Apartment blocks on stilts sounds good to me. Take the idea of a Queenslander design and apply it to modern standards.

Down around St lucia, a lot of the 80's-vintage apartment blocks are garages with flats over, and they seemed pretty easy to clean out - me and the flatmates went out volunteering today, and they all kept waving us on to the next place. Pretty easy to hose out a blank brick hole. The more recent townhouse developments are slab-on-ground, and they got ruined.

Honestly, I think the shops should be raised first - a lot of those little corner shops and takeaways aren't properly insured, and the stock losses are tremendous. We finally wound up helping to empty one that was flooded to eye-height, and many of the 40 or so of us there had to keep stopping to talk the owners out of trying to salvage flooded stock to sell D: raising shops can create some accessibility issues for the less mobile among us, though...

re: once every 35 years though - there were actually three floods over the course of a few weeks in 1893, and those had followed floods in 1890 and 1887. And if you've been anywhere near that f*($ing mud, you never want to deal with it again.

.....
re: once every 35 years though - there were actually three floods over the course of a few weeks in 1893, and those had followed floods in 1890 and 1887. And if you've been anywhere near that f*($ing mud, you never want to deal with it again.

For those of us who haven't helped in the cleanup yet can you tell us what it is like and do you have any tips?

For those of us who haven't helped in the cleanup yet can you tell us what it is like and do you have any tips?

http://floodcleanup.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/tips-to-clean-up-after-a-flood/ was written by a mate of mine.

http://floodcleanup.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/tips-to-clean-up-after-a-flood/ was written by a mate of mine.

Your friend is a rad dude. Although the piece needs to emphasise that photos for insurance purposes must, must, must be taken before anything is moved, because most companies won't cover things that are just piled in your yard if you have no evidence that they were in your house or otherwise belonged to you (purchase records, etc). Some companies also kick up a fuss if you don't report what's happened and get the all-clear from them before you start cleaning.

Practically speaking, that mud is slippery. Walk really carefully. Work slowly and methodically to prevent flicking muck around. short gloves don't help all that much, but they're better than nothing. At least they'll help with grip. Keep some garbage bags in your car if you drove in to help, because your boots and socks will have to go in them before you head home. I had to run my poor old steelcaps through the washing machine twice... put a garbage bag or towel on your car seat too, so you don't get mud on it.

Don't eat too much at lunch. The smell seems worse on a full stomach.

I heard on the radio that for old photos, don't immediately start trying to ply them apart if they are stuck together. Get a bucket, fill it with water and put them in it with detergent. Leave it for a while and they should be easier to separate.

Your friend is a rad dude. Although the piece needs to emphasise that photos for insurance purposes must, must, must be taken before anything is moved, because most companies won't cover things that are just piled in your yard if you have no evidence that they were in your house or otherwise belonged to you (purchase records, etc). Some companies also kick up a fuss if you don't report what's happened and get the all-clear from them before you start cleaning.



This is on the site, although it probably should be towards the top of the page:

You’ll have friends helping – that’s what friends are for. Make sure one of them has a camera and they need to document the damage and document everything you dispose of – no matter how small! This is particularly important for electronic items, and they need to photograph serial numbers, too.

Yeah I did see it in there, bad phrasing on my part. I just meant it should be right up top, possibly surrounded by annoying little fireworks gifs :P

if you're going to join the clean up effort shovels, brooms, buckets, sponges, brushes come in handy.

don't give yourself heat exhaustion either, seen a bit of that.

I was helping in Rocklea and it seems that there are a lot of hoarders there that still have stuff from the '74 floods piled up under their houses.

My advice for cleaning is take a face mask as the smell can be pretty intense and don't wear clothes you want to keep, they will get disgustingly dirty with very little effort.

Near Maps have updated aerial photography of the city taken on Thursday 13 just after the flood had peaked. Although the water has begun to fall you can clearly see the high 'tide' marks.

http://www.nearmap.com/

This will be invaluable in planning for future development and future property buyers alike.

Went over to Toowong and St Lucia to check out the property of some of my daughters uni mates who were still overseas on holidays. Traffic was horrendous though inlcuding convoys of army trucks.

Thankfully all were OK but further down the street was a mess including a car that had been completely submerged. It was so fall of silt and mud that the back suspension had almost collapsed.

We pitched in for a few hours with the gear we had taken over to help clean out a 'six pack' student digs apartment block. The upper units had survived (just) but there were a couple of ground level units that were submerged along with all of the garages and their contents and one toxic brown pool.

The Karcher was useless without power. Every man and his dog seemed to have a high pressure cleaner but generators to power them were few and far between.

The smell is truly horrendous and the mud is completely slippery - made worse by rubber neckers in 4 wheel drives speeding through it. If you are going down for a look lend a hand. They need it.

Never been prouder of the Brisbane spirit.

I agree Levathian.

There has been a large amount of development in the last 30 years based on the assumption (now unfortunately shown to be incorrect) that the Wivenhoe Dam was able to flood proof Brisbane.

This 2011 event should lead to a rethink about future development.

What angers me is how development has been allowed in floodplains in the first place. If an area is prone to any sort of flooding, development should be discouraged full stop. Anyone who wants to build does so at their own risk. The assumption the Wivenhoe would not cause any flooding was entirely wrong. If you have to release water from any dam, there is always the risk of flooding in some form.

The Brisbane River does flood from time to time, even if it is minor. Everybody knows that. Tides also have their part to play.

I know in Sydney there are plans to build new estates on a floodplain at Riverstone in the north west suburbs, and the those involved know of the risks should there be a flood and Sydney's suburbs are due for one.

Also, why haven't newer homes followed the traditional Queenslander style of homes raised on stilts, not to mention how good they are ventilation wise and keeping houses cool. Even before the 1974 floods many of the newer homes in Brisbane were being built with brick, and in some areas were amongst the houses destroyed because of the concrete splitting apart.

http://floodcleanup.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/tips-to-clean-up-after-a-flood/ was written by a mate of mine.

Thanks!!

Also, why haven't newer homes followed the traditional Queenslander style of homes raised on stilts, not to mention how good they are ventilation wise and keeping houses cool. Even before the 1974 floods many of the newer homes in Brisbane were being built with brick, and in some areas were amongst the houses destroyed because of the concrete splitting apart.

Similar reason probably why the same queenslander houses have been raised and built under for so many years now. I think people have forgotten how hard our river can bite. Surely warning bells go off when people go to insure and flooding isn't covered, or its an option. Planning must be no inhabital space under a certain RL or the likes, maybe even add that the dead space must be able to flow a certain amount of water and so on.

Personally, I'd like architects to step up and start the "modern" queenslander style house. I can't remember the guys name, don't think he's even an Aussie but in an interview he said something along the lines of he won't even design a property if air conditioning is mentioned.

There is only one housing company that I am aware of that will build Queenslander style homes in the classic form - Classic Queenslanders.

http://www.classicqueenslanders.com.au/

Obviously it appeals to a niche market. I have to admit I'd like my house built in such a style.

^^ I've heard of those guys before, they make some gorgeous looking houses! While they might be the only builders of the traditional Queenslander style, I know some others build a modern version, but with the elevated living area over a semi-enclosed carport area underneath.

My aunt's house, which isn't anymore than 10 years old maximum, is built in that style. However, it is a simple house, very much like most of the houses found in the newer outer Brisbane/Logan suburbs.

I think one of the big problems now isn't necessarily the allowing of building on floodplains, but more that many flood prone areas are already built up, and some have been built up since the early post war period. They aren't all new developments. We can't stop people living there, but we can (and in my opinion should) impose design restrictions on the building of all new houses in these areas. I wouldn't solve the problem, but surely it would help somewhat.

And that includes highrises too such as those at Tennyson next to the Brisbane tennis centre.

I've found another two builders that can build Queenslander homes.

Waratah Homes - http://www.waratahhomes.com.au/index.php
Colonial Building Company - http://cbco.com.au/

There heaps out there, only one comes to mind right now though:

http://www.traditionalqueenslanders.com.au/

Don't forget the salvage yards to, real recycled/relocated Queenslanders...

Colonial Building Company - http://cbco.com.au/

I almost built with these guys back in '98...

IMO the traditional Queenslader design is not a preferable design. They are cold in winter and do not provide enough cooling on a very hot day. They also cannot deal with Airconditioning.

Why can't we just build with a design that is just best for the block of land you have?

They also cannot deal with Airconditioning.

Not supposed to be.

Which is fine is they could handle very hot days or mosquito's etc. However they can't.

I'm a big fan of this guy, I think ABC did a doco on him a little while ago:

http://www.peterstutchbury.com.au/

IMO the traditional Queenslader design is not a preferable design. They are cold in winter and do not provide enough cooling on a very hot day. They also cannot deal with Airconditioning.

That's true of a traditional Queenslander, but what I'm thinking of is more a modern interpretation of the Queenslander. Mainly just the layout, built up high on stilts with a garage underneath.

Just to reuse the example of my aunt's house once again, it has a very similar layout and look to a Queenslander - raised on stilts, timber board construction with wide verandahs front and back, corrugated roof. However, it also enjoys fully ducted aircon and is fully insulated, the same as any modern house.

The stilts means that it would be able to withstand some of the flood conditions we saw (houses on stilts aren't a foolproof solution of course...a high enough flood in a low enough suburb and the top floor could still get flooded) but I think it's an example of what we should be looking at in these flood areas to help make them more resistant to/easier to clean up after a flood event.

IMO the traditional Queenslader design is not a preferable design. They are cold in winter and do not provide enough cooling on a very hot day. They also cannot deal with Airconditioning.

Hehe - that depends how powerful your aircon system is. I live in a very large QLDer that is fully airconditioned.

It is true, however, that they are cold in winter and do not resist mosquitos and bugs well in the summer (unless you use the powerful, expensive aircon).

how about we just don't build in flood prone areas rather then implementing legislation which increases the cost of building a home..

Even if a house is on stilts, its still a danger that the house could become dislodged and the overall issue is that people are still isolated and will need to be rescued.

^^ As good and sensible an idea as that is, the problem seems to be that most of the bad flood prone areas have already been built up, and not all recently with some of these areas dating from the post war period.

granted, so how is implementing legislation that people must have there homes built on stilts going to help if the areas are already developed..

If a person owns a low-set brick house are they going to be forced to raise there home, what implications would it have if you wanted to expand..

Heck, maybe it would be cheaper option would be to install levy systems in areas like Yeronga and Fairfield.

Where to though? Personally I could care less about sprawl, but I know allot of you guys do and people who have a block of land and house with garage and thier own pools etc will not want apartments.

We're talking what, 40,000 (guess) homes across SEQ or more depending on where they draw the line. 40,000 x brisbane's median price (not including the fact these places are generally WELL above this price) is what - $18 Billion, hazard a guess the councils risk reports say let them swim...

how about we just don't build in flood prone areas rather then implementing legislation which increases the cost of building a home..

Even if a house is on stilts, its still a danger that the house could become dislodged and the overall issue is that people are still isolated and will need to be rescued.

