As it happened: Brisbane on Wednesday, February 14

Another high-rise apartment complex has been proposed for a West End block where a heritage-listed tannery building still stands.

Developers have lodged an application with Brisbane City Council for 24 apartments at 435 Montague Road, as well as an access easement for an area at the rear where the old brick tannery building is.

It comes after developers in December lodged an application to build a 10-storey tower, comprising 84 apartments, around the old tannery building at 439 Montague Road.

An artist’s impression of the apartment complex proposed for 439 Montague Road at West End, with the heritage-listed tannery building in the foreground.

According to the heritage register, Dixon’s Tannery was constructed in around 1893. Heritage consultants engaged by the developers have told council the proposal – to be known as The Tannery Residences – is reasonable and allows for “the future interpretation of this late-Colonial era industrial building in the West End area”.

That’s where we’ll leave our live updates. Here are today’s main stories:

• Kelly Wilkinson’s accused killer pleads guilty to murder
• Lisa Wilkinson has major win in bruising fight with Ten over legal bill
• Former Sydney teacher will not be prosecuted over alleged sex acts with boys
• Groovin the Moo cancelled: Music festival pulls pin on 2024 shows

Groovin the Moo has been scrapped this year due to poor ticket sales.Credit: Jamila Toderas

• Judges urged to ignore ‘attack’ on Afghans who gave evidence of Roberts-Smith murder
• ‘I was losing sleep’: Women urged to act now to fix their super
• Flipping amazing! How gymnastics could help Australian break pole-vaulting world record

Nicola Olyslagers wins the women’s high jump with a season’s best in Paris at the Wanda Diamond League 2023.Credit: YouTube / Diamond League

• CBA boss warns of rising late payments as bank posts $5 billion profit
• Israel releases footage it says shows Hamas ‘mastermind’ hiding in Gaza tunnels
• Just don’t do it: Our verdict on Tiger Woods’ new clothing line

Tiger Woods’ new clothing line.Credit: Illustration: Marija Ercegovac

Crossbenchers have called for the Gabba rebuild to be scrapped, with one politician boldly demanding the 2032 Olympics be abolished altogether.

Debate over whether the stadium should be demolished ahead of the Brisbane Games reignited in Queensland parliament on Wednesday after a notice came out of the blue.

Before question time, Katter’s Australian Party member Nick Dametto called for the Games to be cancelled and its allocated $7 billion to be reinvested in government services.

Katter’s Australian Party MP Nick Dametto wants the 2032 Olympics in Queensland to be scrapped.Credit: Matt Dennien

The motion was met with laughter, however calls for the $2.7 billion Gabba redevelopment to be cancelled were taken more seriously.

Greens leader Michael Berkman called on the government to listen to Queenslanders and scrap the plan.

Just days earlier, powerbrokers including International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates called for a review committee to find another option.

Former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk is leading a 60-day Olympic infrastructure assessment, with the Gabba rebuild set to top his list.

– AAP

Another high-rise apartment complex has been proposed for a West End block where a heritage-listed tannery building still stands.

Developers have lodged an application with Brisbane City Council for 24 apartments at 435 Montague Road, as well as an access easement for an area at the rear where the old brick tannery building is.

It comes after developers in December lodged an application to build a 10-storey tower, comprising 84 apartments, around the old tannery building at 439 Montague Road.

An artist’s impression of the apartment complex proposed for 439 Montague Road at West End, with the heritage-listed tannery building in the foreground.

According to the heritage register, Dixon’s Tannery was constructed in around 1893. Heritage consultants engaged by the developers have told council the proposal – to be known as The Tannery Residences – is reasonable and allows for “the future interpretation of this late-Colonial era industrial building in the West End area”.

It’s the second day of state parliament for the year, and Steven Miles’ second in the premier’s chair here, from which he has introduced the bill enshrining his government’s new emissions target in law.

Miles made the commitment to reduce emissions by 75 per cent from 2005 levels by 2035 as he was appointed to the top job late last year. This target, and 2030 and 2050 targets, are included in the bill.

