Honeycombes Property Group takes out UDIA Urban Renewal accolade

Honeycombes Property Group (HPG) has been awarded the prestigious UDIA Queensland Urban Renewal Award for its flagship Central development in Flinders Street, Townsville.The award recognises HPG’s commitment to innovation and was presented at a gala dinner held on Friday night at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.The $450 million Central project will be delivered over 15 years and will see the redevelopment of 6.5 hectares of the former Townsville Railyards into a vibrant new community and commercial precinct on the fringe of the Townsville CBD.Central, which is currently in its seventh year of development and at stage four of 20, willultimately comprise 670 architect-designed apartments around 12,000sq m of office and retail space, including an independent cinema complex.Honeycombes managing director Peter Honeycombe said their primary focus for Central was to regenerate the western Townsville CBD area.“We are enormously proud of what we have achieved to date at Central. In repurposing the contaminated and disused rail yards, the project is truly transformational,” he said.“The built environment features innovative, energy efficient private apartments surrounded by vibrant lifestyle choices such as gyms, walking paths, restaurants and cafés.“Our aim from the beginning was to create a fully integrated masterplanned community, and we’re certainly seeing that come together at Central.”Development of Central will also see public recreation areas, pathways along Ross Creek, and a Ceremonial Avenue to link residents, visitors and tenants with the historical rail aspects of the site.Mr Honeycombe said Central apartments would offer a superior standard of finish, as well as quality lifestyle recreational facilities, making Central the first choice location for inner city living in Townsville.“The considered design of the entire project promotes sustainable living and environmental benefits through thoughtful design and engineering,” he said.“This award is recognition of the uncompromising workmanship of the planners, designers, builders and contractors involved, and underlines the importance of including Townsville City Council and other stakeholders such as the EPA in the conceptual planning stage of a project.“The effort and energy injected into this project by the HPG team and all others involved will continue to live through the vibrancy of the occupants and visitors to Central for decades to come.“Every now and then a city needs a bit of open heart surgery to keep things pumping.”