There were numerous people who lived in Queenslander homes and were trapped by floodwaters most notably this family who moved their possessions onto the roof.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8783/01122011120024.jpg

Grant Denyer also was concerned for a family that opted to stay behind in their Milton home and you could tell how relieved he was when they made the decision to go.

As for homes dislodging, advancements in construction mean that it is possible that buildings can remain more stable but nature as we know can do anything. Think the Brisbane Riverwalk. 1000 tonnes of concrete and that fell apart.

granted, so how is implementing legislation that people must have there homes built on stilts going to help if the areas are already developed..

If a person owns a low-set brick house are they going to be forced to raise there home, what implications would it have if you wanted to expand..

Heck, maybe it would be cheaper option would be to install levy systems in areas like Yeronga and Fairfield.

Obviously anything like this couldn't be retrospective. It would be applied to any new developments. There are some areas around the place where there used to be larger blocks of land that are now being subdivided, or where new owners are bulldozing the 1960s-1970s era houses on the block to rebuild with modern houses.

Levy systems are another good idea. They might not be suitable for every suburb that gets flooded, but none of these ideas we're throwing around is a one-size-fits-all solution. It all depends on the area in question.

My hope is that Anna's royal commission into the floods will consider and implement some of these kind of options...no matter whether you agree or disagree with some of these ideas, I think we can all agree that something needs to be done.

This kind of flood WILL occur again, so we need to take steps to be more prepared for it next time!

One option which i think is necessary is that the Government needs to classify the areas in terms of there risk, those houses which are undoubtedly going to be flooded at every opportunity and have no way of protecting themselves(through levis etc) should be forcibly resumed.

Yeah it might upset some people, but the reality of the situation is that its not just those people who own/live in those houses getting flooded whom are impacted by the flooding, the economic cost of the cleanup, infrastructure damage and environmental damage is also burdened by the broader community.

I think maybe some form of broader levi system/flood mitigation system in the lockyer valley/west ipswich needs to be looked at as well, these sort of systems are utilised elsewhere in the world to deal with regular flooding. Basically it might be a case where a vast track of land(agriculture) is conceded to be a flood plane stemmed in by a surrounding levi system which creates a ad-hoc dam system in times of heavy rain. It ultimately reduces the flow of water into rivers downstream like the Bremer and Brisbane River whilst ensuring that critical topsoil isn't lose to the sea.

The only problem is, environmentally it is rather damaging(ala traveston dam), however i suppose the environmental cost of having all those fertilisers, pesticides, oils etc washed from farms into the river system is also rather damaging..

Anyway, i suppose that's the whole point of the inquiry, if the damage bill is set at $20 billion, wouldn't it be a reasonable expectation that investing several $billion to try and mitigate a repeat occurrence be a reasonable investment..

^^ Definitely a reasonable investment, but is it a reasonable investment the Government can afford? After all, Rachel Nolan has come out and basically said that the cost of the recovery will probably result in 'infrastructure' *cough CRR cough* being put on the backburner for a little while.

What angers me is how development has been allowed in floodplains in the first place. If an area is prone to any sort of flooding, development should be discouraged full stop. Anyone who wants to build does so at their own risk. The assumption the Wivenhoe would not cause any flooding was entirely wrong. If you have to release water from any dam, there is always the risk of flooding in some form.

Seems to be a lot of ignorant comments coming out from arm chair experts at the moment. BCC put a lot of science and competent hydrological engineering expertise into their conclusion on what the 1 in 100yr flood level was (Q100). I haven't heard one expert come out and dispute their logic in how they determined this. We now know that the Q100 should be higher, but hindsight is a great thing and these matters are extremely complex to model particularly when trying to estimate a once in a generational event.

All new development in Brisbane occurs above that Q100 level so to suggest the industry went along haphazardly building in flood zones in ridiculous.

It was a reasonable assumption that wivenhoe would reduce the 1 in a 100yr flood level in Brisbane and this was proved correct as the flood levels were 1m lower than what they were in 1974 despite greater inflows. No one believed that wivenhoe would eliminate flooding (as you suggest Fabian) hence the reason why the Q100 level is about 4m above the river level.

Given the flood modelling has now proven to be wrong (which I don't blame any one for) my expectation is that the authorities will instigate additional flood mitigation capacity to provide the required buffer to maintain the existing Q100 level.

I haven't heard one expert come out and dispute their logic in how they determined this.

I have. And when you look at some areas that they deemed to be Q100 free and those that haven't it is dodgey.

Look here: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/maps/flooding_indooroopilly_east_flood_flag_map.pdf

There is a set of units on Indooroopilly Road between Lambert and Lohe Street where there is no discernable difference in height above river level. Needless to say, they got flooded.

Council revised the Q100 in 2009 based on updated information at a cost of $100M+
Look here: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/flood-maps-wont-affect-house-prices-experts-say-20090615-c81l.html

There is no descernable difference between the river level and those townhouses because they are over 800m and a golf course away from the river.

^^That link is talking about overland flow and flash flood events, not Brisbane River flooding.

The distance from the River means nothing. It is the height above river level that makes the difference. The water comes up through the drains.

Heck, maybe it would be cheaper option would be to install levy systems in areas like Yeronga and Fairfield.

It won't happen in Brisbane, because reducing the area the water can flood into will raise the height of water in other areas. It would be a legal nightmare as owners of previously 'safe' houses would take legal action. Levies work for regional centres as the water still has plenty of space to go around, so the height isn't raised significantly.

All they can really do is
- Offer to resume some homes in the worst areas.
- Insist on raised buildings for any new construction where appropriate.
- Let the market sort it out through reduced prices and rents for those in flood-able areas (by making sure detailed flood information is available).

the overall issue is that people are still isolated and will need to be rescued.

Being isolated every few decades is not a significant issue, the financial cost of that is minimal. It's wholesale destruction that causes the issue.

Which is fine is they could handle very hot days or mosquito's etc. However they can't.

I believe that is a human fault, not a house fault. But I know what you're getting at. There is of course no reason why new versions can not be built with significantly more insulation and screens. Of course as they were built in the past, the number of days where air-conditioning is a (desirable) requirement is very minimal. There is an interesting conflict between building super insulated boxes that require minimal air-conditioning on a permanent basis and building well ventilated homes that cost more to air condition when required.

On the whole though, things like shading windows are really a plus no matter what the rest of the house is built like. (I can't stand homes that seem to be built to get direct sun in a window in the middle of the day in summer, it's madness.

It won't happen in Brisbane, because reducing the area the water can flood into will raise the height of water in other areas. It would be a legal nightmare as owners of previously 'safe' houses would take legal action. Levies work for regional centres as the water still has plenty of space to go around, so the height isn't raised significantly.


no, not necessarily, depends on the extent of the levi system

A question for anyone with hydrology experise -

Is it possible to build a channel to accept flooding water at the Bremer River, and divert it out to Moreton Bay? The channel would only be opened at peak flood times?

Some personal reflections on the floods in my blog, which I have decided to resume after a three year lull - http://fabianamuso.wordpress.com/

Anyone got pics of what was there before 120 Edward street was built, say pre-2000ish?

120 Edward St? That's the one opposite on the corner right across from the Vic and Exchange right? I don't have a photo offhand, but I know both the Courier Mail and Brisbane Times had dug out the old 1974 Floods photos. Being a prominent corner of the CBD, there might be a photo of it in 74?

120 Edward was to me before the current building a vacant lot (80's/90's), and a handy place to park if you weren't drinking and still going somewhere like the Victory. I can't remember their ever being a building there, just the car park, but here's a couple of old pictures that may help. A good one of that corner seems hard to find.

We know the Victory and the Stock Exchange pubs have had 2/4 corners of Charlotte and Edward for a long time, so there's a 50/50 chance this 1915 shot shows what may have stood there before. And the street sloping makes me suspect that it's the right corner.

Edit, I'm now a 100% sure, just noticed the tram tracks, they did run down Edward, but never on Charlotte St, so this is the right corner.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7050/edchar.png

2010

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/3268/pb120139.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/pb120139.jpg/)

A 1974 floods aerial, Charlotte is the 4th street from the botanical gardens, (Alice, Margaret, Mary, Charlotte).

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5272/1974cityaerial2.jpg

Good job AB.

Does anybody know anything about 470 Queen St - A003007823? It was lodged today...

Does anybody know anything about 470 Queen St - A003007823? It was lodged today...

Just says a 45 story residential tower.

It's SILVERPOINT - thats what's written on the plans.

And only has 40 apartments!

They are applying for the opportunity to propose under a superceeded planning scheme.

I would not have thought there was the market for this type of tower at the moment?????

Given the sales glut over at Macrossan and Scott St... I would say it's ambitious at the least!

Edit: This is the site of that horrible brown/pink building between Trilogy and Aurora, yes?

I would not have thought there was the market for this type of tower at the moment?????

Correct, the market is saturated with stock over 500k. How strange. Could they be again using this to increase the value of the land perhaps?

^^ That's what I reckon.

Not 100% sure, they already have an approval for a similar type of tower on the site. I don't know if this would increase the value any greater than what they already have.

Given the sales glut over at Macrossan and Scott St... I would say it's ambitious at the least!

Edit: This is the site of that horrible brown/pink building between Trilogy and Aurora, yes?

The site is next to the horrible building.

It has on it "proposal 2 for Metropole Hotel Coy P/L". Not sure what that means...

This is it for now then...

http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt280/Dr_Marty/Silverpoint.jpg?t=1297326069

It has on it "proposal 2 for Metropole Hotel Coy P/L". Not sure what that means...

That is the name of the company making the proposal.

I would assume when the MCU is submitted, more detailed plans would be included in the package.

This is it for now then...

http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt280/Dr_Marty/Silverpoint.jpg?t=1297326069

Delicious - NOT. Well at least it will add density. That I like, oh and its only a fraction of the site - the rest is up for development.

It is over the entirity of the 470 Queen Street site. The 480 Queen Street site is still free.


There is no way we can tell if it is good or not as the plans are so ordinary.

^^ This is the site that used to have that old 2 story building with the arched windows and columns (which I'm surprised wasn't heritage listed) and the site next door was the Red Cross Blood Bank, right?

These sort of applications annoy me, because you only get the basic shape and the types of material used. There's no sense of colour, which can be one of the most important parts of a building's design. What we can see is that there doesn't appear to be any rendered masonry on the tower itself, just lots of cladding and a fair amount of glass. This has got to be a good thing, right?

That is the site. Also it was mentioned in discussions on the previous application that that building was constructed in the 1970's. Why would that need heritage protection?

You need to read back in the thread only a few posts:

And only has 40 apartments!

They are applying for the opportunity to propose under a superceeded planning scheme.

I would not have thought there was the market for this type of tower at the moment?????

They are proposing to apply under a superceeded planning scheme. When they know whether they can or not, they will submit a full application.

what would the superceeded planning scheme give them that the current planning scheme doesn't??

I don't know as they don't mention. It could be something as mundane as setbacks.

That is the site. Also it was mentioned in discussions on the previous application that that building was constructed in the 1970's. Why would that need heritage protection?

