The Crisafulli Government, Townsville City Council and developer BM Webb have finalised a $35 million agreement to restore and decontaminate the North Rail Yards, officials say. The move will stabilise heritage buildings and make the 4. 5-hectare, 145-year-old precinct development-ready in the heart of townsville. The project aims to enable high-density housing, new public spaces and commercial development adjacent to the Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Expanding details: what the $35m covers and the site’s legacy
The $35 million commitment is intended to address remediation and heritage stabilisation works that organisers identified as the most significant financial hurdle for the site. The North Rail Yards were established in the 1880s, served as a Queensland Rail maintenance depot and closed in 1990, later becoming a derelict eyesore for locals. The 4. 5-hectare precinct sits within the Townsville Waterfront Priority Development Area and sits next to the Queensland Country Bank Stadium, positioning it for residential and commercial reuse once contamination and structural risks are addressed.
Government and council leaders framed the deal as unlocking future high-density housing opportunities in the CBD and as a city-shaping redevelopment. Officials pointed to constrained housing supply as a motivating factor: a cited 36 percent reduction in new home approvals during the previous decade was used to justify prioritising dense residential options in regional centres.
Immediate reactions from officials and developer
Treasurer David Janetzki, Treasurer, Crisafulli Government, said, “We are delivering more Queenslanders a place to call home and a better lifestyle through a stronger economy after Labor’s decade of decline. ” He added, “With Townsville’s population set to grow by at least 40, 000 people in the next 15 years, vibrant housing and commercial precincts like North Rail Yards are critical. ” Janetzki also described the funding as addressing “the most significant financial hurdle of the project to cover remediation and heritage stabilisation works, making the site ‘development-ready’. “
Member for Townsville Adam Baillie, Member for Townsville, said, “Townsville residents voiced their concerns about youth crime, housing, energy and the state of the healthcare system when voting for a fresh start. ” He continued, “The Crisafulli Government is listening and delivering – increasing residential development opportunities in the CBD will help breathe new life into the area while addressing the housing shortage. “
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto, Mayor, Townsville City Council, said, “The rail yards were one of the first projects I visited after becoming mayor. ” He emphasised council’s role in recognising the site’s potential and in working to secure funding to convert a dilapidated site into a residential and commercial hub that honours the city’s past.
Brad Webb, CEO, BM Webb group, said the project “would bring pride in Townsville. ” The developer is a formal partner in the agreement alongside the Crisafulli Government and Townsville City Council.
Quick context
The North Rail Yards sit on a site with more than a century of industrial history and had been unused since 1990. The 4. 5-hectare site is intended to be repurposed for housing, public spaces and commercial uses once remediation and heritage work are complete.
What’s next
Officials say the $35 million clears the key financial barrier so remediation and heritage stabilisation can proceed and make the precinct development-ready. Local council, the Crisafulli Government and BM Webb will move from agreement to delivery steps aimed at unlocking high-density housing and public realm projects in the CBD; timelines for construction and specific development approvals will follow as remediation and stabilisation work progresses in townsville.