The bill, to be considered by a parliamentary committee before it is voted on by MPs, will also require an annual progress statement, further 2040 and 2045 targets, and emissions reduction plans for key sectors.

An expert panel will also be set up to give advice to the responsible cabinet member, Energy Minister Mick de Brenni, who told journalists today the group would not include fossil fuel industry figures.

A series of environmental and renewable energy group representatives fronted media with Miles and de Brenni after the bill’s introduction to praise the lead the state was taking, urging the state LNP to back it and the certainty it gave investors.

Brisbane legend Steve Renouf has backed Selwyn Cobbo to follow in his footsteps and become a successful long-term Broncos centre – so long as he makes the new position his own.

Steve Renouf says he has always wanted to see Selwyn Cobbo as a centre.Credit: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Cobbo will get his first start at centre this year in Sunday’s trial with North Queensland after coach Kevin Walters switched him from the wing to cover the position held by former Broncos star Herbie Farnworth.

Four-time premiership winner Renouf is regarded as the Broncos’ greatest-ever centre, a position from which he scored most of his club-record 142 tries.

“I’ve always wanted to see Selwyn as a centre and now he has a great chance to stay there and be the long-term replacement for Herbie Farnworth as that left centre,” Renouf said.

Cobbo, like Renouf, has proved to be a try-scoring whiz. He’s already scored 37 tries in just 49 NRL games.

Read more here

The Electoral Commission of Queensland has conducted the ballot paper order draw for the Brisbane City Council lord mayoral race.

Independent candidate Bruce Tanti will have top spot on the ballot paper, followed by Labor’s Tracey Price, the LNP incumbent Adrian Schrinner, independent Gilbert Holmes, Legalise Cannabis candidate Clive Brazier and, finally, the Greens’ Jonathan Sriranganathan.

Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen said 845,749 Brisbane residents were registered to vote for their local councillor and, separately, the lord mayor.

“Councils make important decisions that affect the everyday lives of Queenslanders, so it is pleasing to see so many people wanting to put their hand up to run for lord mayor,” Vidgen said.

Early voting starts on March 4 and election day is March 16.

Two teenagers have been charged after they allegedly drove dangerously at police in Brisbane’s south-west yesterday, resulting in an officer firing his gun.

The 17-year-old Zillmere boy and 14-year-old Stafford girl were charged with a range of offences after police tracked them in an allegedly stolen Volkswagen Polo from Ashgrove to Blunder Road in Oxley.

Police said they allegedly drove dangerously at officers during the attempted intercept, which resulted in “an officer presenting and discharging his service firearm at the vehicle”.

Following their arrests, the boy was charged with several offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unsupervised driving, entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence.

The girl was charged with three counts of entering premises and committing an indictable offence, and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and wilful damage by graffiti.

Two others in the vehicle were also arrested by police.

Gold Coast mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson’s accused killer has pleaded guilty to murder.

Brian Earl Johnston, Wilkinson’s estranged husband, briefly appeared in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Wednesday for his arraignment over the killing of the 27-year-old.

Gold Coast mother Kelly Wilkinson was found dead in her backyard.

Wilkinson’s burnt body was found in the backyard of her Arundel home in April 2021.

Johnston was later found by police semi-conscious and with burns about two blocks from the scene.

Read more.

Two teenagers have been charged with breaking into two homes in Brisbane’s north, including one incident that left a woman needing hospital treatment.

The 78-year-old resident told 9News intruders held a knife to her neck and dragged her through the house on her back.

A 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were charged over the incident.

The boy is expected to face court in Brisbane on Wednesday on charges including wounding and serious assault.

An investigation is under way after a 34-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle collision in Sunnybank on Tuesday evening.

Initial investigations indicate the motorcycle was travelling south on Mains Road about 7.40pm when it collided with a Mazda SUV turning right into Elva Street.

The rider died at the scene.

The 19-year-old driver of the Mazda wasn’t physically injured.

Police are calling on witnesses or anyone with relevant vision to contact them. Investigations are ongoing.