Wow, that was a reproduction facade? It was certainly convincing! I read about the demolition in the Trilogy thread, so this is the first I had heard about it being a fake.

I don't know as they don't mention. It could be something as mundane as setbacks.

Did I misread the document then? I thought it was to do with TFA?

It could be. I didn't read it in a huge amount of detail. TFA would make sense.

Yea, it is. They want to use TFA from a site on Edward St.

A planning application is in for the construction of a St George Bank branch on the ground floor of this building on the corner of Queen Street and George Street at the top of the mall. St George will also have naming rights, with illuminated signage on the roof, based on the "Plan - Applicant Proposed" document.

Application number is A003008335.

http://pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au/masterview/masterplan/enquirer/default.aspx?page=disclaimer

George street or Edward street? I think that building is at the corner of Queen Street and Edward street?

A planning application is in for the construction of a St George Bank branch on the ground floor of this building on the corner of Queen Street and George Street at the top of the mall. St George will also have naming rights, with illuminated signage on the roof, based on the "Plan - Applicant Proposed" document.

Application number is A003008335.

http://pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au/masterview/masterplan/enquirer/default.aspx?page=disclaimer

Def. the corner of George and the QSM.

It is the building that used to have the coffee club and the subway at ground level and is diagonally opposite the Casino.

Its unfortunate to see another great shopfront being wasted on another bank. There's a st george on the bottom of the mall already. I am however happy about the signage. Should look good from the Vic bridge.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn131/SoulVisionQ3/GoogleChromeScreenSnapz016.jpg

Uhhhhh boringgggg. When will Brisbane ever start to improve its retail stock? The Queen Street Mall should be dominated by flagship national and international chain stores, not banks and mobile phone companies

The QSM has become a victim of it's own success. It's been so successful that it's forced the rental prices on the mall to skyrocket, thus pushing out some of those stores. I think the best thing to do would be to increase the supply of inner city retail space, through things such as the laneways program. I agree that the mall is all too dominated by phone shops, banks and shitty souvenier stores, but I think this can be changed by a combination of drawing those stores out, to spread them more evenly across the city and improving the quality of retail tenancies in the mall, such as what was done at the Q&A building.

470 Queen St - A003007823? It was lodged today...I'm getting deja vu from that proposal. Reminds me of the number of quite tall, very thin and completely unremarkable apartment tower proposals from around the Petrie Bight area a few years back. And most of them had poorly illustrated DAs and never seemed like becoming reality. Also, here is a link to the thread for the previous proposal for this site - Silverpoint Towers (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=402665)

A planning application is in for the construction of a St George Bank branch on the ground floor of this building on the corner of Queen Street and George Street at the top of the mall. St George will also have naming rights, with illuminated signage on the roofThats the building that is, or at least was, called Concorde House, which is a kinda cool name. Does anyone know why its called that? Named after any particular company?

Photo from realcommercial.com.au
http://www.rs.realestate.com.au/objects/props/0832/5690832ml1282025180.jpg

As a retailer I can assure you that the mall is now too expensive for most retailers. We were considering closing several of our shops around the CBD to open a big one on the mall, but we just couldn't justify spending $1M+ on a site slightly bigger than our average site we would normally pay $100K for.

The QSM has become a victim of it's own success. It's been so successful that it's forced the rental prices on the mall to skyrocket, thus pushing out some of those stores. I think the best thing to do would be to increase the supply of inner city retail space, through things such as the laneways program. I agree that the mall is all too dominated by phone shops, banks and shitty souvenier stores, but I think this can be changed by a combination of drawing those stores out, to spread them more evenly across the city and improving the quality of retail tenancies in the mall, such as what was done at the Q&A building.

To me the Q&A Building was/is a disappointment. Apart from Albert Lane, the retailers are average, some of the stores seem very cramped (Guess), poorly laid out (Dymocks) or just double up on what we had before. I'm hoping the Wintergarden is much better than this.

Agree entirely on the need to decentralise inner city retail. Brisbane is a growing city, 2 million+ and it is able to support multiple shopping precincts in the CBD and inner city - just like Melbourne and Sydney. I would actually like to see a big shopping centre built on George Street at the base of a new tallest tower at the existing law courts building (opposite the Telstra Building). Furthermore, it'd be good if a DFO was built at Roma Street Station ala Spencer Street in Melbourne.

As a uni student, I've mixed with a lot of people from overseas and all comment on the lack of international retailers in Brisbane, the small and boring stores and (most of all) the restricted trading hours. Hopefully we will see significant change this decade.

As a uni student, I've mixed with a lot of people from overseas and all comment on the lack of international retailers in Brisbane

Do you seriously think that building more stores will solve this problem? You said it yourself - new shops are built (ie Q&A) and we get either double-ups or unremarkable tenancies. It's not that there's no space... Quite the contrary. It's not that there isn't a great spots... There are (the QSM itself is brilliant). It's not that nobody is trying to entice them - heavyweights like Brookfield Multiplex are soliciting high end tenants in such buildings as the Wintergarden.

The simple issue is that they don't want to be here yet. Time and growth will solve the problem.

^^ You're right in that there are places spare in the QSM. I walked through the mall today and was very surprised how many empty shops there were in the stretch between George and Albert Streets, opposite the Myer Centre. I'm wondering whether all the new developments up the northern end of the mall (Queens Plaza, Q&A and the upcoming Wintergarden) are causing the southern end to be viewed as the poor relation?

And it looks like St George isn't the only bank-related work occurring in the CBD. Commonwealth Bank, hot on the heals of updating their Albert St branch, has started work on their flagship 240 Queen St branch. If you want to see what the end result should look like, the plans are on pdonline - A002779453. Interestingly, plans do also mention an 'art installation and possible lighting to compliment council streetscape works to Rowes Lane", although it doesn't go into details about it.

Do you seriously think that building more stores will solve this problem? You said it yourself - new shops are built (ie Q&A) and we get either double-ups or unremarkable tenancies. It's not that there's no space... Quite the contrary. It's not that there isn't a great spots... There are (the QSM itself is brilliant). It's not that nobody is trying to entice them - heavyweights like Brookfield Multiplex are soliciting high end tenants in such buildings as the Wintergarden.

The simple issue is that they don't want to be here yet. Time and growth will solve the problem.

Re-read my post. I agree with what you said, in the last line Hopefully we will see significant change this decade.

Now think back over the changes we have seen in the past 10 years - complete redevelopment of David Jones and adjacent Coles building into QueensPlaza. Construction of MacArthur Central. Development of Edward Street into something that resembles a high end precinct. Construction of Q&A Building.

Now think ahead to what we have coming up -
Reconstruction of The Wintergarden.

There are plenty of opportunities for change and new stores to be built away from the mall, and honestly I think it will be a good thing for the following reasons...
1/Increased stock could put a lid on the rental prices on Queen Street Mall. There is no way that the mall should be one of the ten most expensive shopping streets in the world by rent (as it was a few years ago).
2/Construction of large floorplates for big international retailers. The majority of stores that front the mall are not big enough to host 2/3 storey 1000-2000 sq m+ flagship stores such as Zara, Gap, Uniqlo, Topshop etc. Zara and Gap are open/ing in Sydney and Melbourne with there also being talk of an Adelaide store for Zara. Haven't heard anything from either about a Brisbane store (though hoping the Wintergarden helps fill some of the void).
3/Brisbane will have ~2.5 million people by 2020 + more tourists and day trippers. The CBD retail offering needs to grow to continue to attract shoppers because we know that the suburban shopping centres (Carindale, Indooroopilly, Mount Gravatt, perhaps Chermside again) are all going to get big renovations (essentially like adding something the size of QueensPlaza on).

I personally think there are very few prime spots left for big shops to open unless new stock is added or old stock is seriously renovated and old tenants move out, creating a little extra demand for retail space

^^ One issue with drawing out the retailers and decentralising shopping in Brisbane is simply where can we put it? As you said, the big internationals require large sq m stores, and hopefully the Wintergarden can provide some of that. But, if more is required, where in close proximity to the QSM is there enough space to create a new centre?

As we have no idea what will be done when the old courts, lets exclude them from the arguement. In my mind, there isn't really anywhere realistic (expecting the Casino to move out of the Treasury building is obviously out) in close proximity to the QSM with the available space to build a new, high end retail complex, or convert an existing site to that use. The closest suitable area, really, would be in the Brunswick St Mall, which at this time isn't ready to pull off that kind of retail role.

In fact, I think the best available spaces to house these high end retailers could be found in revamping existing Queen St properties that aren't being used to their full potential - namely the Queen Adelaide Building and Broadway on the Mall. The QAB did formerly house full size department stores (Allan & Stark/Myer) and some of the existing stores in the building are already rather large in size. It also has the street presence for that use. Meanwhile, Broadway sits on quite a sizeable plot of land which could be redeveloped into something very special that would surely be better than the existing design and layout. Just keep the Adelaide St frontage, then go for it!!!

Well, that's my two cents.

I think a full refurbishment of the Myer Centre with twin towers would be on the cards within the next 20 years.

I think a full refurbishment of the Myer Centre with twin towers would be on the cards within the next 20 years.

The Myer Centre is another possible I thought of. It definitely needs one on the outside, the Elizabeth Street frontage is just terrible, and the facades on Queen St also need some TLC I've noticed! However, I don't see a complete reconstruction along the lines of the Wintergarden, nor the addition of twin towers, just because of how many retailers, especially the majors like Myer, Target, BCC Cinemas, etc would be affected by the works, not to mention affecting the Queen Street Bus Station.

I'd love to be proved wrong on that though!

Interesting report on the Brisbane River shown on Seven News Queensland last night (14/2/2011)

Apparently the river is likely to remain brown for the next few years due to suspended sediment. There is also mention of erosion along shorebanks as well such as the University of Queensland at St Lucia.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/local/qld/

...and here comes the BCC's flood bill...

Brisbane City Council cuts or delays projects to pay flood damage bill

Sarah Vogler From: The Courier-Mail February 15, 2011 10:53AM

MORE than $380 million worth of council projects have been cut or delayed to help pay Brisbane's mammoth $440 million flood damage bill.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said about 19 road projects would be among those shelved over the next three years and a replacement Riverwalk delayed for two years.

"The first thing we did was set aside the cost of replacing the Riverwalk from the bill because unless the Commonwealth provides funding, we will not be rebuilding it within the next two years," Cr Newman said.

Major cuts include a $50 million upgrade to Kingsford Smith Drive and a $20 million upgrade to Progress Road.
In total about $226.9 million from council's roads budget has been redirected to the flood damage bill.

"Deferring projects rather than stinging ratepayers with a large rate rise is the right thing to do," Cr Newman said.

"As soon as we get confirmation from the state and federal governments about what will be covered under disaster relief arrangements, we can put some of these projects back on the table."

Finance chairman Cr Adrian Schrinner said without the cuts residents faced being stung up to $300 a year in a council flood levy, something council has ruled out.

Several parks projects have also been cut or delayed including the Howard Smith Wharves super park and the West End Riverside Park.

Kerbside clean-ups will be reduced to a bi-annual service.

