Brisbane News & Gossip

[dannydeckchair]

Originally Posted by Aussie Bhoy

Paniyiri yesterday, a few ouzos, lamb souvlaki and loukoumades (honey puffs).

It's on today too if you missed out yesterday

Does anyone else think, aside from the street food, this festival is actually a bit shit? It seemed to me to be more carnival than an authentic celebration of Greek culture.

[Aussie Bhoy]

I liked it, and I've been a few times. What are you expecting at a community festival?

They had rides for kids, a mini sideshow alley in the other part of the park. All the food stalls making lots of tasty greek foods that maybe some are unfamiliar with. Displays near the Greek club, cookery, etc other Greek stuff. There was bands, and dancing in the middle. Bars, Greek wines and ouzo.

I think the point of it to showcase a little bit of Greece to the rest of us, and it looks to me to be very popular. A perfect example of multi-cultralism succeeding. I had a great time.

[Leesome]

Inland rail likely to trump Cross River under Abbott

A $4.7 billion plan for an inland freight rail line from Melbourne to Brisbane via Parkes and Toowoomba will push aside Brisbane’s Cross River Rail project, Shadow Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss said. Mr Truss over the weekend confirmed Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's plans to ask the Queensland Government to try to fund Cross River Rail, Brisbane’s underground rail.

Queensland’s Transport Minister Scott Emerson has continually said the Queensland Government does not have the $5 billion to fund Cross River Rail. Mr Truss said the Opposition wanted to concentrate on improving freight into the ports of Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

‘‘We have indicated that we see urban public transport as being a state and local government responsibility,’’ Mr Truss said. ‘‘We will be investing in rail, but our priority will be in the traditional area of commonwealth responsibility which is interstate rail freight transport,’’ he said. Mr Truss said the Coalition wanted to support the inland Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project. ‘‘We will continue to be supportive of that because it is an interstate rail freight network,’’ he said.

Mr Truss said that a preferred route and economic study in 2006 had been produced by the now-opposition before they lost office in 2007. The 2006 study showed Melbourne-Brisbane freight market would more than double from 30 per cent to 67 per cent by 2029 with an operative inland rail corridor.
The study said the inland rail was needed by 2020, about the same time as Brisbane’s Cross River Rail, Mr Truss said. He said the most difficult and expensive part of the project was the stretch from Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane, because of need to traverse the Great Dividing Range.
‘‘In fact it takes over half of the total of the $4 billion cost of the project [to fund] the 100 odd kilometres from Toowoomba down to Brisbane.’’

Mr Truss said the new owners of the Port of Brisbane was interested in being a partner in the project.
‘They see it as being a new market for the Port of Brisbane, bring in freight from northern New South Wales into Brisbane," he said. ‘‘But also there is coal traffic coming in and out of the Port of Brisbane on an antiquated and inadequate line. ‘‘And if that traffic is to be sustained and indeed enhanced with any new coal mines on the Darling Downs, then they will need a much, much better railway line than they have now.’’

However this project schedule estimates the cost is $12.7 billion. Private sector funding was one avenue to make up the shortfall, Mr Truss aid. The current Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese, meanwhile, has committed $300 million to the next stage of planning in July 2012, although no final route has been chosen.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/quee...#ixzz2TmPWT4JS

[PeterJackson]

According to Financial Review ,Flight Center has shortlisted 9 development for its 20000 sqm requirement for its new HQ in Brisbane:

550 Queen Street (Consolidated Properties)
AM30- Albert Street(Marquette)
358 Wickham Streem (PrimeSite Group)
Southpoint (Anthony John Group)
Technology Park Hamilton (BTP)
Brisbane Airport (BAC)
and 3 developments which i don't know if they really exist
900 Ann Street (Consolidated properties)??
325 Wickham Street (Leighton)??
Kings Gate (Lend Lease) ?????

[SoulvisionQ1]

Kings Gate is the RNA showgrounds commercial component. I think flight centre would go for Kings Gate because of sport facilities which are included in the proposal.

God help us if Southpoint is chosen again, that would be bloody stupid of them.

[nathandavid88]

I haven't seen or heard anything on Lend Lease's first commercial component for the RNA. Anymore details on it Soul?

As for 325 Wickham St and 900 Ann St, they are both news to me. According to Google Maps, 325 Wickham is the BMW/MINI dealership opposite the 345 Wickham project, and 900 Ann I think would have to be that ugly 80s office block across the road from Brooklyn on Brookes. None have DAs over them that I know of...

[BrizzyChris]

Surely 550 Queen St would be a frontrunner in this based on it's prominent location (naming right options?).

[nathandavid88]

AM30 could be close behind.

[Marty_]

I hope AM30 dies a painful death.

550 Queen please.

[38921111]

Originally Posted by SoulvisionQ1

Kings Gate is the RNA showgrounds commercial component. I think flight centre would go for Kings Gate because of sport facilities which are included in the proposal.

