Council Commits to Planning for a Future Civic Precinct for Yeppoon
Published on 17 March 2026
Council today endorsed a report confirming its commitment to explore the long-term opportunity to develop a new library, community and civic centre as part of future strategic planning for Council-owned land within the Yeppoon town centre.
The decision signals the beginning of a strategic planning process, with Council committing to investigate options and undertake further analysis before any decisions are made about future development.
Mayor Adam Belot said the report recognises the importance of planning ahead to ensure Council facilities keep pace with the region’s rapid growth.
“This is about responsible long-term planning for our community,” Mayor Belot said.
“Council has endorsed exploring the opportunity to deliver modern civic facilities in the future, but importantly this decision is about planning, not committing to construction.”
Currently, Council staff are accommodated across several sites including Lagoon Place, James Street, the Town Hall, The Hub, the Cordingly Street Depot and the John Street Library and Community Centre.
This dispersed arrangement creates operational inefficiencies and limits opportunities for collaboration across teams. Many of the buildings are also approaching the end of their functional life and were not originally designed for their current roles.
Lagoon Place, constructed in 1984, has no capacity for staff growth and continues to experience maintenance challenges and an inefficient layout. Other facilities, including the James Street offices and the library and community centre buildings, are already operating at capacity and cannot accommodate the staff expansion required to service a growing community.
Mayor Belot said these constraints highlight the need to consider long-term solutions.
“Rather than addressing each infrastructure need separately, Council sees an opportunity to plan strategically and investigate whether several future needs could be coordinated into a broader civic precinct that delivers greater value for the community,” he said.
One concept that will be explored through the planning process is the potential development of a civic precinct incorporating:
- Council civic centre, customer service, chambers and library
- Civic plaza and public realm improvements
- Integrated parking facilities
Such a precinct could become a focal point of civic life in Yeppoon while supporting increased activity within the town centre.
The planning work is being considered in the context of strong regional growth. According to the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office, the Livingstone Shire is the fastest growing region in Queensland outside of the southeast corner.
Mayor Belot said the region was at a pivotal point in its history.
“Our community is growing rapidly, which brings incredible opportunity but also significant challenges,” Mayor Belot said.
“If we want to maintain the lifestyle and services our residents value, we must start planning now for the infrastructure that will support our community into the future.”
The initiative aligns with Council’s long-term strategic vision outlined through Blueprint Livingstone, which was launched to guide the future growth and liveability of the region.
Mayor Belot said community feedback would also help shape the planning process.
“One of the strongest messages from last year’s Community Views Survey was that residents value safety and a strong sense of community,” he said.
“Well-designed civic spaces, libraries and community facilities play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening that sense of place.”
Council will soon begin engaging with the community to undertake a needs analysis to help inform what the future of the region’s library and community facilities could look like.
“Before any decisions are made about future development, we want to understand what our community needs and expects from these spaces,” Mayor Belot said.
“This planning process will help ensure any future facilities are designed to support our community for decades to come.”