#Approved: 1 William Street - 45st/260m/office

[KJBrissy]

Newman plans new government office block

The Queensland government's ageing Executive Building, which houses the Premier and senior ministers, will be demolished as part of a master plan to transform the parliamentary end of Brisbane's CBD.

It is understood the plan, to be announced by Premier Campbell Newman tomorrow, will include the construction of a new government building opposite the Parliamentary Annexe on William Street.

The land is currently occupied by a carpark, beside the Riverside Expressway, and was the subject of a political brawl in August last year.
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Brisbane City Council at the time questioned why the then-Labor government would allow development on the partly-flood-affected block at 25 William Street when the government was preventing the Howard Smith Wharves hotel near the Story Bridge.

It is understood the master plan to be announced tomorrow will include the construction of the new government offices as part of a private sector development.

The land may be sold to the private sector for construction of the building, with the government leasing offices in the complex.

Currently, Mr Newman and some of his senior ministers work from the Executive Building at 100 George Street, near the Mary Street intersection.

That building is expected to be demolished once the new facility is constructed.

A source said the demolition of the Executive Building was one of four options that was considered by the previous Labor government, but had been considered too “left field”.

“They had about four different options and that was one of them,” the source said.

“But it was pretty left field, as in pretty speculative.”

brisbanetimes.com.au last year reported Cox Rayner Architects had given the Bligh government a number of submissions on how to develop the 25 William Street site.

At the time, Brisbane City Council planning committee chair Amanda Cooper questioned why, if Howard Smith Wharves could not go ahead, the state government was continuing with plans to develop the land on William Street.

Council's Floodwise Property Report shows the swollen Brisbane River covered the bottom third of the rising block in January.

In August last year, the Department of Public Works confirmed it had received design submissions but said there were “no current development applications or approvals to develop the site”.

The announcement of the master plan tomorrow follows confirmation the government will not proceed with building a new government-owned office building at Bowen Hills.

In a statement issued today, Public Works Minister Bruce Flegg said the decision to axe the building was based on concerns the $275 million project could leave the government with an asset worth less than the capital invested.

“Current indications are that continuing with the project and then selling the building could have resulted in a write down of between $50 million and $80 million at completion,” he said.

“Upon review, this Bowen Hills Government Office Building project is not considered to be the best use of taxpayers’ funds.”

[Locke]

Great, the executive building sucks, and Cox Rayner should come up with something decent.

[tic]

We want at least 50 levels.

[swifty78]

Can the Annexe go to please Campbell and Im sure many of us have a few other demolition wishes to be carried out

[SoulvisionQ1]

WOW WOW WOW! Northbank revisited ??!!!

I got to say, I was a Newman sceptic, but he's winning me over!



http://www.couriermail.com.au/life/h...-1226370428598
PREMIER Campbell Newman will today unveil a multi-billion-dollar sell-off and rebuild of government office towers in a masterplan he says will rejuvenate the Brisbane CBD.

The first phase of the CBD masterplan could see one, and possibly two, major office towers built on Crown land in William St by private enterprise and leased back by the state.

Several rundown state buildings in George St and William St would be sold or demolished - including the Executive Building, the premier's headquarters.

There would be a new pedestrian plaza in front of Parliament House on Alice St and a riverside boardwalk with leisure and entertainment facilities, plus a cultural hub built under and over the Southeast Freeway.

But the Parliament unveiling is the first voters will have heard of it, with no mention of the massive scheme during the drawn-out election and even longer "phoney" campaign last year.

Mr Newman will tell Parliament the first stage of the developments will create 18,093 jobs over five years.

Selling the land and leasing back in to new buildings was cheaper for the taxpayer than refurbishing the current structures, the Government says.

The Government says there will be no cost to the taxpayer due to private sector involvement and the "rationalisation" of redundant state properties.

It is understood public consultation will begin with the announcement, while developers can put in expressions of interest from Thursday.

Mr Newman said the new "Precinct Master Plan" will reinvigorate the inner-city and be a catalyst for new building activity to stimulate the ailing construction industry.

The grand plan invites the injection of billions of dollars of private capital for new hotels, a possible new casino, commercial buildings, cultural and residential space and major new retail amenities.

Works Minister Bruce Flegg, who will drive the master plan, said last night the new works would enliven what had become a forgotten part of Brisbane.

Heritage buildings would be protected. Some may be available for sensitive commercial use, including The Mansions, Harris Terrace, and possibly the Commissariat Stores.

Although the Government was "cash-strapped" it was rich in quality CBD property, Dr Flegg said.

"And we will be inviting the private sector to tell us what it wants," he said.

Mr Newman said the plan would unlock the heritage area and enhance Brisbane's reputation as one of the great emerging cities.

Dr Flegg said the Government would move swiftly in calling for expressions of interest for a new office building of up 60,000sq m at 1 William St, currently a carpark.

The Government will also seek options for the redevelopment and enhancement of 80, 100 and 102 George St.

"The last documented plan for the Government Administrative Precinct was in 1974, so this really is an area for significant revitalisation, particularly when considered with the area under the freeway," he said.

