to grow.




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