The Station Food Innovation Precinct high on Livingstone Shire Council’s agenda

The Queensland Government is in the process of transferring the eastern end of the Station Quarter site in James Street, Yeppoon to Livingstone Shire Council.   

Livingstone Shire Council Mayor, Andy Ireland, said approximately 8,000 square metres is being transferred to Council. 

“The balance of the site, approximately 1.5 hectares, is under contract to Silverstone, a development company based in South East Queensland,” he said. 

Council’s vision is to create a community and tourism focused artisan food innovation, manufacturing, and retailing precinct that is unlike anything currently in Australia.  

The Station precinct will feature retail and commercial kitchens for lease, training and event spaces, processing and packing facilities, pop-up markets for seasonal local produce, and locally made boutique food products. 

Mayor Andy Ireland said everything will be integrated within a people-focused environment that services the local community, provides a relaxing atmosphere, and is a distinctive new draw for visitors to the region. 

“The whole site is “absolutely pivotal” to Livingstone Shire and the region as it constitutes approximately a quarter of the frontage of the region’s most important commercial street,” he said.  

Key benefits of the project include supporting economic recovery in the wake of Covid-19, enabling local Agricultural based entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, keeping dollars local, enhancing local tourism, supporting local food security, and providing jobs during construction and operation. 

Mayor Ireland said The Station is a concept at this stage and delivery of the project will be heavily dependent upon external funding.  

“The State and Federal officials who have viewed the proposal have expressed a strong interest in progressing the proposal, however, no funding promises have yet been made,” Mayor Ireland said. 

“Like most large projects, it takes time to get them across the line and the project will evolve in response to funding amounts and limitations. 

“Nevertheless, Council believes very strongly in the current concept and will endeavour to adhere to this to the degree possible.  

“There is no better way to do support local private sector growth than multi value-adding projects like this.”  

To find out more, or to have your say, please go to: https://getinvolved.livingstone.qld.gov.au/.