"This model of building partnerships with the private sector to build and lease back to government will be considered as a way of releasing capital for future redevelopment and refurbishment of other buildings in the Government precinct."

[swifty78]

Simple yet nice

[Locke]

Wow, okay, a mini-North Bank I see. It doesn't intrude on the river though, not much at least, so that should help a lot with all the eco-mentalists, how tall is the tall at the end? the picture cuts it off but tall I hope! (though I fear about 150m going off the chunkiness).

Let's see if Campbell can drive it through, North Bank was a woeful exercise in floundering about by Anna, but hopefully can do, can do.

[SoulvisionQ1]

Just the fact that something finally will be done with the REX... better accessibility to the River, more vantage points and new cool looking artwork along the expressway. I don't particularly care about building heights, the best thing about this is the increased accessibility which will see Brisbane finally recapture it's river.

[Locke]

The river access is nice, but I think the big problem will always be noise from the expressway...

Thud-thu-thud, thud-thu-thud, it's just never going to be as appealing as the other side of the city in that respect.

One aspect I liked about Northbank was that it actually put some buildings in between the riverwalk and the expressway, so it could have dampened that effect somewhat, of course this came at a cost.

Compared to Northbank this is fairly minor, just a riverwalk really with some small cafes, in reality it might turn out looking a bit dingy what with the shadows from the expressway and the expressway itself dominating the environment. They would do well to somehow at least visually hide the expressway, maybe a wall of greenery or something, the whole area under the freeway is dingy so you gotta make it feel like you are not standing next to/below an expressway for it to really succeed.

[brizguy]

That is actually brilliant, I love it, The spiral around the REX is a cool touch. Newman supported Northbank in the old days didn't he?

[TOCC]

I think that design is adequately suitable for the space

[nathandavid88]

I love it!

Demolishing the Exec Building, revitalise the North Bank and partially deal with the REx, rationalise the Government's land holdings, create thousands of construction jobs, and do all of it for little-to-no cost to the public (and could generate some fast cash for the Government). What's there not to love?

If they can make me actually want to walk up George Street and under the Riverside Express way, that will be a success!

[BenAffleck]

Why is the Exec Building in the design picture?

[KJBrissy]

Because that plan included a number of options of which one involved the removal of the Executive building however not all. The picture is a representation only and not exactly what we will get.

[nathandavid88]

There would be other variables as well including what Echo's new State Library Building hotel might look like. I believe that the press conference for the project is at 11:30am, so hopefully we might get a bit more detail then.

I would also suspect that this project means that the Council of Mayors' "Cleveland Solution" rail proposal is dead now (not that it was every really 'alive', but even deader now).

[KJBrissy]

Originally Posted by nathandavid88

I would also suspect that this project means that the Council of Mayors' "Cleveland Solution" rail proposal is dead now (not that it was every really 'alive', but even deader now).

It could still technically work.

[brizguy]

60000m could hopefully be a 35 story tower. Will really even out the skyline from south bank.

Hope a few hundred is put aside to paint the REX

[nathandavid88]

The article in the Australian was a bit different. Apparently, one reason behind the idea to demolish the Executive Building is so Mary Street can be extended through to William Street.

New Brisbane skyline as Campbell Newman looks to rebuild government precinct

BY: SEAN PARNELL From: The Australian May 29, 2012 9:46AM
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QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman's government cleanout, after 14 years of Labor rule, may include demolishing Brisbane's Executive Building.

The Beattie and Bligh governments had identified the need for a new executive building, most likely on land opposite Parliament House, and the incoming Liberal National Party government has wasted no time putting plans into action.

Whilst Labor was privately concerned about the public reaction should it move to upgrade the executive building - home to the premier Treasury and senior ministers - the dominant LNP has no such concerns and has sought registrations of interest in the construction of a new office tower of up to 60,000 square metres at 1 William Street.

"This vacant site, currently being used as a carpark, has been designated for government office development since 1974 and is the logical site for government administration given its proximity to Parliament," Mr Newman said in a statement.

The government will also look to redevelop public sector buildings along George Street, and is open to the idea of demolishing the ageing Executive Building to extend Mary Street into William Street.

Mr Newman said he hoped the plan which comes after the Bligh government abandoned the controversial North Bank proposal would stimulate the construction industry and revitalise that section of the CBD with new commercial, retail, residential, hotel and cultural amenities.

"The Precinct Master Plan is expected to provide around 18,000 jobs over five years and will be delivered at no additional cost to taxpayers," he said.

But Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk accused the government of wanting to rule in luxury whilst the community dealt with economic uncertainty.

"The government this week will be debating its cost of living bill in the parliament - all they're doing is building brand new, flashy offices for Mr Newman and his ministers," Ms Palaszczuk told the ABC.

[Aussie Bhoy]

I really like it.

60,000 sqm should be pretty big shouldn't it, 170m + ?

[Eatyourmeats]

just for comparision, riparian plaza is 200m tall and has a total floor space of 55,000sqm. So 60000sqm looks promising.