Thought this was thread-worthy. Any pics from anyone...?


03 August 2007 View all news | Send to a friend | Print
Canberra harbours greatness: Stanhope
Jonathan Dart

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said Canberra would soon take its place among the world's great cities, as construction began on a new harbour on the Kingston foreshore yesterday.

About 45,000sqm of earth will be dug up to create the artificial harbour the biggest development undertaken in Canberra since Lake Burley Griffin was completed in 1964.

The harbour is expected to take 68 weeks to construct, with an official opening due in late 2008. The Land Development Agency will then put out private contracts to develop the surrounding land.

Mr Stanhope used yesterday's launch to outline the vision for the area, which has been designed to complement Kingston's cafe culture.

As part of the ambitious project, an island will be created as a boundary on the north side of the harbour, and a marina will be set up for private boats and commercial ferries to dock. A promenade will be developed along the main stretch of the harbour, which will feature a range of cafes, boutique shops, restaurants, bars and public parks.

"It's something we haven't done to the extent that other great cities around the world do," Mr Stanhope said. "Every city in the world that has access to water whether it's located on the river or by the seas or on the lake uses the water for recreation for families, for meals, for a level of use that we haven't be able to achieve."

The harbour precinct will also feature upmarket residential developments to accommodate as many as 4000 people.

Described in promotional material as Canberra's "prime address", the new residential developments are expected to follow the trend of rocketing property prices in Kingston.

A penthouse apartment in Kingston Tower fetched a Canberra record last year, when it was sold for more than $3 million.

"Not all Canberrans will live here [in the harbour precinct], not all Canberrans could afford to live here," Mr Stanhope said.

"But all Canberrans will be able to utilise the cultural facilities, the recreational facilities and the harbour."

As part of the project, there will be a 50:50 ratio of private housing to public land. A cultural precinct will also be developed, to take in the newly renovated Glassworks building and other heritage sites.

MacMahon Construction general manager Willie Rooney, who has been contracted to develop the harbour, likened the project to Darwin's waterfront development and Sydney's Darling Harbour.

"This project is making full use of what the natural environment gives you," he said.

"You don't have to be a multimillionaire to enjoy it, you'll be able to walk down here and be a part of it. It will be good for everybody."

Chief architect on the project Colin Stewart said the final shape of the precinct would not take shape until private contracts were won to develop the surrounding land.

Nice now the world is starting to follow the lead of dubai.Where are the renders?

Nice now the world is starting to follow the lead of dubai.Where are the renders?

Don't get too excited. It's just lake Burley Griffin, which is artificial anyway. I can't find any renders but I thinkt here were pictures in other Kingston Foreshore threads.

ohhhhh ok still seems like a nice project, you don't know might even turn out like Darling Harbour.Its great to have this project there aren't many man made harbours around in Australia.

ohhhhh ok still seems like a nice project, you don't know might even turn out like Darling Harbour.Its great to have this project there aren't many man made harbours around in Australia.

I sincerely hope it's NOT Darling Harbour which is the ugliest pieces of left-over 80s shit in Australia. But this project will be on a much smaller scale and it looks likt they're not going to go overboard with the whole "entertainment precinct" concept. It's more just a residential area with some shops and some of the other new Foreshore things, like the glassworks.

This is a great project for canberra, like a little bit 'o' dubai. It will also be pretty high density with 4000 apartments on such a small area of land.

I'd love to see some renders / artists impressions of this development if anybody has some. Canberra continues to impress with its new architecture and developments. Now the city needs a serious PR campaign to show the rest of the country what it has become!

^^Go to the other Kingston forshore page.

Just a link to the architect's website.
http://www.csarchitects.com.au/menu/ColinStewart.htm

There's a lot of interestign stuff about new developments because it seems he's been put in charge of half of Canberra.

An update:
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k200/jezuez47/Picture006.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k200/jezuez47/Picture005.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k200/jezuez47/Picture004.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k200/jezuez47/Picture003.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k200/jezuez47/Picture002.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k200/jezuez47/Picture001.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k200/jezuez47/Picture007.jpg

lol, why would you spend lots of money on a boat, then lots of money mooring it there, when you can zoom around the lake in your boat in about 10 mins, and theres nowhere else for you to take your boat off the lake??

seems a little strange.

