Project Overview
Background
The Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct
Construction
Timeline
Community Engagement

Project Overview

Council’s Corporate Plan (2018-2023) maps a clear direction towards creating a strong fabric of community connectedness, lifestyle and enhanced liveability in the Gladstone Region.

The Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct has been designed to strengthen Gladstone’s community and social service system by the clustering of community facilities to improve and enhance service delivery and community outcomes.

The Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct recognises the central role communities play in supporting and protecting good wellbeing through fostering social inclusion, connectedness, and enabling access to resources and services.

Background

The Gladstone Region 2028 Vision Project (circa 2008) recognised rapid population growth, demographic change and the cumulative impacts of significant industrial projects that increased pressure on social infrastructure to the detriment of the vulnerable residents of the Gladstone region.

In 2009, the Gladstone Region Social Infrastructure and Strategic Plan (SISP) developed in partnership with the former Gladstone Economic and Industry Development Board and the former Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP) recommended as the number one priority social infrastructure objective for the co-location and integration of human and social services and facilities to address the fragmentation of the community support system.

The Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct was proposed as the principal social infrastructure initiative to address current and future human and social services needs for the region.

It took several years to secure capital funding for the project, however sufficient funds have now been secured for Stage 1 from the:

• Australian Government via the Regional Jobs and Investment Package
• Gladstone Foundation via the Salvation Army 
• Gladstone Regional Council.

 

The Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct

The Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct (The Precinct) is located at Lot 7 Philip Street, West Gladstone. 

The Precinct forms part of the approved overall master plan for Lot 7 which includes:

• Community Services Precinct
• Mixed Density Residential Precinct
• Environmental/Conservation Precinct
• Hillside Residential Precinct
• Mixed Use Precinct.

Note: Council has committed to developing the Community Services Precinct.  No timeframe exists for development of the remaining Precincts within the Master Plan.

The Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct will be developed in two stages.

Building 1 will be operated by Council and will act as the first point of call into the Precinct. 

Building 2 will provide the meeting rooms that can be hired out as one large meeting room or separated into three smaller rooms. The public amenities will also form part of this building.  

Building 3 will be leased by the Salvation Army and operate as the new Neighbourhood Centre.  

Building 4 will be leased by the Salvation Army and operate as a Child and Family Building occupied by the Communities for Children organization.  

Construction

Stage 1a – Entrance road, secondary road, required infrastructure, landscaping

At the 20 August 2019 General Meeting, Council awarded the Stage 1a Tender to Grycan Pty Ltd as Trustee for Blomfield Family Trust Trading as Blomfield Excavations.  A copy of Council’s Resolution can be found in the Minutes of the General Meeting (item titled G/8.1. 207-19 PHILIP STREET STAGE 1 - CONTRACT AWARD).

Council has formally entered into the contract with Blomfields with on-site works commenced in January 2020. 

Stage 1b – Balance of Stage 1 works including the four buildings

Tenders were called for Stage 1b on 1 November 2019 and close on 13 December 2019.  The decision is expected to be made at a General Meeting in February 2020.

Timeline

The construction of Stage 1 is expected to commence in January 2020 and is expected to be completed late 2020.

Council will be engaging with the Gidarjil Development Organisation to ensure our cultural heritage obligations are met during construction activities.

Community Engagement

The priorities and intentions of the Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct is undergoing review to ensure community needs are understood and met by providing easy access to the necessary health and wellbeing resources and services.

Engagement with key stakeholders and community to determine the current and future needs of the Gladstone Region will shape the future use of the Philip Street Communities and Family Precinct.

The summary engagement report due for submission in early 2020 will highlight the key findings and messages of the engagement phase and drive the stakeholder identification and allocation phase of the precinct.

Contact details

Should you wish to contact Council about any aspects of the Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct, please use the following methods:

Email: info@gladstone.qld.gov.au
Phone: (07) 4970 0700