Boyd takes a step in the right direction

The Boyd Community Centre site is a step closer to completion after the next phase of the development was approved last month by Planning Minister Matthew Guy.

Adding to the site’s community hub and library will be an urban park, as well as the residential building “Cairo”, being developed by the Mackie Group.

Cairo will also include affordable housing for people with disabilities, giving a wider range of people the opportunity to live in an inner-city suburb.

The development also includes retail and commercial space.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the council was excited that its continued development of the site is moving in the right direction.

“This development will complete the transformation of the former JH Boyd School site into a key civic centre for Southbank,” Cr Doyle said.

“Boyd has had 60,000 visitors since it opened last year, with an innovative combination of library, maternal and child health and family services, community meeting rooms and artist studio spaces,” he added.

Mackie managing director Ralph Mackie said his team had enjoyed the collaborative effort to get the site approved and was excited to bring the plans to fruition.

“Our team is looking forward to the next stages of development and commencing construction in 2014,” Mr Mackie said.