^^Bitches be crazy/stupid.

lol, why would you spend lots of money on a boat, then lots of money mooring it there, when you can zoom around the lake in your boat in about 10 mins, and theres nowhere else for you to take your boat off the lake??

seems a little strange.

There won't be motorboats boats, I think. Just smallish sailing craft. Apparently a lot of people have been agitating to sail their boats on the lake for years, so obviously someone's got the time and money. Also, it will be the terminal for the ferry between Kingston and the city.

gotcha... well that makes more sense

hammerhead tower crane up in this area

The "harbour" is about to be flooded..

And from crappy cranes 'r' us comes this ground operated job.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/emerbot/IMG_1565.jpg

Hi guys, here's a couple of photos of the foreshore development. I think the harbour is on the left of the panorama. Cheers!

http://i511.photobucket.com/albums/s354/Euphoria12_2004/Foreshore/Foreshore1.jpg

On the right you can just make out the Landmark 6(?) story complex, as well as Parliament House. Unfortunately, I had to reduce the image borders and size - the full image is over 10 megabytes!

http://i511.photobucket.com/albums/s354/Euphoria12_2004/Foreshore/ForeshorePanoramaSmall.jpg

^^Kingston looks pretty cool these days. is there word of anymore development around the foreshore? besides the extra water being flooded in

It actually looks like a city in those pictures! Great view.

Thanks very much for posting Euphoria.

where is this development via a map? thanks :)

Auxodium -
UBD map 59 M16 to map 69 N2 and most of the area nearest the lake between those points.
GOOGLE MAPS = Wentworth avenue Kingston and look north east in the street view from the 'power station' to the 'train station'

:)

where is this development via a map? thanks :)

Click Here (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en-GB&geocode=&q=Printers+Way,+ACT,+Australia&sll=-35.307106,149.146743&sspn=0.021819,0.037422&layer=c&ie=UTF8&ll=-35.310905,149.146013&spn=0.010909,0.018711&z=16&cbll=-35.314707,149.146019&panoid=WLtp5GbwFf9QB74MWvVcxg)

Google Maps is your friend.

i used to do a bit of exercise and would ride around the lake past this place, was interesting to see the development, bit shit when they started closing off the paths and roads though

It appears there are some unhappy buyers.

Foreshore flaws: roofs leak at plush units
Owners of expensive new apartments in Kingston are battling developers, with complaints including leaking roofs, flooded basements and equipment failures.

Body corporate representatives at The Landmark, The Viridian and The Gateway, where two-bedroom apartments command more than $460,000, say they believe the paying of private certifiers by developers who approve buildings is fundamentally flawed.


Canberra Times Story (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/foreshore-flaws-roofs-leak-at-plush-units/1273238.aspx)

Saw one of these properties on allhomes going for a pretty good price.

a previous thread (now on the last page of this subforum) mentioned a continuation of this project by the name of "East Basin Renewal" encompassing an area from barton to Monaro Highway including the railway station area, east fyshwick and the markets, part of Jerrabomberra Wetlands and part of Narrabundah. Any news on this or has it been canned like every other good idea the NIMBYs didnt like?

Sounds awesome.

Found this info about the 'Glassworks Tower' that may be 8ish storeys. Sounds interesting.

http://203.9.249.2/e-registers/pubnote/pdf/SCRITERIA-200915332-01.doc

Edit: ok maybe not so interesting going by this - http://203.9.249.2/e-registers/pubnote/pdf/ELEV-200915332-01.pdf

'The Island' is going up for auction in November :shocked:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/Sherman369/KingstonForeshore-TheIsland2.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/Sherman369/KingstonForeshore-TheIsland.jpg

Now how do I get tickets to the auction :lol:

I didn't even know the Island haad been developed on. Everyone in Canberra seems so against the Kingston Foreshore but I reckon it looks like its going to be sick. Even my dad who is pro development thinks its shit.

where are people going to park for 'the island'? open air parking? hah..

I think the prices are a bit OTT for alot of the properties, I checked out a town house there a month ago, it was like 1.2 mill for something very average.

Supposedly there's a guy that bought a piece of land there for $900K and he's building a 3 storey house worth over $3mill in construction costs. I was told he's putting a pool on the roof. If I had that money I would buy something in Forest or Yarralumla.

where are people going to park for 'the island'? open air parking? hah..

There is a bridge.

I think the prices are a bit OTT for alot of the properties, I checked out a town house there a month ago, it was like 1.2 mill for something very average.

