Queen’s Wharf Brisbane masterplan submitted for assessment

The masterplan that will steer the design of Queensland’s largest development, the multi-billion-dollar Queen’s Wharf Brisbane integrated resort development, has been submitted to the Queensland Government for assessment.

Destination Brisbane Consortium (DBC) and a team of more than 100 expert consultants have spent the past 12 months preparing the plan of development that will act as a framework for development of the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct.

Destination Brisbane Consortium project director Simon Crooks welcomed the major milestone in the development of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane.

– Our Plan of Development provides a clear vision for the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development and one that provides extensive benefits to Queensland on top of the more than 2 000 construction jobs and 8 000 operational roles – he said.

The design creates new and revitalised public realm cross the equivalent area of 12 football fields and includes green space for outdoor events, arts and culture that facilitate activity and employment.

Queen’s Wharf Brisbane is attracting new global hotel brands to Brisbane including the 6-Star Rosewood and the Ritz-Carlton, which will help attract international events and raise Brisbane’s profile.

The integrated Resort development will connect Brisbane’s current CBD offerings and seeks to enhance them with the development. The company’s strategy is to build retail precincts that link existing CBD and Queen Street Mall retail to Queen’s Wharf Brisbane and supports a larger integrated retail offering for the city.

It will also feature 50 new restaurants and bars, many of them showcasing and helping bring a global awareness to world-class Queensland produce, including meats, fruits and seafood.

– We are unlocking the finest collection of heritage buildings in the State, nine in total, for locals and visitors to enjoy while establishing a new destination in Brisbane that will help attract a further 1,39 million visitors and the spending that accompanies that to the state – Crooks said. – The scale of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane is like nothing our city has seen before, and it is vital that our plan therefore maximises the linkages and opportunities for Brisbane’s existing offerings with our future development.

The plan consists of almost 40 reports and thousands of pages of design, planning and vision for the precinct, which is a currently under-utilised riverfront area of the CBD.

– Now that our plan has been submitted, EDQ has a legislated process to follow as it assesses whether the documentation meets their requirements and guidelines – Crooks explained. These include what iconic contribution to the city form that Queen’s Wharf Brisbane will make, and how its design complements existing development.

EDQ will also consider how heritage places are being conserved in the development, as well as their future adaptive reuse; how the development enhances connectivity and integration between the city and the river front; and how the development supports existing and new connections through the precinct, and integration with the surrounding area.

– We are very proud of our design, and have at all times sought to go above and beyond requirements to provide great outcomes for the city and broader community – he added.

EDQ will conduct a thorough initial review of the application and when satisfied it meets requirements, a 30-business day public comment period will be announced. This will then be notified in the media, and via the Destination Brisbane Consortium’s website and social media channels.

Queen’s Wharf Brisbane facts:

• Queen’s Wharf Brisbane will employ more than 2,000 workers during peak construction, and more than 8,000 once it is opens, expected in 2022.
• The Queen’s Wharf Brisbane integrated resort development contains:
  o Five new hotels, including The Ritz-Carlton Brisbane and the 6-star Rosewood, which will provide more than 1000 hotel rooms
  o 50 new bars and restaurants, and new retail space
  o Restored and repurposed heritage buildings
  o The equivalent of 12 football fields of free public space
  o A Sky Deck located 100 metres above William Street that will be free to the public
  o World-class gaming facilities to replace Brisbane’s existing Treasury casino, which will comprise less than five per cent of the development
  o 2000 apartments
  o A new pedestrian bridge to South Bank
• The development is the largest private sector project in Queensland stretching from George St to the Brisbane River, from Queen St to Alice St, Queen’s Wharf Brisbane will revitalise and reactive the riverfront between Victoria Bridge and Goodwill Bridge.