Current Projects

Turtle Interpretive Centre

$3.7 million has been allocated by the Queensland State Government and $1.5 million by the Bundaberg City Council for the development of an interpretive experience focussed on turtles. The Concept is designed to build on the tourist potential of the Mon Repos facility operated by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service by providing a year-round turtle centre aimed at extending the visitor experience of turtles from seasonal to a full year. The key features include an array of exhibits, interactive displays, theatre, aquaria and multi-media displays, amphitheatre, cafe and shop. Construction is expected to commence in early 2006.

Hinkler Hall of Aviation

$4 million has been allocated by the Federal Government, couple with the Bundaberg City Council's contribution of $1 million and the State Government's contribution of $485,000, brings the total value of the project to $5.458 million. It is an interactive and educational tribute to the late Bert Hinkler. The facility will house original, where possible or replicas of the five aircraft associated with Hinkler's Aviation history. Interative displays, such as touch screens, an aircraft simulator, atmoshperically controlled display gallery, lecture theatre, artefact work preservation/restoration room and archival area will be included in the facility. Located adjacent to the Hinkler House Memorial Museum in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, construction is expected to commence in April 2006.

Showgrounds Masterplan

Council has recently completed a Masterplan for the development of a multi-purpose major events precinct at the existing Agro Trend site and teh new recreational, sporting and cultural precinct on a section of the old Showgrounds site. The Masterplan not only meets the needs of groups using the existing facilities but also provides an onption for an expansion in the number and type of events that could be held in the City in the future. To enable these Masterplans to proceed, it will be necessary for Council to sell a section of existing Showgrounds.

Integrated Hotel and Convention Centre

This is a key element of the proposed Riverside Parklands Masterplan. A pre-feasability study confirms the viability of such a facility. Council welcomes genuine enquiries from interested parties.

Bundaberg Industrial Park-Food Precinct Stage 1

The Bundaberg City Council is working with agenices to develop a food-processing cluster to provide additional value-adding opportunities for Bundaberg Coral Coast's primary produce. This precinct is available for associated industries that may set up either as stand-alone businesses, as part of a new industry cluster, or provide infrastructure to increase business opportunities.

The Riverside Parklands Masterplan

This is a Council initiative to revitalise the Burnett Riverfront between the Burnett Traffic Bridge and Saltwater Creek. Stage 1 involved the development of public spaces, a pontoon, a mangrove boardwalk, space for tourism related business and the reconfiguration and extension to the existing carparking to cater for tourist vehicles. This redevelopment has both physical and economic linkages to the Central Business District. The current main key business opportunities are the development of an integrated Hotel and Convention Centre, the leasing of the proposed aquatics facility and the use of the pontoon by commercial river-related activities.

Other major future development and studies currently being undertaken to plan for the future growth of the Bundaberg City include:

an Aquatics facility
a proposed airpark
$24M upgrade of the Bundaberg Distilling Company, which includes a bond store and extension to the visitors centre and tourist facilities
the expansion of the Bundaberg Brewed Drinks tourist facility
the Bundaberg Showgrounds masterplan study
the Bundaberg East tourism precinct masterplan study
the Multi-Modal Pathways and Open Space Plan
the Bundaberg Airport Masterplan
the development of a Civic Cultural Precinct of the CBD
a Bundaberg Social Action Plan.