About $750,000 worth of emerging artist grants have been cancelled and council's library book budget slashed by $928,000.

Almost $5 million worth of grants usually offered through the Lord Mayor's Suburban Initiative Fund have also been cancelled.

Here's the LINK (http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/brisbane-city-council-cuts-or-delays-projects-to-pay-flood-damage-bill/story-e6freoof-1226006250315)

Sorry guys but I can't find a page for 127 Charlotte Street by Hutchies?
Am I just blind?

Are you talking about Midtown? (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=549785)

Wow thanks - I had absolutely no idea thats what it was called - my apologies and thanks

Looks like Brisbane is going on the offensive to say that we are open for business!

New Brisbane brand to fight flood misconceptions
Tony Moore
February 22, 2011 - 5:31AM

As Brisbane struggles to return to its feet after a spate of natural disasters, civic leaders are exploring new ways to entice visitors back to the flood-ravaged city.

A campaign will soon be finalised that will include a new brand for the city and an advertising offensive both in Australia and overseas.

Leading global brand consultancy Interbrand is developing the initiative free of charge, and it is expected to run until after the Brisbane Festival in September.

The new scheme will begin life with a logo and brand which local businesses can use to promote their activities, according to Brisbane Marketing.

A strong marketing push will follow, including advertising spots on television, radio and online.

Tough times

Brisbane's economy, which is worth about $104 billion each year, has taken a battering over the past six weeks.

Brisbane City Council's flood damage bill is an estimated $440 million.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said hundreds of Brisbane businesses would lose 13 per cent of their annual turnover - an average of more than $800,000.

Tourism is one of the worst hit industries, with hotels and businesses struggling to cover costs and keep employees in work.

'Open for business'

High-profile local businesses believe the marketing push should begin as soon as possible with a perception remaining that Brisbane is "closed".

Paul Lewin, CEO of the Story Bridge Adventure Climb, said his business had slumped to half of its traditional levels.

"There are a number of people who phone us up and say 'Are you open yet?," he said. "That is happening across a lot of specialist tourism operators."

Mr Lewin said it was time for a campaign to encourage locals and out-of-towners to support businesses damaged in the floods - as well as those who weren't.

"There is a misunderstanding that not just the businesses that were physically flooded by water have been affected," Mr Lewin said.

Crowds are beginning to return to the South Bank Parklands, although the popular pools at the site will not be open for several weeks.

South Bank Corporation CEO Malcolm Snow said the campaign was absolutely essential, but added that it needed to have a long-term view.

He said it was important to reinvigorate key projects in Brisbane that were already paying dividends to the city's growth, but had been stalled by funding cuts.

The $4.8 million CBD Laneways project, temporarily shelved by Brisbane City Council, was a perfect example, he said.

"To see this project cut is disappointing when it it is already developing other businesses which are creating an image for the city," he said.

Getting back to our best

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has declined to comment on the initiative until the new brand has been officially launched.

His office said the campaign would address any negative post-flood perceptions of Brisbane.

"It aims to communicate a re-energised Brisbane that is focused on getting back to its best or even better," a spokesman said.

Immediately after the flood, Cr Newman anticipated a Brisbane recovery through the building sector.

“Brisbane City Council actually expects to see stimulus in Brisbane's economy, particularly in the construction and building sector as the rebuilding continues," Cr Newman said.

An online survey on how Brisbane businesses have been affected by the floods runs until March 10 at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/yoursay.

Making a start

Brisbane's major media outlets pledged their support to the campaign in late January.

Last weekend, Brisbane Marketing held a high-profile promotion at an Asian business conventions booking conference in Melbourne.

The promotion aimed to remind the region's business community that convention centres and facilities were available in the river city.

Business conventions and trade missions attract $170 million each year to Brisbane and some convention facilities were closed because of flooding.

Brisbane is one of the most pathetic capitals I've ever seen - even in the good times.

While our 'new world city' is doing next to nothing to promote trade or repeal our century old trading hour restrictions, Sydney businesses are practically being begged to open longer.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/shops-and-museums-set-to-stay-open-at-night-20110214-1atqq.html

Brisbane is one of the most pathetic capitals I've ever seen

:weirdo:

Twin towers approved for Woolloongabba.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/twin-towers-to-loom-over-woolloongabba-20110222-1b3ms.html

Old-ish news, but the Translational Research Institute (http://www.tri.edu.au/about-tri/tri-facility) next to the Princess Alexandra hospital is U/C, has been since October last year. At 32,000sqm it will be quite sizeable. Associated with it is a Biopharmaceuticals Australia building, and hopefully this will kick along the completion of the Pharmacy Australia Center of Excellence stages II & III.

I've heard news that Westfield Chermside is going to be extended. Not outwards but higher with one or two levels to be added on top of the existing building. The official press release will come out at a later date.

I've heard news that Westfield Chermside is going to be extended. Not outwards but higher with one or two levels to be added on top of the existing building. The official press release will come out at a later date.

Hush Hush but I know the engineer who worked on the last extension and yes apparently they are putting one additional floor over the ENTIRE centre. That will make it easily the largest shopping centre in Australia.

I just hope they do something about the parking situation.

Oooooh hope they do :D

If that does happen (I've seen documents on Westfield site confirming Chermside is in the pipeline for upgrades) Brisbane and Australia would finally have a suburban shopping centre somewhat comparable to those in Asia. Would be great news

That will make it easily the largest shopping centre in Australia.


Really? If another level was put on it, is it certain to be the biggest?

It would be by far the biggest.

But seriously, would there be anywhere near enough shops to fill so much extra space??

It would be by far the biggest.

But seriously, would there be anywhere near enough shops to fill so much extra space??

exactly, im a little critical of the oversized shopping malls because to me, its the same dam shops just replicated over and over.. but then again, im not exactly a shopping nut, i got to the shops knowing exactly what i need to buy and walk out.

The reality is, that a project this size, would involve extensive closures to the shopping centre, its probably a phased project over the next 15years or something.

Westfield Chermside is currently ~122 000 sq m.
Chadstone is currently ~190 000 sq m.

Westfield Chermside would need to see 70 000 sq m+ added on for it to become the biggest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere in terms of GFA. I find it hard to believe that Westfield would want to add a full second level across the entire first level, that would make the centre around 200 000 sq m (when you take off existing second floor GFA for Myer, DJs, Rebel Sport and entertainment precinct). I really can't see that many more stores wanting to open in a suburban centre. There are plenty of Australian designers that could end up at Chermside but they all have relatively small stores. Some of the big chains like Gap & Zara could pop up too, but I think they would prefer space on the ground floor.

Well they can start doubling up and tripling up on stores. Already started with Electronics Boutique last time I was there..... But yeah I don't see it happening, a decent amount of space would need to be taken up by Majors expanding as well.

Anyone know of the DA number for this one?

http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2011/02/22/2197969/cannon-hill-420-420x0.jpg

Urban village for Brisbane's east
Ashleigh Austen
February 22, 2011 (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/urban-village-for-brisbanes-east-20110222-1b3zg.html)

An urban village with a $1 billion price tag has been approved for Cannon Hill in Brisbane's east.

Brisbane City Council yesterday gave the green light to Anthony John Group's East Village development which will be similar to their Emporium precinct in Fortitude Valley.

The development will be located at the old CSIRO food sciences site on the corner of Wynnum and Creek roads.

Advertisement: Story continues below
It will include pedestrian connections to Cannon Hill and Murarrie train stations.

The master plan allows for 105 residential units, commercial buildings, a seven-storey boutique hotel, similar to Fortitude Valley's Emporium.

It will also feature retail businesses, parkland, a cinema and indoor sports facilities.

Development Assessment Chairman Amanda Cooper said the development is important to support Brisbane's economic recovery after the global financial crisis and recent natural disasters.

“This development will not only help us meet the state government's housing targets of 156,000 new dwellings for Brisbane but it will also generate jobs and big investment in the local economy,” she said.

The village is expected to receive final approval when it goes before a full council next Tuesday.

It is on the corner of Creek and Wynnum Roads in cannon hill.

Does this seem like a strange place for this type of development? Maybe its just because I'm not real familiar with area, but my first thought is that there wouldn't be the demand in this location for the commercial aspect for that type of development.

I think the hotel would be really popular as it is close to a large area of commercial/industrial. This is the same for the commercial space. The retail I believe would be sought after by the local community as they are mostly middle to upper middle class and would enjoy Emporium style shopping for a change.

I believe the units would sell as it is close to bus, train, jobs, airport etc.



If you think about it, Emporium was also in the middle of nowhere when it was first built.

It will sell. Just east down Wynnum Rd was the fastest growing area of Brisbane over the past 10 years (Wakerly, Manly, Tingalpa). The number of new estates and shops that have gone in boggles the mind. The only difference here is that it's a bit closer to the city, has public transport ammenity and AJ's name is on it.

The old CSIRO site is quite high up too. Many of those apartments will have great views of Brisbane CBD and Gateway Bridge.

18st bog standard proposed for Manning Street, Milton.

Application number: A003019777

$1bn seems like a lot for AJG's proposal.. there isn't much too it. who got what wrong??

The master plan allows for 105 residential units, commercial buildings, a seven-storey boutique hotel, similar to Fortitude Valley's Emporium.

It will also feature retail businesses, parkland, a cinema and indoor sports facilities.

That's probably final development value....not construction costs.

18st bog standard proposed for Manning Street, Milton.

Application number: A003019777

The now Stage 2 of that development was already approved under a previous DA around the same time the latest Milton by FKP was approved. They too sought for the Minister's over-ruling of any court appeals by the local action group. I'm not sure on the outcome but the new proposal is Code assessable to if it remains code it's a big FU to all the NIMBYS!

I live close to the Cannon Hill proposal. I have been waiting for something like this for a very long time. Good news and I hope it is as good if not better than the Emporium.

That's probably final development value....not construction costs.

$1bn still seems like way way way too much for 105 apartments, a few office buildings, a hotel and a gym.

by comparison, fkp value their part of newstead riverpark at $1.025bn...

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned before but very strong rumour that IKEA will be opeing a store at North Lakes.

I hope they do it quickly- i have $400 of curtains to return before next weekend and I don't want to have to do a trip to the southside just for that.

$1bn still seems like way way way too much for 105 apartments, a few office buildings, a hotel and a gym.

by comparison, fkp value their part of newstead riverpark at $1.025bn...

They also may be including the stage 1 next door.?

I am part of the Project Marketing Sales team on this development. FYI DA Approval has been granted and Pre-release will begin soon.

The CANNON Hill urban village with a staggering $1 billion price tag is set to rival the trendy inner-city Emporium precinct. The EAST VILLAGE development will consist of a luxury hotel, shops, gym, and corporate office space and will be a unique combination of exclusive town homes, stylish apartments and an exciting mix of shopping, restaurants and entertainment. a townhouse precinct, several apartment buildings, a retail boulevard with boutique shopping, cafés and restaurants and eventually, two office buildings.

The first stage of the development will include 105 two and three bedroom architecturally designed town-homes. These will be generously proportioned, spacious homes, with the majority of them having either a double lock up car space or at least a single lock up car space together with another ‘exclusive use’ car bay which are proving to be very popular.

