Queens Wharf is Actually Starting

The first Queens Wharf Integrated Resort development application has today been lodged by Destination Brisbane Consortium.

With more applications anticipated before the end of 2016, the first round is for operational and demolition works, which will clear the area for excavation and then construction to occur. These works are expected to take twelve months to complete.

Destination Brisbane Consortium is currently reviewing tenders received for the Early Works package and expects to appoint a contractor for demolition before the end of 2016. According to the operational works documents, site hoarding will begin to be installed once William Street is officially closed on the 1st of January, 2017.

Construction activities will start in January 2017 for the core area of the development, which will house the iconic arc shaped buildings, hotels, restaurants and extensive public spaces, and will take approximately six years to build.

Demolition of the Executive Building is expected to commence first followed by 80 George Street (a then b) and lastly the Neville Bonner Building.

The preliminary hoarding concepts spruik 157 hoarding panels for a new ‘Brisbane Is’ campaign, which will be positioned around the entire site and seen by passing pedestrians and vehicle traffic.

A recent survey conducted by Brisbane-based Proof Research of Brisbanites shows overwhelming support for the integrated resort development. Nearly 80% of people surveyed agree that Queen’s Wharf Brisbane will breathe new life into the CBD and nearly 75% agree it will provide benefits to Queensland’s economy.

Destination Brisbane Consortium Project Director Simon Crooks said the survey was to measure current community awareness, support, and attitudes towards the development as well as identifying key community concerns.

“Overall, we found there was a limited level of awareness about the features of our development that will be open to the public – including 50 new restaurants, bars, and cafes; revitalised and reactivated heritage buildings that will all remain; exciting retail; a new pedestrian bridge to South Bank; and importantly, an incredible 12 football fields of public space,” Mr Crooks said.

“I’m talking about green space, parkland, new riverside areas to take the family, as well as diverse and exciting entertainment areas – all free to access by the public. Perhaps the most stunning of these will be the iconic Sky Deck, which will be 100 metres above the ground and what we’re calling Brisbane’s new selfie spot”, Mr Crooks said.

Destination Brisbane Consortium will soon be rolling out a new interactive website to help provide more information for users.

The DA number for this development application is 816.

41 George Street

Meanwhile a development application has been lodged for 41 George Street for a new two storey podium refurbishment across the road from the Queens Wharf core complex and is also part of the Priority Development Area.

Mineral House which formerly housed the Queensland Government was purchased by Perpetual Corporate Trust Limited in December of 2015.

Designed by architectural firm Nettleton Tribe, two new food and drink outlets are planned at ground level as well as additional commercial office space within the podium on level one.

A new landscaped rooftop terrace area and end of trip facilities within the building basement is also planned.

The DA number for this development is 812.