Professional services firm KPMG demographer Bernard Salt has called for the region to become a jobs hub to strengthen the area and prevent traffic carnage from commuters trying to muscle their way into Brisbane’s CBD.
Mr Salt was in favour of the Caboolture West plan, which he said would be “a next-generation North Lakes” and kept the “Australian dream” alive.
And he used Parramatta in Sydney’s West and Dandenong on the edge of Melbourne as case studies for success. “I am hoping over the next 20 years, jobs will be decentralised outside of Brisbane,” he said.
“It won’t be the community of west Caboolture coming into the city.
“With the new university centre at Petrie, or Chermside, we can see stronger regional centres.
“The same way that Parramatta and Dandenong have strong regional job centres, rather than the model that has evolved of living on the edge of the Bruce Highway and fighting our way into the city.”
Mr Salt said growing digital industries could also ease gridlock, with more people able to work from home.
He has called for that way of thinking to be included into the masterplan for Caboolture West.
Mr Salt said the previous success of regions such as North Lakes and Caloundra West on the Sunshine Coast provided a template for Caboolture West to be even better. “It provides local jobs, it brings aspirational people to the area and young families,” he said.
The plan for the development of Caboolture West includes 70,000 new residents for the region and a raft of new infrastructure. Pic: Chris HigginsA council spokesman said there were provisions in the plan for 17,000 fulltime jobs in the region, and provisions for a major district town centre, six local centres and 13 neighbourhood hubs.
“The plan also outlines six potential local centres within Caboolture West that will become key focal points and dedicated public transport hubs. It is expected the local centres will include offices, supermarkets, speciality stores, health, childcare and support services.”