The town-homes include a uniquely configured internal court that will offer additional communal recreation space. A spacious central park and exclusive pool and gymnasium area for the ‘residents use only’ will also be constructed as part of Stage 1.

East Village is conveniently located with everything you need at your doorstep. On completion , you will be able to dine in or take out, enjoy a variety of specialty shops and pick up the groceries from the local grocer. East Village provides easy access to public transport with the Cannon Hill bus interchange located diagonally across the road. Train access will be an easy few minutes’ walk away via the Southgate Corporate Park. It is located at an arterial crossroad with close access to the Gateway and Pacific Motorway and the CBD is just 15 minutes away.

Major public and private schools, secondary colleges and Child Care Centres are within close proximity. Sporting centres and recreational areas, including Bulimba Creek Bikeways and Parklands make this location a wonderful place to come home too.

The low maintenance lifestyle at East Village will give residents more time to spend with family and friends and more time to enjoy life!

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support for East Village. If you would like to be updated as we draw closer to our pre release please let me know.

Kind regards

Linda Flemming
linda@nicherealty.com.auhttp://www.nicherealty.com.au/Projects/EastVillage/index.htm

linda, how do you arrive at $1bn?

elementry mathematics my dear watson..
105 apartments @ 600k/ea = $63m
hotel, say $100m
shops, say 5,000sqm @ $8,000/sqm = $40m
two office buildings, say 25,000sqm/ea @ $5,500/sqm = $275m
townhouses, say 200 @ $700k/ea = $140m
total $618m..... that is some way away from $1bn.

what is in this development that we are missing?? are there another 400 shops we don't know about yet?? or another 650 apartments still to come??

Looks like James Street may be getting a new Ralph Lauren store. I love this street.

A003022494

Looks like 156 Roma Street is back on the cards: A003022775

Hopefully the Cannon Hill UV will smarten up K-mart and Save City.

Looks like James Street may be getting a new Ralph Lauren store. I love this street.

A003022494

No, Ralph Lauren is the name of the developer who owns a lot of James Street sites and currently has a few DAs on the go for extensions and new buildings.

There's a few companies too Ralph Lauren number 1,2,3 etc. holding different sites.

I think his name is actually Patrick George and he runs everything through the name Ralph Lauren. I'll have to ask mum though. She works closely with the Maloufs, John James and Patrick up there on James Street (as well as Ferry Road on the GC).

No, Ralph Lauren is the name of the developer who owns a lot of James Street sites and currently has a few DAs on the go for extensions and new buildings.

There's a few companies too Ralph Lauren number 1,2,3 etc. holding different sites.

Right i see. Dam, got excited there. Surprised he/she was able to secure that business name.

Suncorp are selling the Wedding Cake and building a new "campus style" building in the CBD or fringe. This is in order to consolidate some 10 sites in the CBD to two - Brisbane Square and this new one http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/insurance-giant-suncorp-to-sell-its-city-centre/story-e6frg9gx-1226014964194. I'm guessing the Gabba precinct?

Suncorp are selling the Wedding Cake and building a new "campus style" building in the CBD or fringe. This is in order to consolidate some 10 sites in the CBD to two - Brisbane Square and this new one http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/insurance-giant-suncorp-to-sell-its-city-centre/story-e6frg9gx-1226014964194. I'm guessing the Gabba precinct?

Campus!!

Yay fantastic. Just like the Virgin Blue campus (village) in Bowen Hills?

Sorry I'm being sarcastic. Campus is OK if you include shops and cafes at ground level. Virgin Blue HQ is a bad example. "Dislike"

^^ Agree. Hate Campus style office parks.

"Campus" makes me think "low rise".

They say minimum 3000sqm floorplates, and they wish for 25,000sqm-30,000sqm.

That is a maximum of 10 storeys if they take up the whole building. Could this be Newstead with the 'Robot' building?

if they are going out to the fringe they would probably want something custom-designed... so it probably wouldn't be the sunken robot scheme. it could be the same land though.. but who knows.

robot? please explain.

robot? please explain.

One of the buildings in the Newstead Riverpark looks like a robot that was buried upto it's waist.

Borrowed from MyFavco's post in that thread:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/4570996990_99bc0d4ce6_o.jpg

I've got a bit of a mystery for everyone.

Yesterday while walking around town, I went down Burnett Lane and noticed that 32 Burnett Lane (the 4 story building that used to house that Chinese restaurant and, more recently the 'Glow 32' multipurpose space/coffee shop/gallery space) is now a fenced off construction site and appears to have been gutted downstairs, while adjoining building, which I think is 41 Adelaide St, is empty and has black plastic covering the windows.

I remember that a couple of years back the owner had plans to convert it into a cafe/restaurant which included a cross block laneway link between Adelaide St and Burnett Lane, but as far as I know, those plans didn't go anywhere.

Anyone have any idea what's happening?

Just relating to my last post, this is the building, and probably one of the most promising buildings in terms of activation potential in Burnett Lane:

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1001/p1000220r.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/p1000220r.jpg/)

And the ghosts of what it used to be.

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9702/p1000226y.jpg (http://img580.imageshack.us/i/p1000226y.jpg/)

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9950/p1000219et.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/i/p1000219et.jpg/)

As you can see the inside, which was pretty bare before, is now completely gutted.

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1109/p1000224t.jpg (http://img141.imageshack.us/i/p1000224t.jpg/)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8605/p1000223x.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/i/p1000223x.jpg/)

Down here you can see a little cherry picker or something similar in the little courtyard between this building and 41 Adelaide St behind it.

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1903/p1000225s.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/p1000225s.jpg/)

^^ Thats very exciting! I do hope they are planning a nice coffee shop/eatery there. It might spark the start of this laneway transformation.

I hope so, because with so many of the buildings along there reconfigured to only have loading docks and rubbish collection face onto the lane, there's not very many buildings on Burnett Lane that are suitable for immediate activation. I had a look on PDonline, but still couldn't see any approved DA's, so I still have no idea what they're doing there.

Apart from this one, there's also the upper level of the heritage building that's between the QAB and Lennons (the one that has the unusual bay window that faces out onto Queen St). They're currently looking to hire out the upper level of that building, which unlike the ground retail level has it's entrance around the back on Burnett Lane. I think a cool little indie restaurant would work there as well, if advertised properly.

if they are going out to the fringe they would probably want something custom-designed... so it probably wouldn't be the sunken robot scheme. it could be the same land though.. but who knows.

Ive seen the proposal documents that Suncorp have put out to a few developers. I know of at least one who has a major inner city block of land putting through a proposal.

My understanding is there preference is for it to be in the CBD so they can still be close to Brisbane Square.

Fail:


A room with a view ... of a concrete plant
Tony Moore
March 9, 2011 - 3:01AM


View larger map (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Burdett+St+Albion+QLD+Australia+4010&ll=-27.430731,153.046464&z=16)

A six storey, 280-unit residential complex has been approved for Albion, with its residents to be treated to a view of a concrete batching plant.
The concrete company, Holcim, objected to the development application at a Brisbane City Council committee meeting yesterday.

Their Albion plant in Burdett Street has operated for 45 years.

Advertisement: Story continues below Holcim's general manager for southeast Queensland concrete Rhett Duncan said the company was bewildered by the council's decision to approve the complex.

He said it would make the unit residents natural enemies of the concrete plant, despite it having operated for so long.

“We are disappointed because council's Neighbourhood Plan requires that residential development around our plant would not occur until after it ceases operations,” Mr Duncan said.

“We understand that Albion is a changing land use area however under the strategic plan, existing industrial sites are to be protected from residential encroachment to avoid land use conflicts.”

The council's Neighbourhood Planning committee chair Amanda Cooper said the council had been dealing with the application since September 2008.

Cr Cooper said Readymix owned the concrete plant in 2008 and told the council they were shifting.

Holcim have since bought the plant and decided to stay at Albion.

A provision was added to the Albion Neighbourhood Plan so that residential development waited until the concrete plant shifted.

Changes to the original application mean the unit complex, which will be built over three buildings, means it is pushed back more than 30 metres.

The Department of Environment and Resource Management had no problems with the proposal and air quality and noise studies have been completed.

However, Labor's David Hinchliffe questioned why "closing all the windows is the administration's only solution in a sub-tropical environment".

"I can't believe my ears that this is the administration's only solution to this issue," he said.

Cr Hinchliffe asked the issue be sent back to council officers for a re-think about noise and dust issues.

Cr Cooper said the application had to be judged on its merits.

"When are Labor councillors going to stop opposing developments and robbing Brisbane residents of jobs and affordable housing options?" she said.

Mr Duncan said they wanted to find a solution to the land use problem.

"Until we find an alternative we are unable to move," he said.

"So this decision means there will be a conflict between residential and industrial land uses in this area.”



Brisbane Times (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/property/a-room-with-a-view--of-a-concrete-plant-20110308-1bmpo.html)


^^ I wonder if the prices will reflect the views....

Also since the concrete plant has been there for 45years, have they right to stay? I'm sure they can stay for a while yet, after all it is zoned industrial there now... and surely the site is needed still with all the development near & in the city...

Fail:



Brisbane Times (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/property/a-room-with-a-view--of-a-concrete-plant-20110308-1bmpo.html)


^^ I wonder if the prices will reflect the views....

Also since the concrete plant has been there for 45years, have they right to stay? I'm sure they can stay for a while yet, after all it is zoned industrial there now... and surely the site is needed still with all the development near & in the city...

The apartments are supposedly for 'low cost' housing.
The site was changed to Medium Density zoning under the Albion Local plan a few years back and yes so long as the current use is lawful council can't 'force' them out but they could conduct more frequent air and pollution quality checks etc..

the concrete batching plant would have a license to make a certain amount of noise/dust/smell/pollution/etc

so long as they stay within those limits they should be fine

It appears that the Chifley at Lennons is on the market:

Move in on a big chance to own hotel

NICOLE CARRINGTON-SIMA
carringtonn@qst.newsltd.com.au

WANT to live like a rock star and buy your own hotel?

Now’s your chance, with an iconic 38-year-old, four-star hotel up for grabs in the CBD, with expressions of interest sought for a cool $65 million.

Once the height of luxury, the Chifley at Lennons Plaza at 66 Queen St, Queen Street Mall, is the first major four-star hotel to be offered for sale with vacant possession in Brisbane in more than five years.

A mixed-use development, the 30-floor property features 154 hotel guest rooms, 3695sq m of commercial office space and 750sq m of ground floor
retail.

Selling agent, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels’ Wayne Bunz said he expected the property to be snapped up given Queen Street Mall was among the most desirable retail spaces in Australia.

Mr Bunz said the property offered ‘‘exceptional value add opportunities’’ with a development application lodged for the conversion of office space into an additional 130 hotel rooms.

‘‘The Brisbane market remains one of the most tightly held markets in the country, with the last major public transaction being the sale of the Carlton Hotel (now Sebel Citigate) in 2006,’’ he said.

