A MASTER plan for the rejuvenation of Capalaba's shopping and business hub is on the table and LNP candidate Bev Walters wants an underground busway.
Following an expression of interest campaign by Redland City Council and Redland Investment Corporation, council announced Shayher Group as its preferred development partner in the Capalaba CBD upgrade and has entered into a memorandum of understanding, setting out a plan for the next phase of negotiations.
The vision is for Capalaba to be reactivated as a people place which is easy and safe to get around, with an after-hours' economy, an innovative business hub and an enjoyable place to shop and relax with outdoor cinema and alfresco dining.
Capalaba LNP candidate Bev Walters shared the vision and met with council, a representative from the Shayher Group and Shadow Minister for Main Roads Steve Minnikin this month.
"The LNP's $5 million commitment to develop a detailed business case for the eastern busway will mean the Shayher Group will be able to design the Capalaba CBD development around the terminus and deliver a far more integrated transport and retail experience," she said.
A council spokesman said the project also intended to become a catalyst for much-needed transport infrastructure at the northern gateway to the Redlands Coast.
As an international travel agent for more than 30 years, Ms Walters said she had experienced hundreds of coach, rail and air transit hubs around the world.
"Connection convenience, easy and plentiful parking, and appropriate integrated retail makes for a transport hub facility people will enjoy using," she said.
Ms Walters said while as yet the eastern transitway project had not started or had funds allocated in the state budget, the delay may prove fortuitous.
"This means the second-rate patch-up plan can be abandoned and instead we can do it once, get it right, and make sure the transport hub is built to accommodate the future population growth in the Redlands," she said.
She is motivating for an underground station to ease stop-go traffic congestion on Redland Bay Road.
"Locating the eastern busway underground would substantially ease traffic, while the ground level space currently occupied by the bus interchange could be put to far better use," she said.
Ms Walters believed mutual cooperation between state, council, private industry and federal government was crucial in the planning of the Capalaba CBD.
"If handled correctly, the Capalaba CBD redevelopment will be a fabulous project that will give a real lift to the area and make it a far more desirable place to live, work and raise a family," she said.
