The Kingaroy Transformation Project awarded the 2023 Project of The Year

by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) - Queensland and Northern Territory

Far more than just another CBD upgrade, the Kingaroy Transformation Project - dubbed locally as the ‘KTP’- is officially now one of the leading infrastructure projects in regional Australia. Delivered in partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and South Burnett Regional Council, the once dilapidated Kingaroy town centre has truly transformed into a shared community and business space boasting modern infrastructure, inclusive accessibility and has placed the South Burnett at the forefront of ‘Smart Country’ precincts.  All the while, proudly retaining a strong local identity and the welcoming embrace of country hospitality.

Remarkably, despite construction occurring during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, record rainfall including five consecutive disaster declared events, and record high inflation levels of 17% to 30%, KTP was delivered with only a 7% increase over three years. The project was funded with approximately $4.5M from the Australian Government, $2.68M from TMR and $10.46M from Council.

Combined with the exceptional uptake by local businesses for the façade upgrade program, the Kingaroy Transformation Project sets a new benchmark for regional centres by achieving outcomes across - Human and Social Activation; Infrastructure Renewal and Modernisation; Economic Regeneration and Recovery; and Identity and Recognition.

Key features of the project include

• Landscape architecture design that creates a ‘place’ for community and pedestrian activity with widened footpaths, feature landscape, legacy trees and climate smart gardens
• Full reconstruction of road infrastructure including upgraded stormwater systems, new kerb and lowered road profiles with upgraded EME2 asphalt
• Inclusive access for the community with new footpaths on flatter grades, inclusive furniture, kerb ramps along with 17 new people with disability parks and 8 new elderly and pram car parks
• 52 kilometres of a concealed conduit network to every powered street fixture, lantern and street light to deliver a future of IoT technology, including designated network for deployed NBN enterprise ethernet, future ‘dark fibre’ and telecommunication capability of up 3.4 Petabits per second
• Lighting system with a fibre optic backbone and inground lights to feature colours, patterns and active light show
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design to remove dark places, areas of concealment and a new CCTV network connected directly to QPS

• 8 new and upgraded pedestrian crossings for road safety and upgraded LED streetlighting
• Feature lighting lanterns, representing every town and village within the South Burnett including Cherbourg
• KTP’s flagship community shared zone for day and night time activation featuring a town and village sun dial, Wakka Wakka Indigenous Pillars, and feature lighting towers that project images of important events and community awareness with colour
• New on street structures for activation, day and night hospitality including cafes, restaurants and licensed premises

Acting Mayor Gavin Jones said “The KTP project along with our other town and village upgrades including Blackbutt, Murgon, Kumbia and soon to commence Wondai, are delivering modern infrastructure for the South Burnett that still retains our rich country lifestyle. You only have to look at the success of Baconfest in the new KTP precinct and the recent Christmas Carnival which together is engaging the community and hopefully inspires more events into the future.

Council is particularly proud that this project has injected over $6M directly into our local economy through local businesses and the fact that we are delivering infrastructure to cater for all of our community particularly with better footpaths and additional targeted spaces for people with disabilities and our elderly. I would also take this opportunity to encourage all residents to continue supporting the use of these car spaces by ensuring they are only used by people who qualify and need them most in our community.”

Pictured from left to right: Cr Duff, Manager Kevin Searle, CEO Mark Pitt, Acting Mayor Jones, Cr Potter, Cr Henschen, Cr Erkens, General Manager Aaron Meehan, Cr Schumacher, Manager Adam Branch and Manager James D’Arcy