Supposedly there's a guy that bought a piece of land there for $900K and he's building a 3 storey house worth over $3mill in construction costs. I was told he's putting a pool on the roof. If I had that money I would buy something in Forest or Yarralumla.

Yeah anywhere in that area. I have never met anyone who lives in those massive houses out there, but they are soooooooooooooooo nice.

Just noticed this (Quayside) advertised on the CIC website http://www.ciclimited.com.au/

picture at http://www.quaysidekingston.com.au/resources/pdfs/the_building.pdf

It's a new 6 level mixed residential/commercial, closer to Kingston Harbour.
Looks like there's a renewal of activity in this area again.

^^ I'm pretty sure its included in the renders of the completed Kingston Foreshore.

Ah yeah. In the render that CanberraRaiders posted, Quayside is the one on Eastlake Parade, just behind the waterfront prominade or, if looking at the picture, on the left hand side (and one block back from the harbour) of the green rectagle bit poking out into the water....
i think that makes sense, well it does to me!:nuts:

There is a bridge.

looks a bit like its just for cars though... havent driven around though, so don't know for sure.

Well I'm guessing they will sort it out once its built on, unless it already is? Haha I haven't been to that specific section.

Well I'm guessing they will sort it out once its built on, unless it already is? Haha I haven't been to that specific section.

BAH! Just for pedestrians, I mean. God I'm dumb sometimes.

couldn't find the kingston foreshore website, but this is that new 'Pearl' building:

http://www.pearlatkingston.com.au/assets/Unit%205/Images/External.jpg
http://www.pearlatkingston.com.au/assets/Unit%204/Images/External.jpg

I like the sandstone.

And why are the bottom windows black? Are they commercial spaces?

edit: nevermind, found out they are commercial spaces.

It's good that these new developments have ground commerical space, should liven up the area.

Aspire:
http://www.allhomes.com.au/ahda/property/photo/2009/10/21/0850f3f15c1dbbce251ca825c63470fa_l.jpg
http://www.allhomes.com.au/ahda/property/photo/2009/10/21/f599ba374107506ffcbc8e2f595e70b6_l.jpg

All I say is, nothing to aspire to.
will only look alright when surrounded by mature trees (in 10yrs+) and better buildings.
Pearl is much better.

I like Aspire. But agree that it will look a lot better when there are some good trees around.

Kingston island blocks passed in
BY MEGAN DOHERTY CITY REPORTER
20 Nov, 2009 07:45 AM

Two developers were negotiating with the Land Development Agency after two blocks on the prestigious man-made island at the Kingston Foreshore were passed in at auction yesterday.
The larger block, at 5216sqm, was passed in at $9 million. The highest bidder was Amalgamated Property Group principal Graham Potts.

The smaller site, 3681sqm, was passed in at $7 million. Its highest bidder was Jure Domazet, representing the Doma Group.

Mr Domazet said Doma wanted to develop residences on the site.

Each site had an undisclosed reserve price.

The land was marketed as ''the best residential development sites in Canberra'', positioned between the boat harbour and Lake Burley Griffin, offering waterfront living close to Kingston's shops and restaurants.

CBR Richard Ellis agent Nick McDonald Crowley, who conducted the auction, did his best to start the bidding in the Members Dining Room at Old Parliament House.

''It is the finest development opportunity in Canberra real estate,'' he told the crowd.


The under-bidder for both blocks was Anthony Tokich, representing Per-Se Developments. He said his company would have put in a mixed-use residential/commercial project.

Mr Tokich reflected other views expressed at the auction that the unique nature of the sites might create extra costs for developers

''It's sitting on the lake, it's a man-made island, it potentially has fill issues associated with it, and waterproofing of the basement, which leads to increased construction costs,'' he said.

He said he wasn't disappointed, dipping out of the auction at $8.9million and $6.9million for the blocks. ''Timing wouldn't let me go any higher. We've got a lot of work coming up in the next three years,'' he said.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope expected a positive outcome from discussions with the developers.

''If these negotiations are successful, I have been advised that the ACT community can expect quality developments to match the high-profile location and the ACT community's expectations for Kingston Foreshore,'' he said.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/kingston-island-blocks-passed-in/1682867.aspx

now this looks cool
kingston, ACT
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1030/4726053242_c4bca26759_o.jpg

This is a bit too colourful for the NIMBY's I think. Whats happening with the Foreshore? There is soo much going on everywhere else, when is it going to be finished? Is anything still happening over there?

