Much of our social and economic life occurs in our public streets, plazas, parks, waterfronts, and gathering spaces. These places can enhance the quality of our lives, foster belonging, and create memorable experiences for both locals and visitors. These places, where people gather and meet, are at the centre of any great town.

In early 2023, we engaged extensively with the Innisfail community to gather their insights to revitalise the Innisfail CBD. We asked the community for their thoughts on what made Innisfail unique, and ideas to enhance and improve Innisfail’s existing assets. The community’s feedback directly informed the development of a draft masterplan for the revitalisation of the Innisfail CBD.

We undertook a second round of community engagement to gather feedback about the draft masterplan, and to ask the community about their priorities. The community told us that the following six themes mattered most to them:

• Enhancing the waterfront
• Enhancing our tropical landscape
• Making it a destination to stop, stay and enjoy
• Expressing and experiencing our culture
• Prioritising people, improving connections, and making it walkable
• Creating a place for everyone.

Based on community feedback, we finalised the masterplan and it was endorsed at the August 2023 Local Government Meeting.

The masterplan is a comprehensive, long-term and transformational strategy. It’s designed to drive Innisfail’s economic growth and prosperity by transforming the CBD into an iconic, vibrant and welcoming city – loved by locals and adored by visitors.

The masterplan envisions a destination where the rivers of the lush rainforest coverage with the Great Barrier Reef, celebrating the Chjowai culture and embracing a proud multicultural heritage.

The masterplan comprises long-term transformative projects and short-term ‘quick win’ initiatives.

Long-term projects encompass iconic waterfront precincts, cultural hubs, and revitalised streetscapes, aimed at attracting residents, visitors, and investments, preserving the town’s distinct identity, and stimulating economic vitality. These projects are:

• City Gateways
• Edith Street Arrival
• Chjowai Parklands
• Fitzgerald Esplanade
• Innisfail Main Street
• Canecutter Entertainment Hub
• Rankin Street Cultural Precinct
• River Green Loop
• Green Streets
• Midblock Link, Laneways

To guide the design and delivery of all the projects, we developed a staging delivery plan for 2023 to 2057, which was endorsed at the October 2023 Local Government Meeting. This plan is a roadmap for the delivery of the master plan projects.

Council will kick start the staging of delivery with the Edith Street Urban Rainforest as the priority short term initiative. This initiative will introduce lush tropical planting along Edith Street, reflecting Innisfail’s tropical setting and enhancing the Art Deco features.

Illuminate Innisfail is another priority short-term initiative that was strongly supported by the community during consultation. Council will develop a full scope of works that will seek to deliver illuminating feature trees to enhance the town’s ambiance, promote safety, and create a captivating journey for residents and visitors.