‘‘Being the first vacant possession hotel offering in years, we have no doubt this asset will be pursued by hotel investors and owner/operators who are very eager to gain a foothold in the Brisbane market.’’

Source: City News (http://city-news.whereilive.com.au/)

It will be interesting to see if the new owner looks at refreshing the hotel, the Queen St frontage is looking rather old IMO...

Alas i don't know much about how these kinds of ventures work but ...

^^ for $65million and the state's current tourism down turn, hopefully the new "Nothing Beats Queensland" will help ensure the hotel gets it's fair share of guests.

Otherwise i doubt this hotel would be seeing any refurbishments in a hurry. I mean if it needs to borrow money to do extra work, i doubt the banks would lend without the backing of knowing that payments can be made on time.

But yes, it would be interesting to see what the new owner does in terms of refreshing the hotel from the outside. would there be a possibility down the track to reclad the external railings/ walls etc :lol: it's in much need of that.
Only the bottom podium & ground floors are in decent 21st century condition.

http://www.roamfree.com/SharedImages/ACCOM_PROVIDERS/239914/L_chifleylennonsa.jpg

but again, some could argue no? as in a way it is iconic.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/340741539_b804cbbed3.jpg

my :2cents:
feel free to comment further.

Hopefully if it sells its demolished and replaced with an empire square esque type developmet, makes me cringe everytime I see it. But a reclad would suffice in the mid term...

IMO it would never be demolished and redeveloped. A refurbishment would be on the cards in the short to medium term if sold I'd imagine.

I did a little digging to find out about the lodged DA mentioned in the article.

It's all internal fitout, they're looking to convert the office space in the tower (currently the wider upper floors are all office space I believe) into more hotel rooms, greatly increasing the hotel's capacity. They also intend on revamping the hotel foyer (as in the one that opens off Burnett Lane).

If that goes ahead and is a success, it could path the way for a reclad and revamp of the retail portion because, let's face it, the lower end of the QSM needs some facelifts to keep pace with QueensPlaza and the Wintergarden up the other end.

I can't see a complete demolition being on the cards anytime soon (it's not pretty, but to me it's a bit of an icon in a weird kind of way) but a recladding could improve it!

I did a little digging to find out about the lodged DA mentioned in the article.

It's all internal fitout, they're looking to convert the office space in the tower (currently the wider upper floors are all office space I believe) into more hotel rooms, greatly increasing the hotel's capacity. They also intend on revamping the hotel foyer (as in the one that opens off Burnett Lane).

If that goes ahead and is a success, it could path the way for a reclad and revamp of the retail portion because, let's face it, the lower end of the QSM needs some facelifts to keep pace with QueensPlaza and the Wintergarden up the other end.

I can't see a complete demolition being on the cards anytime soon (it's not pretty, but to me it's a bit of an icon in a weird kind of way) but a recladding could improve it!

I agree with your sentiments. Apart from one minor point. Queens Plaza is at the bottom end of the mall, the casino is at the top end. :)

I agree with your sentiments. Apart from one minor point. Queens Plaza is at the bottom end of the mall, the casino is at the top end. :)

I need to remember to say "Southern end" of the mall. I always go by North = Top and South = Bottom as opposed to up and down the hill. :-P

The mall is more East-West aligned really. But of course the more Southern end is opposite Southbank and South Brisbane. And as there is a bit of a slope the top end is by the casino. I remember having a similiar "end" problem when meeting a girl in town once, she was near the casino and I was at the MacArthur end, easily fixed in the days of mobile phones, but perhaps I should have just been like everyone else and said meet you at Hungry Jacks.

I wonder what Brisbane people said to meet up before the mall and Hungry Jacks. Was the meeting point City Hall, the original T&G, in front of Her Majesty's or the Regent?

^^ Depending how far you're going back, probably City Hall/KGS, the Shingle Inn or maybe at Allan & Stark(Myer) or Finney's (David Jones).

Interesting little development. Not sure if its been posted.

http://new-developments.com.au/

Northshore Hamilton
- Hercules Street
Mirvac
582 Apartments
4 buildings
- 23 stories
- 18 stories
- 8 stories
- Retail

This is starting to get quite exciting now again. Not for Brisbane CBD but Brisbane's inner suburbs - starting to Boom!

I mean you now have towers going up in:
- Fortitude Valley
- Bowen Hills
- Herston
- Hamilton
- Wooloongabba
- South Brisbane
- Buranda
- Kelvin Grove
- & Milton

In a few years it won't just be a central CBD with towers it will be a carpet of towers more akin to one of those South American cities.

In a few years it won't just be a central CBD with towers it will be a carpet of towers more akin to one of those South American cities.

As exciting as this news is, I don't think we should be aspiring to the 'carpet of towers' seen in South American cities.

IMO it would never be demolished and redeveloped. A refurbishment would be on the cards in the short to medium term if sold I'd imagine.

I have doubt that the building can be heritage listed, which means in the longer term someone can pull it down. The retail podium has obviously been changed over the years.

It is interesting designwise for it's time which I have to admit.

Sorry, I meant in the short to medium term.

I think the work in Burnett Lane may be a restaurant by the same people who have Piaf and Sardine Tin on South Bank. Which is a good sign.

I think I had heard that as well.
Both those places are probably the best southbank has to offer so I agree, a very good sign.

That would be awesome! I have to say, Brisbane is starting to become quick and snappy at adopting things we see are a success in other cities eg laneways, City Cycle, smaller bars/cafes etc

The Sardine Tin is great! Should be fantastic for Burnett Lane. Hopefully it sparks a chain reaction.

http://sardinetin.com.au/

I love Piaf!!

If it turns out to be true I'm so there!

Was sitting in King George Square on Saturday evening...maybe I should do it more often...but it was really fun just to sit back, drink my bubble tea and watch the world go by. It is nice to sit in KGS because it is a bit more open and not as many people as the mall..

I can't imagine sitting on the grass prior to KGS makeover it is so much better in its current state even if it is a bit hot in summer.

I hope it incorporates a cross block link. There was a plan put forward several years ago for these two buildings that included adding a cross block link that passed through 32 Burnett and out through 43 Adelaide St.

It was a cool development idea that included building an upper deck area above the JB HiFI loading dock as well so as to be able to have an elevated outdoors seating area as well. The DA was A002694514, if anyone wants to have a look.

If it is Sardine Tin and/or Piaf, I shall be very pleased regardless!

That would be awesome! I have to say, Brisbane is starting to become quick and snappy at adopting things we see are a success in other cities eg laneways, City Cycle, smaller bars/cafes etc

The Sardine Tin is great! Should be fantastic for Burnett Lane. Hopefully it sparks a chain reaction.

http://sardinetin.com.au/

I don't think it will be Sardine Tin mark two but an entirely different restaurant.

^^ Regardless, if it's by the same people I think it should be a success! With this, and Brew now pretty well established and waiting on their liquor licence down the other half of the lane, the reactivation work done to Burnett Lane is starting to bear fruit.

Speaking of inner city revamps, Spring Hill might be the next one:

Calls to revamp Spring Hill
Tony Moore
March 14, 2011 - 8:02AM

The historic inner-city suburb of Spring Hill could be the next Brisbane location to be revamped, with Lord Mayor Campbell Newman agreeing with concerns that it has become neglected.

Local hotelier Liz Martin has called for action, lamenting that the suburb was full of potential but had deteriorated at the same time as neighbouring areas Fortitude Valley, South Bank and the CBD had been given a boost through Brisbane City Council’s Neighbourhood Planning process.

Ms Martin told a Valley Chamber of Commerce lunch on Friday that Spring Hill was brimming with history but was losing its character.

Advertisement: Story continues below
The hotelier ran the Elephant and Wheelbarrow Hotel during the Fortitude Valley Neighbourhood Plan process several years ago and said a similar focus now was needed in Spring Hill.

‘‘Spring Hill, as a connector between the CBD and the Valley, has ... just developed itself,’’ she said.

‘‘There is not the same vision there, as there is in Fortitude Valley or central Brisbane.’’

Ms Martin, who runs Incholm Hotel on Wickham Terrace, said already there were signs that the area was in a slump.

‘‘Leichhardt Street, there is a pub there that has been for sale for quite some time,’’ she said.

‘‘Why isn’t it selling?

‘‘I know that the St Paul’s Tavern is having quite a challenging time in terms of what it could be, what it should be.’’

Ms Martin said she reluctantly referred patrons to the Valley and the CBD rather than her own neighbourhood.

‘‘But I would like to feel that there is a focus on the identity of Spring Hill as a location,’’ she said.

Cr Newman told the lunch he agreed with Ms Martin.

‘‘Spring Hill does need something of a planning exercise,’’ he said. ‘‘It has been many, many years since that has been done.’’

He said his father-in-law owned property in the area, which prevented him from elaborating.

‘‘But,’’ he said, ‘‘Council should do a planning [process] for Spring Hill. I think the timing is right now.’’

Nothing was planned at present and a Neighbourhood Planing exercise took about two years, he said. Brisbane City Council had about 30 neighbourhood plans underway at different stages.

Ms Martin said Spring Hill featured several important historical and heritage aspects to Brisbane’s growth.
Spring Hill has Brisbane’s oldest surviving building - the recently-renovated Windmill on Wickham Terrace (built in 1824) and a row of historic buildings along Wickham Terrace.

The water found in the hollows at Spring Hill became a source of water for the colony until 1863 and the suburb is home to the heritage-listed Spring Hill Baths, built in 1886.

Earlier, it was home to an important part of Brisbane’s indigenous history with the Turrbal people living in camps near Gregory Terrace, Boundary Street and in ‘‘York’s Hollow’’ which runs through Victoria Park to the RNA Showgrounds.

‘‘My own hotel was built in the 1920s, it is heritage-listed, some of the medical clinics and churches are also heritage-listed,’’ Ms Martin said.

‘‘There is a lot of interesting old buildings within the suburb, but the development has been reasonably ad-hoc.

‘‘There is a [three or four-storey high rise] pink apartment building here, a corporate building there and a restaurant trying to make a bit of money underneath something else over here.

‘‘It just doesn’t seem to have much cohesiveness to it.’’

I cant say I've ever really ventured up to Spring Hill, so I don't know what's there. But maybe that is exactly the issue they are looking to solve?

Not a lot going on up in the hill, especially after about 8, or weekends in general. It is a very interesting suburb though, full of international students, single old men living in dorm style accommodation, halfway houses, drug rehab, 3 of Brisbane's most prestigious private schools, private hospitals/health providers ect. What it lacks badly is decent public transport, especially after about 6pm when the spring hill loop finishes.

On the NSW forums, Brizer mentioned an AFR Article from yesterday (15/3) about Meriton looking to focus on Sydney due to the weak property market on the Gold Coast. Brisbane is performing stronger but the developer feels more can be made in Sydney.

For the time being, Soleil & Infinity will be the focus of Meriton in Brisbane. It might be a while before we another tower or project from them in the city.

^ On the topic of the weak property market, I will quote a post I just made in the House Price thread. This campaign will be relevant to a lot of people on this forum. For those that haven't been following the battles over in the House Price thread check it out - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=768532&page=57

I urge all of you on this forum that do not own property yet to support this movement!

