By Corey Everitt
The ongoing development of Officer town centre has been revealed in the latest council meeting, inspiring exciting – but still sober – promise from councillors.
At the council meeting of Monday 15 April, council offices prepared a report on the township’s development and key permits in response to a motion forwarded by Cr Radford.
The report breaks down both the public and private construction planned within the long-awaited town centre.
The report reveals major works promised to occur in the undetermined future; among them is the construction of a supermarket and commercial hub on Princes Highway, a retail zone, childcare centre and medical centre on Station Street, a mixed use residential and commercial facility on Officer South Road and multi-lot residential subdivision on both on Coxen and Bridge Road.
“There are a couple of exciting planning permits there at the moment,” Cr Radford.
“There are a couple there with some graphics showing you what they are going to be, so there is a supermarket, a McDonalds is coming, there are a couple of commercial businesses.
“When we finalised the Urban Design Framework in February, that increased discussion around the area and has triggered more meetings.
“So it’s anticipated that there will be some larger commercial developments.“
Despite the promising details, Cr Radford reminded that this doesn’t assure a boom in development.
“This is a milestone, this is exciting, but it does also not guarantee development,” she said.
“Depending on various commercial and market factors, individual to each permit holder or property owner, development may progress with the approval of plans in line with permit conditions.
“Alternatively, land may be sold with the permit or the land may continue to sit undeveloped for some time and council and council officers are unable to progress development on behalf of private or State Government land owners.”
The report was carried unanimously.
