Cleveland’s town centre is set for a major boost as Redland City Council ramps up efforts to transform it into a vibrant, people-focused destination, with a new report revealing a suite of projects designed to breathe new life into the precinct.
The Cleveland Centre Management Program Update, to be tabled at Wednesday’s General Meeting (12 November), details how Council’s coordinated approach is delivering on the Cleveland Centre Master Plan, first adopted in 2010.
The program brings together projects from across Council, including property, transport, planning, events, and business development, to strengthen Cleveland’s role as the city’s Principal Activity Centre.
Council’s report highlights progress across four key “place pillars” — strategy, activation, management, and partnerships — with recent milestones including:
- A major update to the Cleveland Streetscape Design Manual, setting a new theme and design palette for the CBD, due for adoption this month.
- The acquisition of 96 Bloomfield Street as a future development site, and a sharp reduction in vacancies at Council-owned 109 Bloomfield Street, from 80 per cent to 20 per cent.
- Progress on the Cleveland Centre Local Area Transport Plan, a 20-year vision for transport and movement within the CBD, shaped by extensive community consultation.
- Delivery of the ‘In Cleveland’ promotional campaign, developed with the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce to drive visitation and local spending.
- Successful Council-led activations, including evening author talks at Cleveland Library, a redesigned RPAC forecourt with outdoor performance space, and major community events such as AdventureFest, NAIDOC celebrations and Christmas in Cleveland.
Community and business-led activities are also playing a growing role in the revitalisation effort, with Council supporting initiatives such as the Sunday and Twilight Markets, the Bloomfield Street Collective’s retail campaign, and tree lighting along Middle Street installed by local centre managers Haben.
Council’s review of its Centres Management Program, completed in October, found opportunities to improve coordination, strengthen partnerships, and better direct resources toward activation and investment priorities.
The recommendations will be workshopped early in 2026.
Upcoming projects through to mid-2026 include:
- A Vacant to Vibrant program to transform empty shopfronts into active spaces.
- Expansion of the Tree Lighting Program in Bloomfield Street.
- A Cleveland Markets Analysis to measure visitor and economic impacts.
- A Precinct Plan for Kyling Lane Reserve to guide improvements in public amenity and outdoor dining.
- Further activations and public art opportunities to stimulate the night-time economy.
Council is also exploring fee waivers and simplified approval processes to make it easier for local businesses to activate civic spaces.
The Cleveland program aligns with the Place Management Strategy and the Cleveland Centre Character Areas identified in the 2010 Master Plan — covering land use, urban form, public realm, open space and movement — ensuring that every new project contributes to a more liveable, accessible and attractive town centre.