It's in your best interests to do so if you ever want to own a simple roof over your head without having to pay a taxing massive mortgage all your life.

There's a new GetUp! campaign "First Home Buyers - Property Buyers Strike" - http://suggest.getup.org.au/forums/60819-campaign-ideas/suggestions/1595687-first-home-buyers-property-buyers-strike. Make sure to vote and to spread the word!

All it will take to nudge the collapse along is for enough people to stop buying property as it requires "greater fools" to get in at the bottom of the ponzi scheme pyramid to keep it afloat. The fall will then be self-fulfilling as investors flee to safer ground. The negative loop will go crazy and the fall will be more massive the longer people hold out.

It's as if the rebellious forces have smelt weakness in the system and are gathering to draw blood and to destroy the overlords. The Australian Housing Myth is about to be annihilated! You do not have to buy property at these prices!! Property price collapse is happening all over the world and it can happen here too! We are not that different after all.

Also, make sure to support the campaign against negative gearing - http://suggest.getup.org.au/forums/60819-campaign-ideas/suggestions/1074743-stopping-the-tax-cuts-for-wealthy-investment-prope?ref=title. This one has really gained legs too and is rapidly moving towards the top of the campaign list.

So again, if you do not own property and wish to one day at least own a roof over your head without being a debt slave all your life I urge you to support this strike and spread the word by all means you can using the likes of Facebook, twitter and emails to your friends and family who are in the same position as you.

The property spruikers will get into this and will do everything they can to create propaganda to get you to buy. The gobermint may do the same by creating a bigger FHOG bribe. Hold steady and do not fall for it!

Let's help nudge the collapse along! Encourage everyone you know to NOT BUY ...

Err... Whatever LanceDriver. Anyone with an ounce of sense knows that there will be no collapse under current conditions. Might as well give up.

That post is actually an amusing read.

^ Yes, it was.

keep it out of the qld forums

you can discuss your views in the house prices thread all you want

your on a wagon going nowhere with that one mate.

^ You reckon? Sadly, most of the general public are not yet aware of the upcoming property crash - the wheels are already in motion and people need to be warned.

Anyway -

Don't Buy Now - Property Buyers Strike facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dont-Buy-Now-Property-Buyers-Strike/209628835717348

.

Err... Whatever LanceDriver. Anyone with an ounce of sense knows that there will be no collapse under current conditions. Might as well give up.

That post is actually an amusing read.

The Getup campaign will be pointless because people will keep buying homes regardless and with a market where demand generally exceeds supply.

qld forums are for project specific discussion

property prices are not project specific

take your arguments to the general forums

I have no choice, I don't earn enough to get a home loan.

I have no choice, I don't earn enough to get a home loan.

So instead of wishing for the market to crash (which will be followed by massive unemployment), why don't you do something about how much you earn?

Buying a house isn't meant to be easy.

Anyone know what has come of the proposed televisions in the mall and KGS?

^^ I was wondering about that too... I hope they haven't been scrapped cause of the floods :(

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/scrap-crossriver-rail-lord-mayor-20110318-1c0c9.html

An Underground system would be much better but both would be good :P

Cross River Rail first then look at Metro rail options. I severely doubt we could get for "$3 and $4 billion total, get 40 kilometres of inner-city subway in Brisbane, with probably at least 25 to 30 stations, using the technology that was put forward in Barcelona."
Difference 1: Barcelona doesn't have a river running through the middle of it, meaning construction could stay shallower and cheaper, especially stations.
Difference 2: Wage levels.

Don't get me wrong, I want to see Metro, but even our first proposed leg (Toowong - West End - City - Newstead - Bulimba - Hamilton) should be costing around $6 Billion.

Barcelona's most recent construction (L9/L10) is costing 6.5 billion Euros (9.25 billion AUD) for 48km's of track and apparently 52 stations.

^^ I was wondering about that too... I hope they haven't been scrapped cause of the floods :(

the funding was arranged via advertising agreements wasnt it, i dont think it was going to be at any cost to the BCC

I would really like to see a combination of light rail and underground rail

For once, I'm disagreeing with the Lord Mayor on this one. I want to see the CRR as opposed to a dedicated metro because it's not inner city capacity that needs to be fixed, but the bottleneck that stops extra capacity going on the outer lines, especially the Beenleigh/GC and Cleveland lines.

Once QR can move to something like a 15min off peak frequency, then we can talk about a Metro. But at the moment, Brisbane is a small enough CBD to walk around, and the bus services to the fringe CBD areas are pretty good I believe. Good enough for the moment at least.

Cross River Rail first then look at Metro rail options. I severely doubt we could get for "$3 and $4 billion total, get 40 kilometres of inner-city subway in Brisbane, with probably at least 25 to 30 stations, using the technology that was put forward in Barcelona."
Difference 1: Barcelona doesn't have a river running through the middle of it, meaning construction could stay shallower and cheaper, especially stations.
Difference 2: Wage levels.

Don't get me wrong, I want to see Metro, but even our first proposed leg (Toowong - West End - City - Newstead - Bulimba - Hamilton) should be costing around $6 Billion.

Barcelona's most recent construction (L9/L10) is costing 6.5 billion Euros (9.25 billion AUD) for 48km's of track and apparently 52 stations.


Couldn't costs be kept down if they didn't insist on extravagant, over the top stations?

In NYC only a few stations are "nice" (Penn, GC and the Future WTC). The rest are steps in the side walk down into the platforms; simple, efficient and no fuss.

After looking at the CCR plans (or any future Metro Plans which will no doubt be over the top) surely it could be toned down a bit to allow for a cheaper overall project...?

Couldn't costs be kept down if they didn't insist on extravagant, over the top stations?

In NYC only a few stations are "nice" (Penn, GC and the Future WTC). The rest are steps in the side walk down into the platforms; simple, efficient and no fuss.

After looking at the CCR plans (or any future Metro Plans which will no doubt be over the top) surely it could be toned down a bit to allow for a cheaper overall project...?

Half the reason for the ott stations are that because they are quite deep they need to have escalators and to be DDA compliant lifts, the stations really dont seem to extravagant to me just a box with some nice cladding. And seeing as brisbane doesnt have any WOW stations we should have at least one nice one, not to mention that the stations need to have a lot of capacity to get people to into them especially if some of these stations become connected to future metro lines.

Wouldn't the stuff that makes them look "pretty" be cheap compared to the overall cost anyway?

Couldn't costs be kept down if they didn't insist on extravagant, over the top stations?

In NYC only a few stations are "nice" (Penn, GC and the Future WTC). The rest are steps in the side walk down into the platforms; simple, efficient and no fuss.

After looking at the CCR plans (or any future Metro Plans which will no doubt be over the top) surely it could be toned down a bit to allow for a cheaper overall project...?

While I agree in principle; lesser finishes, simply entrances, no frills platforms ect, should be employed to keep the costs down of any metro system. Depth of the platforms is still a problem here in Brisbane, if you are going down only a short distance then it is possible, but when working around the river you need to remain deep (to stay in the suitable rock material for tunneling). Not sure modern disability access standards would allow for stairs only entrances these days either. Certainly some of the CRR stations are on the slightly over the top side, but new underground stations are pretty rare in well Australia, so I will excuse that for now.

Newman is now running for state LNP :cheers: good stuff!

Go for it Can Do. I think JPL looked too country/National for the modern SEQ dominated Queensland. I know he's a GC MP, but he seems very country.

Although I still think the LNP would win whoever was in charge. Bligh's flood poll revival would have been short lived anyway, but it looks like the LNP has panicked.

I wonder who the next LNP candidate for Mayor will be?

Although I still think the LNP would win whoever was in charge.

Strongly disagree. People disliked Bligh, however they then looked at the leaders the LNP had and Labor was a shoe-in.

^^ Agreed! People hated Bligh as premier, but the LNP didn't have a decent alternative, so it was either Bligh or the donkey...

I wonder who the next LNP candidate for Mayor will be?
Apparently it will be Quirk

^^ Agreed! People hated Bligh as premier, but the LNP didn't have a decent alternative, so it was either Bligh or the donkey...

Or the Greens!

For many voters, the Greens are not a viable alternative even to a donkey.

^^ I like the Greens' social policies, but the thought of them running a city, let alone a state or country, is scary!

I hate the Green's stinking guts.

That is all.

A risky move that could pay off.

You think Newman will give DLS to SEQ???

If he does he's got my vote - first time ever for the LNP.

Possibly :p
From 2007:
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman is pushing for Queensland's new Premier to hold a referendum on daylight saving.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/15/2033797.htm

Vote for Newman or Bligh, neither or other here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1345419)

For many voters, the Greens are not a viable alternative even to a donkey.

i don't think anyone really thinks that they will form a government. i certainly hope they don't.

but having their influence on a government (like they do now) goes a fair way to acheiving good environmental policy without turning the government into a bunch of hippies.

The Greens are far more interested in social policy than environmental policy. The latter is part of the former if you think about it.

The Greens are far more interested in social policy than environmental policy. The latter is part of the former if you think about it.

Social engineering, I think you mean.

Stupid Greens.

The Coalition's idea of what a society should be like concerns me far far more....

^^ Second that.

The Coalition's idea of what a society should be like concerns me far far more....

Rubbish. Their idea of what a society should be is what society has been since time immemorial. It works!

I think this thread has been hijacked.

my 2c:
they are not true liberals anymore they are the conservatives, and i don't like where they are heading.

I believe all parties have something to contribute to society and you'd have to be pretty ignorant to constantly bowl for the same set of ideals and not consider other points of view.

Newman is now running for state LNP :cheers: good stuff!

He would make a great state politican. His handling of matters during the floods was excellent like Anna Bligh.

Very wise of him to consider standing down if he does get elected, unlike Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore who also holds a seat in the NSW Parliament, a move that has resented many commenators. The locals don't mind though.

^^ how can Clover Moore be in both city hall and state parliament at once?

After a 7 month renovation that has been the most expensive for any single branch, the Commonwealth Bank's 240 Queen St has reopened as the bank's national flagship and concept branch.

For a bank, it really looks cool - iMacs, iPads, an in-branch coffee shop...makes me a little bit excited to check it out, which must be a first for me - excited to go to the bank?!?

ZD Net has a story about it with plenty of photos for anyone interested. LINK (http://www.zdnet.com.au/cba-shows-off-high-tech-bank-photos-339311915.htm)

Wow.... That's... Impressive. Makes me want to go to the bank ;)

i thought the banks were supposed to have learnt a little bit of conservatism from the whopping great big financial crisis we just had??

this branch makes it seem like the CBA is still drunk at the wheel!

i thought the banks were supposed to have learnt a little bit of conservatism from the whopping great big financial crisis we just had??

this branch makes it seem like the CBA is still drunk at the wheel!

I think that, being the main CBD branch, this sort of redevelopment is warranted to show that the bank is staying modern/relevant, and is starting to become more customer focused (again). Being a CBA customer who has used this branch reasonably often, I can tell you it really needed it a revamp (especially after Albert St was reno'd, to great effect).

