REDLAND City Council plans to amplify an upswing in the local economy by extending an incentive package to boost Cleveland's CBD.
At Wednesday's council meeting, it was decided to extend the $1.5 million Cleveland CBD Development Incentives Program for two years until June 30, 2017.
Only Cr Paul Gleeson (Division9) voted against the extension saying he wanted it to apply to the entire city.
Under the extended package, council will provide waive fees for development applications and infrastructure charges on a "first come, first served" basis for new approved material change of use developments.
Developers of aged care facilities, special needs housing, apartment buildings commercial offices, community facilities, hotels and ventures including cinemas, convention centres or fitness centres can all apply for the concessions.
In February 2013, council set up a $1.5 million incentive package fund designed to pay for infrastructure and development application fees for businesses undertaking projects within the business district.
The incentives were then extended to tourist accommodation providers across the city.
Mayor Karen Williams said it was perfect timing for the second phase of the incentives package and there had already been waivers for development application fees.
"We've certainly had some bites for the tourism accommodation and we've had interest in the CBD incentives but because the economy was flat in the early days we've seen the need to extend it," she said.
"The only time we can use the package (for infrastructure charges) is when a project has been completed.
"But yes, we have had people apply for it like the hotel accommodation at Waterloo Street and there have been waivers for application fees.
"We have expended over half of the application fee concession allocation or about $125,000.
"There are a range of events coming up which will revitalise the area but this is not just about building and they will come - it's about having the right people to attract people who will spend money in our shops."
Cleveland councillor Craig Ogilvie said council had many schemes to inject life into the CBD including council's Centres of Employment strategy, the Redlands Planning Scheme and the Redlands 2030 Community Plan.
He said Cleveland fitted state government criteria to build residential hubs around transit centres to curb urban sprawl. However, he said he believed investment incentives were skewed to developing greenfield sites not the CBD.
"In the report, it says that construction activity in other areas in the Redlands is happening quite nicely but it's not happening in the CBD and I think that the primary reason is that investment fundamentals is currently skewed towards greenfield developments," he said.
The mayor said there were also tourism accommodation applications in Alexandra Hills and interest from within CBD for residential development near the train station.
Cr Williams said there was more than one solution to revitalising Cleveland and the newly revamped Bloomfield Street civic park would draw shoppers and tourists.
She also said council's Renew Cleveland, a project to use vacant shops, along with events such as Relish The Redland Good Food Festival planned for Raby Bay in November, would all bolster the business district.