Couple of DA's on the ACTPLA website:

http://203.9.249.2/e-registers/pubnote/pdf/ELEV-201017819-SOUTH_&_WEST-01.pdf

http://203.9.249.2/e-registers/pubnote/pdf/ELEV-201017840-01.pdf

Looks like the same old same old thats already there. :/

Yep....pretty much.

Some of the renders from www.csarchitects.com.au:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/Sherman369/dockside2.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/Sherman369/dockside.jpg

http://www.csarchitects.com.au/project.asp?pID=33

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/Sherman369/bridgepoint.jpg

http://www.csarchitects.com.au/project.asp?pID=27

One would think these developments have been approved.

They have... crane is up..

Meh. Could have done something more with it. I don't mind it, its just whats happening at ground level is going to make or break this.

Lakefront development on the island: http://lakefrontapartments.com.au/

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/Sherman369/lakefront.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/Sherman369/lakefront2.jpg

alot of buildings going up there at the moment its really starting to take off!

so uh, what architectural style is this called?

Where is the pedestrian bridge?

so uh, what architectural style is this called?

prefab-ulous

a video of the project going up
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/almost-built-in-6-seconds-20120411-1wpa0.html

May 4 nearmap update
nearly done
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1244/canberraaterfront.jpg

This is nearly complete now

Sorry about the poor quality pic

http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o740/andydmcclure/2012-10-08_17-46-12_459_zps4edbeac9.jpg

Would love some updated pics of the harbour if anyone has a chance. Reports I've been reading say it's been an absolute failure? Is this true or is it just because it's not finished yet?

What reports have you been reading?

It is a pretty boring precinct but I don't think it was ever meant to be lively. Plus it's only about half finished at the moment with many lots still to be developed.

Best comparison for a Perth person would be Claisebrook.

edit: just to clarify, I was talking about the whole Kingston Foreshore project. The section they refer to as the Harbour is not yet developed, although the 'Harbour' itself is complete.

This was the main one:

http://thecanberran.com/2012/11/06/rant-the-tragedy-of-kingston-foreshore/

but there were a couple of other on riot act and can times when I was poking around. This guy sounds like he would be quite at home on skyscrapercity.

I lived in Kingston when I was in Canberra and still own a place there. Was expecting the foreshore to give the area a bit of a boost but it sounds like it might be having the opposite effect with a glut of apartments.

Ah yes, I read that article.

While the guy makes a point based on what the place is like at the moment, the big issue with his argument is that the precinct is far from complete. Most of what has been built so far is the purely residential component. The main cultural and commercial components are not yet developed.

http://www.lda.act.gov.au/uploads/foreshore/KF_Estate%20Map_March%202012_web.pdf

If you look at the masterplan, most of the commercial and cultural components are in the red buildings surrounding the harbour, none of which are complete and most are not yet even started, and the buildings surrounding the heritage precinct in the centre, which is all currently carpark.

Because of this, I reserve my judgement until the whole lot is done.

P.S. He obviously hasn't done his research either. He complains about the sub-station but that is clearly planned to be removed in the masterplan.

Yep agree with waiting until it's finished. Have you had a wander around there lately? How does it feel. Do you think the end product is going to work?

I agree with comments about the power station being disconnected from the water. Also agree with new acton being awesome. I left Canberra when nishi was a couple of stories high and it was already a 'destination'.

I used to work in New Acton. It is a good little precinct.

I went through Kingston Foreshore just the other day (admittedly at about 630am) and really it feels just like Claisebrook in Perth. Nice, but very quiet.

I will seriously reserve my judgement on the whole area until it is finished though. If they activate the whole harbour area with a mix of expensive, mid-range and affordable cafes and restaurants I think it will be a great area and very active. Being Canberra, you have a lot of high income residents there that are the type that would go out for every meal if they had the option.

Yep true. Cheers. You were/are at climate change right? We probably have some friends in common.

I did used to be at Climate Change, but long before they moved to New Acton. I worked for another department located there.

I actually just went through Kingston Foreshore at lunch time today on my way out to Fyshwick and it really is nowhere near complete. I'd say it's probably really only about 30-40 per cent done.

Looks like it starting to come together.


http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/foreshore-nearing-fulfilment-20130413-2hsxu.html