Woolloongabba gets go-ahead for city-changing makeover

The news

Woolloongabba, which First Australians described as a place of whirling waters to resolve disputes, will become Brisbane’s second gateway after state government legislation passed on Friday.

Formally, Queensland’s Planning Minister and Deputy Premier Steven Miles approved the Woolloongabba Cross River Rail Priority Development Area covering 106 hectares between South Bank and Woolloongabba.

In practical terms, this lays out the land use including the underground train station, a new school, a new busway, a new sports ground, affordable housing, with a pedestrian walkway connecting the Gabba to South Bank Parklands.

The pink areas show the larger Woolloongabba Priority Development Area. The green areas show pedestrian links. It also shows a new green space between the new Gabba train station and the sports ground.Credit: Queensland Government

It also formalises three-year-old promises by the Queensland government that 50 per cent of the site between the new Gabba train station and the new Gabba sports will be green space.

It includes the new Brisbane Metro bus station at the Gabba, new open space at the Gabba and the potential for walks towards South Bank Parklands, which itself is being redesigned as part of green spine connecting to Roma Street Parklands.

How did we get here?

In February, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in Brisbane that the federal government would pay $2.5 billion to build Brisbane Live at Roma Street and the Queensland government would finance the $2.7 billion upgrade of the Gabba in a $7 billion Games package.

In April 2023, Miles said negotiations were under way with Brisbane City Council to expand the Gabba priority area at the launch of the Gabba’s Station Square, a privately funded $1.26 billion new accommodation and retail centre.

Developer Trenert proposes a new 320-suite luxury hotel and a restored Chalk Hotel – finished by 2032.

The proposed $1.2 billion Station Square development in Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, with an open space opposite the Cross River Rail station.

No development application for Station Square has been submitted.

What does it mean?

The new Priority Development Area enlarges the sections of Woolloongabba where the Queensland government will have the ability to masterplan before the 2032 Games.

It will let the Queensland government this year put to tender the design of the new Gabba so that a proponent can be chosen and construction begin when Gabba Cross River Rail finishes in 2026.

Miles said the Act will transform the area as the southern gateway to Brisbane’s city centre.

“Major projects like the Gabba redevelopment, Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro will bring investment to the area, and we’ll see more jobs and more housing,” he said.

“It also allows better connections into the CBD and beyond and for more active transport options, including a walkable spine from The Gabba to Roma Street through South Bank.”

The exact boundaries for the sections of Woolloongabba which can be masterplanned by the Queensland Government.Credit: Queensland Government

The plan formalises a 20 per cent requirement for high-quality social or affordable housing, including affordable housing options for frontline workers.

What happens now at the Gabba?

An interim land-use plan for the Gabba is in place for the next 12 months.

The Queensland government will put the design of the Gabba sports ground out for tender and decide exactly where to place the new Metro busway at the Gabba with Brisbane City Council.

Education Queensland and East Brisbane State School will continue negotiations to move students to a new school being built on Coorparoo Secondary College grounds.

Public consultation begins from April 2024 to allowing different views to be considered before a final Priority Development Area land use plan for Woolloongabba is finalised around September 2024.

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