We are experiencing a once-in-a-generation infrastructure expansion. Whilst there are short-term disruptions for residents and inner-city workers, these projects will completely transform our transportation, lifestyle, and employment opportunities making Brisbane a world-class destination, not only boosting tourism but putting Brisbane in line with Sydney and Melbourne for immigration. With the Inner Brisbane apartment supply already remaining tight we predict sales to remain elevated as the demand increases.
The major Brisbane infrastructure projects include the Gabba Redevelopment / Woolloongabba Precinct, Cross River Rail, Brisbane Metro, Brisbane Live, Queens Wharf Precinct, Victoria Park, Waterfront Brisbane, Kangaroo Point Pedestrian Bridge and Brisbane International Cruise Terminal.
Major projects already completed are the redevelopment of Howard Smith Wharves, and the Brisbane airport runway which took 8 years to construct. The $1.1b airport project makes Brisbane the most efficient runway system in Australia, with the picturesque riverside destination, Howard Smith Wharves, located under the Story Bridge, bringing tourists and families alike into the inner city for picnics, restaurants, bars and functions. Creating yet another Brisbane city dining hotspot.
The Woolloongabba Station Precinct and Gabba redevelopment masterplan will see the stadium fully demolished and rebuilt, with improved access and better transport connectivity. The Woolloongabba Priority Development Area will be expanded to encompass more of Woolloongabba and the Stanley Street precinct to South Bank.
The new stadium will be used as the main venue for the Olympics in 10 years and host athletics events as well as opening and closing ceremonies. Boasting a pedestrian walkway linking the stadium to the new Cross River Rail station and future Metro station, only a 2-minute commute to the Brisbane CBD. Providing greater accessibility for those with all levels of mobility, making it one of the most accessible stadiums in the country.
The new 50,000-seat stadium is estimated to cost $2.7 billion. Construction is likely to take 4 years from 2026 to be ready for use by 2030.
Cross River Rail is a critical public transport infrastructure project that will improve our quality of life, help our economy grow, generate thousands of jobs, and activate urban development across the region. Cross River Rail is a new 10.2-kilometre rail line from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills, which includes 5.9 kilometres of twin tunnels under the Brisbane River and the CBD.
With population growth and tourism putting more strain on the public transport system the need for another river crossing has become crucial. Currently, there is only 1 crossing which impedes the number of trains that can come into the city at any one time.
The Cross River Rail will boast 4 new stations at Albert St, Boggo Rd, Woolloongabba, and Roma St plus upgrades to rail stations that already exist including Exhibition Station in Herston. You can read more about these stations here.
As well as benefiting Brisbane residents and visitors the travel time to and from the Gold Coast will be dramatically shortened, connecting tourist and employment centres. Set to be completed in 2024.
Brisbane Metro is a key part of the Council’s plan to get home quicker and safer, with more travel options, less congestion and better public transport, whilst creating 2,600 jobs throughout the design and construction phases.
There will be two different lines for the Brisbane Metro: line 1 will run from Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street, and line 2 will run from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Herston to the University of QLD in St Lucia.
Services will be turn-up-and-go, operating 24 hours a day on weekends and during peak hours buses will run every 3 minutes, outside of these hours there will be 5 minute services. This will be a drastic improvement to the current public transport services available.
Each vehicle will be electric with zero tailpipe emissions and 24m long, split into 3 carriages. Stage 1 is set to complete in late 2024.
Brisbane Live Arena is a 17,000-seat sports and entertainment venue to be built in the heart of the city – above the new Roma Street underground train station with the potential to deliver 450 jobs per year during construction, 1000 jobs in the peak year and 600 ongoing jobs once operational.
Brisbane Live is the most significant CBD project, boasting underground rail and bus, as well as surface-level connections to existing rail networks, including interconnecting with the Cross River Rail project, changing the game for the Brisbane CBD.
Being constructed in place of the old transit centre, the venue, coupled with the underground, high-capacity train station with connections to other modes of transport, is set to re-invigorate the entire area.
Expected completion date 2024.
The Queen’s Wharf $3.6 billion dollar precinct will put Brisbane on the map as a tourism, leisure and entertainment destination. The world-class integrated casino resort includes 50 new bars, cafes and restaurants, and a public Skydeck known as the arc which wraps around four buildings to the North Bank of the river. Merging contemporary architecture with restored heritage buildings the current heritage treasury building will become a retail centre, with a new pedestrian bridge linking the city to South Bank.
Covering more than 26 hectares of land and river, Queen’s wharf precinct is set to open in late 2023. Transforming the CBD and rivers edge, the iconic design embraces the subtropical climate and celebrates both the Indigenous and European heritage with trials and experiences spanning the Brisbane River.
Already redeveloped and opened as part of the Queen’s Wharf project are Mangrove Walk and the first section of the bicentennial bikeway opening up a 500-metre stretch of land underneath the Riverside Expressway.
Expected completion date late 2023.
The 18-hole Victoria Park golf course has been closed to make way for a large parkland redevelopment project planned by the Brisbane City Council. The Project will create 45 hectares of public parkland, double the size of the Botanical Gardens. Victoria Park will become a natural retreat featuring native bushland pockets, waterholes for kayaking and swimming lagoons, suspended canopy walks, a giant walk-through butterfly house, a produce garden, dog parks, an adult playground and much more.
Set completion date – 10-year project underway
Waterfront Brisbane is under development by Dexus, which will implement some of the City Reach Waterfront Master Plan items outlined by the Brisbane City Council to revitalise the waterfront from the City Botanic Gardens through to Howard Smith Wharves.
The $2.1 billion dollar project will provide 7,900 square metres of open space, with around 3,900 square metres around the 31-year-old Eagle Street Pier area. The old Eagle Street Pier building will be demolished and there will be two new towers that allow better access to the river and its views.
The five-year stage one construction program will deliver the basement, riverwalk, public realm, retail pavilions, common podium and the north tower. The current riverwalk will be extended to a 1.2km waterfront promenade for pedestrians and cyclists.
The plan also details space for a proposed public riverside lap pool, relocation of the current city cat terminal and integration with the proposed Kangaroo Point green bridge. Construction is slated for 2021 and total completion by 2026.
Part of the City Reach Waterfront Master Plan is the proposed Green Bridge, connecting the city to the Kangaroo Point peninsula, which will dramatically improve access to and along the waterfront, reshaping the City Reach’s profile.
The Brisbane City Council has revealed new renderings of the design for the pedestrian and cycle bridge which is to connect Alice Street and the Botanic Gardens in the CBD with Scott Street at Kangaroo Point. The council has announced that they will be fast-tracking the project, delivering it two years earlier than expected, in 2023.
Herston Quarter
The $1.1b redevelopment of the 5-hectare site in the Herston Health Precinct commenced in March 2017. The project is envisioned as a mixed-use community, accommodating health, residential, commercial, and retail development.
West Village
The first two stages of the new West Village project have been finished. This initiative is revitalizing an industrial zone in West End by introducing additional public green spaces and retail opportunities to the community, as well as restoring heritage buildings.
Lamington Markets Lutwyche
A vacant site in Lutwyche is slated for development as a large integrated mixed-use transit hub. The proposal encompasses a fresh food market hall, a boutique cinema complex, retail stores, and residential apartments.
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By Nick Bendel from LoanMarket Nick Bendel is a professional journalist with more than a decade’s experience writing about mortgage broking, property, finance, economics and business. His work has been published in The Adviser, Mortgage Business, Real Estate Business, Elite Agent, Smart Property Investment and RateCity. The amount of money … Read more
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