The huge splurge on the iMacs and iPads are limited to this branch, and won't be rolled out to other branches, so I don't think it's a bad thing. It should help cut the queues with people being able to self serve/assisted self serve themselves and stay out of the info desk queues, which would be a good thing for what is probably the state's busiest branch.

The banks have been told they have to be more competitive and customer-focussed in a fairly tough senate inquiry. They are just doing what is expected of them.

'more competitive' = 'lower fees'

i doubt the senate enquiry was thinking 'skinny latte with your home loan' = 'customer focussed'

I'd rather my bank be more minimalist .. spend less money on flash branches and lower my bank fee's .. but hey thats just me.

Translation: people won't be happy no matter when the big banks do.

It's a free market. Leave CBA alone and don't use them if you have a problem.

'more competitive' = 'lower fees'

i doubt the senate enquiry was thinking 'skinny latte with your home loan' = 'customer focussed'

But skinny lattes to order bring in the customers yo'. More customers = money. Plus Combank have always been focused in attracting the youth.

Translation: people won't be happy no matter when the big banks do.

It's a free market. Leave CBA alone and don't use them if you have a problem.

LOL .. you sound like the "leave britney alone" girl from youtube .. :lol:

LED Screens contract awarded to Screen Corp.

Giant screens to hang in CBD (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/giant-screens-to-hang-in-cbd-20110325-1c9zh.html)
http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2011/03/25/2252456/lcd729-420x0.jpg

damn work filter not letting me see the article .. where is the other screen going to be hung?

LED Screens contract awarded to Screen Corp.

Giant screens to hang in CBD (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/giant-screens-to-hang-in-cbd-20110325-1c9zh.html)
http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2011/03/25/2252456/lcd729-420x0.jpg


Well Goa have put ones twice the size of that on all the major arterial roads around Brisbane so a few small ones in the CBD won't make much difference.

^^ I don't think they are twice the size... if you're talking about the GOA screen next to the Gabba or near the ICB Bowen Hills exit, they don't seem that much bigger.

Nothing hugely news worthy, but something that was cool to watch yesterday, the Hotel Embassy was getting a new coat of paint to it's non-brick elements. Just painting a building like this must be a bit of a planning and logistical nightmare.

Here's a photo I took while watching the painters. I like the new darker colour over the cream. It looks more modern, and won't get as dirty as the cream can.

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/6109/1004419.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/1004419.jpg/)

I wish they hadn't changed the corner bar of the Embassy to that Boss shop. It used to be one of my favourite bars in Brisbane, and a great spot to get a drink and sit by the open windows watching everyone rush by in the afternoon.

I guess if it maximises their income...which it must do, to let them do the repainting job, which couldn't have been cheap!

I usually avoid the Embassy because when it gets packed with people, it feels really confining compared to competitors like the Exchange and Victory.

I think that a good place to sit by a window with a drink in the afternoon would be the Belgian Beer Garden. If I worked in the CBD, I'd totally go there after work to let the crowds head off first.

Fyfoto Special Presentation | Revamped Flagship Commonwealth Bank Branch |Completed

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/5740/dsc04215l.jpg (http://img688.imageshack.us/i/dsc04215l.jpg/)

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2452/dsc04212m.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/i/dsc04212m.jpg/)

:O Someone nudged me! , sorry for the Fuzzy quality of this shot :/

http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/6263/dsc04211.jpg (http://img857.imageshack.us/i/dsc04211.jpg/)

It's a snazzy looking branch,very nice!

Think I prefer both the old embassy paint job and the old Commbank awnings.

^^I'd have to disagree with you there on both counts. I think the Embassy looks really good with the new paint job. As for getting rid of the CBA's old curved awnings, I think it has helped make the lower part of the building look somewhat more modern. This is definitely a good thing!

Construction of a new ticket office at Buranda station started today.

Construction of a new ticket office at Buranda station started today.

Why ? i though the entire station was going to be practically rebuilt with the development. Has anyone seen the platforms? some african roads are more level

Just saw an unexpected and pretty large fireworks display next to where I live, at the William Jolly Bridge in the CBD.

Any ideas what it was for? No one seemed to know and it lasted 10-15 minutes solid.

Why ? i though the entire station was going to be practically rebuilt with the development. Has anyone seen the platforms? some african roads are more level

It is a shocking station and it needs a refurb badly. Before only a small part of the site next to the toilets had been leveled and fenced off.

A friend of mine has been working on a bunch of huge murals to go at the refurbished Buranda, Coorparoo, and Morningside stations, and the install date is not too far in the future at all...

anyone heard anything about that statue at kangaroo point going up? thought it would be up by now!

Sorry guys this isn't Brisbane related but I'm getting desperate against a common enemy.

Fighting the NIMBYs is a tough job. Fighting NIMBYs with $$ is a tougher job. Fighting NIMBY councils, community groups etc with $$ is an even tougher job.

The Barangaroo development and hotel debate has a poll on the SMH website...

http://www.smh.com.au/polls/barangaroo-development-and-hotel-20110330-1cff8.html#poll

Looks like all the negative press has so far swayed people's opinions from previous SMH polls :ohno:

Need you guys to help us vote either 'excellent' or 'acceptable' in the poll to boost the pro-Barangaroo vote otherwise the NIMBYs and the SMH will laud it over everyone saying it's what the public wants, even though 2 earlier polls by the SMH have suggested people support the plans.

Just saw an unexpected and pretty large fireworks display next to where I live, at the William Jolly Bridge in the CBD.

Any ideas what it was for? No one seemed to know and it lasted 10-15 minutes solid.

I was wondering the very same thing from up on Wickham Terrace... couldn't find anything via Google... wondered whether it was a private marriage proposal or something from a rich guy? Otherwise maybe GOMA related.

I was wondering the very same thing from up on Wickham Terrace... couldn't find anything via Google... wondered whether it was a private marriage proposal or something from a rich guy? Otherwise maybe GOMA related.

It must have been one hell of a rich guy. I don't really know how much fireworks cost, but I'd imagine it was five figures worth anyway. I'd say it was easily Australia Day amount of fireworks, just not as high in the sky.

Someone said on FB last night...

"they were for the 10th anniversary of the world first attempt at coffin art at the Brisbane City Morgue"

;)

Where is the city morgue, anyway? Do we even have one, or is it just hidden away boringly in a hospital somewhere?

john oxley centre, next to QEII hospital

john oxley centre, next to QEII hospital

I have their phone number listed on my facebook page as my own. Anyone who tries to call me will get the Brisbane Morgue :)

I have the QPOL HQ as my home address in my GPS if someone decides to flog it and go to my house.

Interesting little tidbit from today's City News. Apparently Broadway on the Mall is up for sale via expressions of interest closing May 5. Maybe a new version of that old redevelopment proposal might soon be back on the cards again?

Grocon will buy it and build 5st.

Please don't say that! :lol:

And don't get me started on bloody Grocon...:bash:

5st is better than 10. Easier to redevelop ;)

Apart from this one, there's also the upper level of the heritage building that's between the QAB and Lennons (the one that has the unusual bay window that faces out onto Queen St). They're currently looking to hire out the upper level of that building, which unlike the ground retail level has it's entrance around the back on Burnett Lane. I think a cool little indie restaurant would work there as well, if advertised properly.

Hey mate, do you know which address this is ?

I went for a walk down there and I cant spot the building.

I know the top floor of 17 is for lease, however this is on the other side of lennons so I don't think its the one your talking about.

I'm looking for a awesome little space into which I could put a bar.

out of curiosity, does anyone know whats going on where the holden used cars were at ipswich rd moorooka?

I think they're just rebuilding the Holden dealer, they're all redeveloping, Springwood is next I think.

out of curiosity, does anyone know whats going on where the holden used cars were at ipswich rd moorooka?

I noticed all the treated pine poles/piers being driven into the ground.
There must be a lot of fill going in there because the piers are still over 3 to 4 metres out of the ground ??

Here's a little bit of news from this past weekend.

First, one of the finest heritage buildings on Elizabeth St is currently undergoing some refurbishment. Heckelmann's Building, which is the building next door to Tara House/The Irish Club, is currently hidden behind scaffolding. It's getting a new coat of paint, and some alterations to the ground floor windows I believe.

The intention is to make the building more attractive as a high end retail site. They feel that the Regent/Wintergarden development will improve the streetscape, and being reasonably close to the Edward St 'High Street' precinct, could entice some of the high end retailers to set up down Elizabeth St as well.

Technically, work had started a couple of weeks ago, but this is the first weekend I had seen the scaffolding.

Previously (several weeks ago when work was just commencing):

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5099/1004421t.jpg (http://img251.imageshack.us/i/1004421t.jpg/)

http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/8699/1004423.jpg (http://img861.imageshack.us/i/1004423.jpg/)

During:

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/6040/1004525.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/1004525.jpg/)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7945/1004524t.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/1004524t.jpg/)

Detail of the downstairs windows. Some of them were converted into full length doors several decades ago, ruining the building's symmetry. These works will extend down the remaining windows, and matching all the door/window fittings to restore the building's symmetry and also make it more enticing to future retail tenants.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/5389/1004528n.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/1004528n.jpg/)

And what it should look like after, including the new colour scheme (but minus the awnings, which the council's Heritage guys didn't like and subsequently vetoed).

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/5830/165elizabethstrefurb1.jpg (http://img585.imageshack.us/i/165elizabethstrefurb1.jpg/)

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/4994/165elizabethstrefurb2.jpg (http://img560.imageshack.us/i/165elizabethstrefurb2.jpg/)


Secondly, here's a photo update to the 32 Burnett Lane mystery development (which, despite my digging on pdonline, I can't for the life of me find any information on). The big change is the wall between the access bay and the shop, which has now had multiple access ways cut through them.

Before (you can see in the first image guides for the front most doorway:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1903/p1000225s.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/p1000225s.jpg/)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8605/p1000223x.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/i/p1000223x.jpg/)


After:

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/881/1004503.jpg (http://img862.imageshack.us/i/1004503.jpg/)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/1508/1004511.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/1004511.jpg/)

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/1893/1004510.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/1004510.jpg/)

Opens it up quite a lot. Looking forward to seeing both these renovations going forward.

Thanks for the update on the Heckelmann building. I had actually just noticed that and hoped they weren't tearing it down (wasn't sure if it was heritage listed or not).

So the City Mitre 10 has gone?

So the City Mitre 10 has gone?

I'm pretty sure Mitre 10 moved to the basement.

^^ Yeah, its open again

Thanks for the update on the Heckelmann building. I had actually just noticed that and hoped they weren't tearing it down (wasn't sure if it was heritage listed or not).

No worries! I knew that it was heritage listed, so I wasn't worried at all, but it does look scarily like the kind of scaffolding they use for the demolition.

I'm pretty sure Mitre 10 moved to the basement.

Yeah, they've put it down there because a hardware store doesn't really need a street frontage. The two first level shop fronts are the ones they want to attract higher end retail clients to, hence lowering the windows to give them more visibility from street level.