Tweed Heads to join high-rise set
Leah Fineran | January 20th, 2010
An artist's impression of how the new height limit would change the Tweed landscape.
HIGH rises could soon dominate Tweed Heads under a new plan to bring
the coastal city in line with its Gold Coast neighbour Coolangatta.
The
quieter sibling of the twin towns could be revamped as part of a NSW
Government draft plan to transform the Tweed Heads CBD into a thriving
tourism hub by 2035.
Planning, Infrastructure and Lands Minister
Tony Kelly yesterday revealed the draft Tweed Cities Plan -- a 25-year
vision to create housing for 7000 people and an additional 3000 local
jobs.
The redevelopment vision has been touted as a significant
move forward for NSW's most northern city, as it is the first time
major city planning has been done by the Government outside Sydney,
Newcastle and Wollongong.
Mr Kelly said rising development costs
in other regional centres had led the Government to focus on the
potential of Tweed Heads.
"It's a significant move and recognises the importance of this area to the state's future growth," he said.
To
accommodate an expected surge in population to 78,147 by 2031,
developers would be allowed to build residential towers under an
extension of the height limit from 15 storeys to 24 storeys.
From
the skyline to the streets, the draft Tweed Cities Plan foreshadows a
major overhaul of north and south Tweed streetscapes, including a push
for alfresco dining spaces, wider pavements and cycleways through the
area.
Local landmarks will also be given a makeover, with Jack
Evans Boat Harbour to be transformed into a key South Bank-style
parkland and a regional history museum to be built into Flagstaff Hill.
Duranbah Beach will remain untouched but the park area will be improved to cater for high use during surf carnivals.
Your Say
"Why don't they just move the border, most northern NSWers would prefer to live in Queensland. "
Gazzer
Walkways along the beachfront linking Tweed Heads and Coolangatta will also be upgraded.
The
plan has also forecast a push to link Tweed with the Gold Coast's
long-awaited light rail system but Tweed Shire Council planning
director Vince Connell denied any plans had been investigated.
The draft Tweed Cities Plan coincides with the release of Tweed Shire Council's draft rezoning plans for the rest of the region.
Both plans will be on display from January 27 and public consultation closes on March 31.
Tweed Mayor Warren Polglase denied the plans would open the floodgate for high-rise developers.
"We're
not going to try to copy the massive skyscrapers in Surfers Paradise --
it will complement Coolangatta and what's already here," he said.
Twin Towns Clubs and Resorts general manager Rob Smith said the plans would bring clarity for future development in the area.
"It's visionary -- I think the 25- year horizon is realistic," he said.
Mr
Smith said Twin Towns was considering an overhaul to match the future
plans and was already investigating a major redevelopment of its main
club to match the Government plan.
G but it was not welcomed by everyone yesterday.
Seeing
the assembled media in Chris Cunningham Park, aborignial activists
hijacking the press conference to protest the land use rights and the
treatment of indigneous peoples.
Aboriginal representatives from
Beaudesert and Woodenbong said they were not concerned with the city
revamp but were generally upset with the Government over long-term
rights issues.