Stadium boss barracks for Brisbane army base to be integrated into heritage hub

It is time for Brisbane’s inner-city Defence base - Victoria Barracks at Petrie Terrace - to be converted into a vibrant heritage precinct, a leading entertainment figure has argued.

Harvey Lister, the chief executive of ASM Global, which runs 300 venues across five continents, including Suncorp Stadium, Sydney’s Accor Stadium and Perth’s Optus Stadium, made the call at a Committee for Brisbane forum on Tuesday.

There are moves to make Brisbane, particularly inner-city sports and entertainment venues, more accessible to pedestrians.Credit: Committee for Brisbane

Lister said Suncorp Stadium should always have included a bridge across Countess Street from Roma Street and past, or through, Victoria Barracks.

He said the redevelopment of Brisbane’s railway station at Roma Street provided an opportunity for authorities to revisit a dedicated walkway to Caxton Street.

“I am aware that the federal government went out to market several years ago, before COVID, and said ‘we are looking for alternative uses for this site’,” Lister said.

He said he would be disappointed if the site was to be dominated by high-rise apartments. Instead, it should follow the heritage revival of The Barracks and cater to community needs.

“You would think there is an activity to activate the whole of that precinct a whole lot more, and it may be that both uses can be accommodated,” he said.

“I think now is a good time to revisit that.”

The plan during the days of the Beattie Queensland government was for a $12.5 million public plaza across Countess Street near where the Roma Street fire station is today.

However, the Defence Department would not relinquish the barracks, and the millions set aside as state funding were instead absorbed into the stadium rebuild.

Broncos and Dolphins fans walk along Roma Street to climb the stairs to Caxton Street for a game at Suncorp Stadium.

On game days, fans use the footpath beside Roma Street, as well as one lane of the road temporarily closed to traffic.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles recently indicated better pedestrian and transport connections would be incorporated into the precinct.

“The new Brisbane Arena at Roma Street will see the revitalisation of an underused inner-city area into a vibrant precinct with high-quality public realm, retail, dining and entertainment that’s close to transport,” Miles said.

“Planning for the arena and the broader precinct is under way and will provide greater clarity around active transport connections for the area.”

Australian planning firm Architectus is one of several with images of how Victoria Barracks on Petrie Terrace could be blended in with Roma Street Parklands over Countess Street.Credit: Architecturus

The forum also heard calls to make areas of Brisbane more accessible before looking to work required for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Queensland Walks executive officer Anna Campbell shocked delegates when she said 6500 Brisbane streets did not have a footpath - 4000 of them without a footpath on either side.

“Plenty of work needs to be done,” she said, estimating it would cost upwards of $200 million.

Council’s opposition leader Cr Jared Cassidy said providing footpaths is basic for any local government and funds for this work should increase in the 2023-24 council budget.

“Residents deserve better. Brisbane should be an accessible and inclusive city, and $200 million a year seems like an entirely reasonable spend.”

Brisbane City Council would not answer whether Brisbane had 6500 streets without a footpath.

Instead, a spokeswoman said Brisbane had a network of more than 5000 kilometres of footpaths and had delivered more than 190,000 square metres of footpaths over the past three years.