Tall sprawl continues in South Brisbane as developers plan another tower

A major developer has taken advantage of a contentious policy to allow higher density in South Brisbane to push plans for a new tower near the city entrance to West End’s high street.

But the proposal was still well below the new allowed height for the Kurilpa peninsula, which received state government approval last year after lobbying from Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

Stockwell’s proposed 31-storey tower at 175 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane.Credit: Mode Design Corp

Stockwell Development Group has lodged plans for a 31-storey tower – 130 units over 26 storeys, plus a podium – a stone’s throw from the northern entrance to West End’s Boundary Street.

Comment was sought from Stockwell, which is headed by the family company’s managing director, former Olympic swimmer Mark Stockwell.

Despite the Kurilpa temporary local planning instrument (TLPI) coming into effect before the plans’ lodgement, the proposal was still considered “impact assessable”, meaning it would be open to public submissions.

The TLPI allowed for building heights of up to 50 stories on the inner-city peninsula. Without the TLPI, which the state government approved in August, the proposal would have exceeded the allowable height under the existing South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan.

In an assessment report submitted to Brisbane City Council on Stockwell’s behalf, planning consultancy RPS Group urged the council to approve the project.

“The Kurilpa TLPI suspends the [South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan] from applying over the subject site and applies alternate assessment benchmarks in certain areas with respect to design and height,” RPS wrote.

“The proposed building height is appropriate for the site’s context and the broader strategic intent for the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.”

A retail tenancy would be included at ground level, while residents would have access to a “rooftop garden” some 102 metres above Melbourne Street.

“The rooftop garden includes a swimming pool, spa, barbecue areas, open space, covered seating and a reservable function space, dog park and a gym,” RPS wrote in its assessment report.

“The communal open space provided is highly usable, provides a wide variety of opportunities for passive and active recreation and features landscaping surrounding the accessible areas and the plant storage room to enhance the amenity of the space.”

If approved and built, there would be six storeys of parking both in the basement and the podium, allowing for 240 cars, five motorcycles and 164 bicycle spaces.

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