The city centre of Brisbane will soon be home to one of Australia’s largest urban rejuvenation projects, as the Queen’s wharf redevelopment moves into the next stage of planning.
The four short-listed candidates for the project were recently announced by the state government. These four building consortia are now required to submit their full plans for the city centre area by the end of 2014.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney emphasised how these consortia represented the best options to redevelop the area.
“These companies recognise the opportunity that Queen’s Wharf Brisbane offers in an international arena and the government expects very competitive proposals for this once in a generation opportunity,” Mr Seeney said.
The Queens Wharf redevelopment involves a large section of land between Queen Street, George Street, Alice Street and the Brisbane River.
A number of key spaces are set to be redeveloped within this section of land – mostly ageing government buildings as well as the riverfront itself. Many of the area’s historic buildings will be preserved, with urban renewal projects limited to those spaces which are currently undeveloped or not being used to their full potential.
The redevelopment will include hotels, restaurants and office space for private companies and the civil sector. Open spaces for the public will be maintained along with the construction of greater conference facilities for business travellers.
There will also be a new underground train station built in the area, as part of the underground bus and train project.
“Our vision is to build on Brisbane’s characteristic strengths and create an iconic new world city that draws increasing numbers of international tourists and businesses to our capital,” Mr Seeney said. “Today’s announcement paves the way for this to happen on a scale not seen in Brisbane since the redevelopment of South Bank.”
Construction is forecast to begin in 2017, making now an ideal time to think about an apprenticeship in the building industry or a related trade. For school leavers, there are opportunities to build your skills up, knowing that demand will continue over the next 10 years.
Established companies may also want to upskill their staff to make the most of new opportunities in the construction industry. Having a workforce which is capable and flexible enough to take on any project will be a big asset for your company going into the future.
By Leanne de Toerkenczy, Public Relations Coordinator
