Rufous Street master plan approved

Peregian Beach will gain a digital hub to support new e-business ventures and mentor young people, after Council last night approved the Rufous Street Precinct master plan.

It’s the result of more than six months’ consultation with the local community to determine a suitable use for the Rufous Street site and workshop the details.

“The finished product answers the community’s call for more green space and supports digital enterprise, which is important to our local economy,” Mayor Noel Playford said.

“As well as serve as an incubator for digital businesses, this facility will link young people – our future entrepreneurs – with expert mentors and cutting edge technology to provide them the skills and knowledge needed to launch their own start-ups,” he said.

The master plan provides 4300sqm of open space, a two-storey 750sqm digital hub with high-speed internet access, community building, carparking for Rufous Street and improved pedestrian access to the Peregian Beach village.

Council intends to develop the site, which includes the former bowls club land, in two stages, beginning with the digital hub and 132 Rufous Street car parking spaces.

More than 100 people turned out to have a say on the draft master plan when Council unveiled it last month.

“Feedback from that event as well as that gathered during a two-week online consultation process has helped Council refine the plans,” Cr Playford said.

A digital hub is a high-speed-internet-equipped shared workspace where a wide range of users can work together with high growth digital businesses based onsite.

With nothing similar offered in Peregian Beach currently, Council research and economic analysis showed the facility to be viable considering growth in the Peregian Beach catchment.

Council will finalise building designs, prepare a material change of use application and apply for grant funding to help finance the project in the next few months.

“We may be eligible for various grants given this is a project with significant community and local business support and a strong emphasis on innovation and information technology, both of which are key local economic drivers,” Cr Playford said.

11 March 2016