Battle brewing over O’Connell St development at Kangaroo Point

A battle royale is brewing over plans for a luxury $80m apartment building at Kangaroo Point that so far seems to be having a dream run through the Brisbane City Council.

The view of Kangaroo Point from New Farm.

A battle royale is brewing over plans for a luxury $80m apartment building at Kangaroo Point that so far seems to be having a dream run through the Brisbane City Council.

City Beat spies tell us that the 15-storey building at 44 O’Connell St may promise multi-million dollar views, but residents will have to negotiate up to seven sets of traffic lights from the front gate to the carpark because of the size and shape of the block.

Our spies tell us the battle-axe shaped property will be extremely difficult to build on with access through a narrow driveway and via a ramp to basement carparks.

Because of the narrowness of the block, only one vehicle will be able to enter or exit the carpark at one time requiring a series of traffic lights to control car movements. The narrowness of the access also will require rubbish trucks to reverse up the driveway after entering the site, potentially causing traffic chaos.

Submissions have already started flowing into the council from residents with some in support of the project and some bitterly opposed.

The view of Kangaroo Point from New Farm.

The developers of the project include a family company headed by Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) executive George Katsanevas (illustrated), which says access to the property will not be a problem and will meet all town planning requirements.

According to architect Joe Adsett, one of the designers of the project, the development has the support of most of the neighbours because it only included 14 units. The new building will replace an ageing residential tower built in the 1960s.

But our spies tell us access is not the only issue likely to cause problems, with the proposed set back of the building from the boundary less than three metres in some sections. That appears contrary to the council’s neighbourhood plan and in fact the council last year rejected a neighbouring high-rise proposal, from the Pikos Group, that proposed a five metre setback.

The planned development also allocates only a slither of land between 3m and 4.5m in width as a public access riverwalk as opposed to 10m on the adjacent site.

The development is being processed through the council under its “design focused pre-lodgement” system that aims to fast-track proposals while avoiding pesky hassles such as public objections.

LEGAL FIGHT

City Beat readers will recall that a similar 15-storey project by the Pikos Group in nearby Lambert St was rejected by the Brisbane City Council last year.

Pikos appealed that decision in the Planning and Environment Court and was finally given the greenlight in May after a very expensive legal fight. The sticking point in the proposal was the building set back rather than the height of the building. That development sparked a street blockade from local residents and a protest in council chambers. Kangaroo Point has some of the most expensive real estate in the city with public access and community amenity keenly contested. Watch this space!

Artists impression of Pikos Group’s Lambert St development at Kangaroo Point.

END OF YEAR BASH

The Queensland Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QJCCI) held a ‘bonenkai’ year-end networking event last week, capping a busy year for the organisation.

Hosted by Stamford Plaza Brisbane, the night saw QJCCI president Chris Whitecross award membership certificates to recent new members including Harding Legal, Interaction Group, Rock Financial Advisory and White & Case LLP. The QJCCI thanked its VIP guests, including Acting Japan Consul-General, Chieko Masuda, who noted that 2021 had seen Queensland-Japan ties strengthen even further across a range of fields, including property and energy.