Brisbane 2032: Growth outcomes must enhance the city

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner plan to green-light the transformation of South Brisbane into a neighbourhood of super-high apartment blocks is one that, with some important caveats, makes sense, writes the editor.

Some long-term residents of our beautiful capital city will no doubt be doing some hand-wringing today after Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner unveiled plans to green-light the transformation of South Brisbane into a neighbourhood of super-high apartment blocks.

But it’s a plan that, with some important caveats, makes sense.

The reality of modern Brisbane is that it is now more a burgeoning world city than the big country town of our memories – and that is not going to change, now that we are also the world’s newest Olympic and Paralympic host. Wholesale changes to our skyline and suburbs are simply inevitable.

But amendments to planning schemes are also necessary. As we have reported on so often in recent months, rapid population growth has meant a growing demand for housing – governments at all levels are struggling to address the crisis.

And like it or not, big apartment blocks are part of the solution. Consequently, Mr Schrinner’s proposal to create the opportunity for about 10,000 extra dwellings in a clearly defined masterplanned zone close to the city centre – even if it means buildings up to 274m high – is understandable.

An aerial view of proposed ideas for Brisbane Southbank and CBD for the 2032 Olympics. Will taller apartment buildings feature on this skyline come 2032?

If it also takes some pressure off the current planning regime which sees medium-rise apartments seemingly popping up from nowhere to fundamentally change the nature of other suburbs then all the better.

But there are some big and important caveats in the so-called Kurilpa redevelopment strategy unveiled in the Brisbane City Council’s Sustainable Growth Strategy. Process, consultation and rigorous master planning will be essential as the development proposals will now no doubt emerge like mushrooms following a few days of rain.

The Kurilpa Precinct is not exactly suburbia. It is a mix of old-school inner-city industrial buildings mixed with modern apartment skyscrapers. It will also soon be home to “South Bank 2” on the Visy site on Montague Road, with a kilometre of river frontage. It will, in essence, be the epicentre of development in our city over the next decade leading into 2032.

But many residents will no doubt still need to be convinced that their lifestyle will not be compromised. The council will also need to properly address traffic planning and make sure that whatever eventuates includes sufficient usable public space. It will, in addition, need to make sure there’s a suitable range of housing options, from affordable to build-to-rent. And, of course, this area borders West End – and so no doubt many of the developers will find their proposals tied up in the courts for longer than should be necessary.

The Courier-Mail has long campaigned for solid action to address Queensland’s growing housing crisis. And so we have to commend council for coming up with a masterplan designed to address the issue, at least in part.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

But planning is one thing. Delivery is another.

The Kurilpa redevelopment scheme has to be more than just another opportunity for fly-in developers to simply make money. The council will need to stay on top of the process, to ensure the approvals being granted see the local lifestyle is enhanced as it grows – with buildings and amenities truly fitting for an Olympic and Paralympic host city.