Rodney Stevens
The ‘forgotten’ town of the Lower Clarence, Townsend, is set to be transformed after Clarence Valley Council received a development application for a $10.26 million 24-hour service centre and council’s Masterplan for a community precinct in the town was unanimously supported.
The DA on behalf of Maclean Service Centre Pty Ltd on behalf of Hargraves Property Group proposes a service centre on the corner of Schwonberg Street and Goodwood Street, conveniently located just off the Pacific Motorway Maclean exit.
Architectural plans for the 3.007-hectare site reveal a service station, truckers lounge, toilets and change rooms, two drive through restaurants, a restaurant, and 1,104 square metres of seating area for customers.
The 24-hour highway service centre will include 77 car parking spaces, 25 heavy vehicle parking spaces, four coach parking spaces, four electric vehicle charging spaces, 16 bike parking spaces, a children’s play area, and tourist information, if approved by council.
According to the Statement of Environmental Effects lodged with council, surveys of the site found no threatened species of flora or fauna, the site does not constitute potential koala habitat or contain Coastal Wetlands or Littoral Rainforest.
Council is calling for feedback from the public about the DA before 4pm on November 13.
Visit https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Building-and-planning/Advertised-DAs/DA20230595-Schwonberg-Street-Townsend to submit your feedback on the Townsend Service Centre.
At the October 24 Clarence Valley Council meeting councillors voted unanimously to put the Townsend Community Precinct Masterplan on public exhibition for 30 days.
The Townsend Community Precinct Masterplan informs future development of an inclusive community space proposed to be known as the Townsend Collective, proposed to encompass the Jubilee Street Reserve.
With the existing large land area, mature trees, and preexisting Men’s Shed and a Return and Earn facility on site, the proposed masterplan for the Reserve explores the inclusion of an expanded Men’s Shed, Yaegl Men’s Community Space, the Mudyala Community facilitates, the Computer Club and a range of community-use and sporting facilities.
The Townsend Collective will include a cultural hub including gallery and administration area, youth building, café, pre-school, nature-based playground, multi-purpose courts, car parking and pathway connectivity throughout the 5.675-hectare site.
“The concept plan is wonderful,” Cr Bill Day said.
“There’s been a lot of interest in this project.
“The Maclean-Gulmarrad-Townsend area often feels a little forgotten.
“This is wonderful news, and the public exhibition and consultation should result in a wonderful facility for this area of the Clarence Valley.”
Both the Service Centre and the Townsend Collective, if approved by council, will provide valuable employment opportunities for the Lower Clarence with jobs in construction and ongoing employment once both sites are complete.