God help us if Southpoint is chosen again, that would be bloody stupid of them.

the article specifically says "surprise omissions include commercial tower options with Lend Lease's RNA project"..... so i am confused.

perhaps kings gate is the lend lease thing above fortitude valley railway station? it would make sense given they just finalised the DA.

[38921111]

Originally Posted by nathandavid88

I haven't seen or heard anything on Lend Lease's first commercial component for the RNA. Anymore details on it Soul?

As for 325 Wickham St and 900 Ann St, they are both news to me. According to Google Maps, 325 Wickham is the BMW/MINI dealership opposite the 345 Wickham project, and 900 Ann I think would have to be that ugly 80s office block across the road from Brooklyn on Brookes. None have DAs over them that I know of...

900 ann st could be that little site next to mosaic? the old mirror shop?

the article also said something about a leighton properties site on turbot st. is that the UQ dental school??

[nathandavid88]

That's true, it could be. Didn't know that site was even slated for redevelopment at this point in time. As for Turbot Street, I assume that's the Dental School site. Has it ever been announced what they proposed for that site?

[bribri]

Originally Posted by nathandavid88

That's true, it could be. Didn't know that site was even slated for redevelopment at this point in time. As for Turbot Street, I assume that's the Dental School site. Has it ever been announced what they proposed for that site?

Isn't the plan for the adjacent Mosaic site to be done after Mosaic finishes? A 4 level office building I think.
As for the dental school site I thought the plan was ultimately to have a hotel there.

[nathandavid88]

We're thinking of two different sites bribri. The mini extension of Mosaic you're thinking of is on what was a locksmith's building on the corner of Ann and Church Streets, across from the Lexus dealership. The mirror shop 38921111 and I are talking about is on the corner of Ann and Brookes St, opposite corner to Metro's Brooklyn on Brookes.

As for the dental school, I've only ever heard it mentioned as a commercial site, but I really don't know that much about it.

[bribri]

Oh ok. That mirror shop site and indeed the whole block is owned by the Anglican Church I think. It has a section of park/garden along Ann St as well. Would be interesting to see what could go there as I would think the church would want to have a big say given it is next to the Manse on Brookes St as well as the church halls for St Trinity.

[Samuel77]

Well the cross river rail is pretty much dead for the next 4, possibly 8 years - Going by the Abbott-Newman press release a few moments ago.

btw - why is the cross river rail thread closed?

[nathandavid88]

The one in the Transport thread isn't.

[KDreamer]

I hate politics.

[dannydeckchair]

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney

Government set to revive tired CBD precinct

Queenslanders will be invited to put forward their vision for a tired and under-utilised area of Brisbane’s CBD, as the Newman Government takes the first steps to breathe new life into the government precinct.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the government would commence an extensive consultation process to define the redevelopment of the broader government precinct.

“We have an opportunity for a new, unique and vibrant precinct at Brisbane’s heart with diverse architecture and activities, new and renewed public spaces and greater access to and use of the heritage buildings, which date from our city’s beginnings,” Mr Seeney said.

“Revitalising this precinct has the potential to strengthen two of the four economic pillars by creating construction, retail and tourism jobs and provide a much-needed boost for Queensland’s economy.

“There has been enormous interest in the government precinct and, with construction of 1 William Street underway, the time has come to get this project off the ground.

“In this early stage of defining the project and before we take any decisions at all, we are going to engage with the community, Brisbane City Council and the property and development industry to determine their visions for the precinct.”

Mr Seeney said consultation will take place from now until September before the government called Expressions of Interest for the private sector to put forward their proposals for the precinct.

“We realise wide consultation will be needed,” he said.

“Despite speculation, no decisions have been made about the redevelopment outcomes and we look forward to working with the community, council and industry to help revive this tired part of the Brisbane CBD.

“Council is currently developing its new City Centre Master Plan and we will work with it to ensure the precinct’s redevelopment is in line with this plan.

“We’ve also had initial discussions with peak property and development bodies, including the Property Council of Australia, Brisbane Development Association and the National Heritage Trust to canvas their views.”

Mr Seeney said, following consultation, expert advice would be sought from the independent Precinct Advisory Committee members Renaye Peters with Andrew King and Bevan Lynch, who brought a wealth of knowledge of the property, development, planning and design sectors.

“After this, the government expects to consider a broad range of redevelopment options that deliver the highest overall benefit and value to the state and the community,” he said.

“Renewal of the precinct will revive the area and reconnect this part of Brisbane to the central business district and the river.

“It’s this generation’s chance to leave a lasting legacy.”

Mr Seeney said land use would be a central consideration in the redevelopment, including which sites would be involved, what form of tenure there should be over the sites, what uses the land would be put to and appropriate use of the heritage buildings that would be preserved.

[ENDS] 22 May 2013

[brizguy]

awesome, no public transport improvements for us.