Aria Property Group lodges plans for first CBD-height unit tower in South Brisbane

Plans have been lodged for the first CBD-height tower in South Brisbane, including “world class’’ eateries and a hotel that will transform the suburb ahead of the Olympics.

Multi award-winning developer Aria Property Group has lodged dramatic plans for a three-tower project in South Brisbane next to the landmark Expo 88 Skyneedle, under new laws allowing for up to 90 levels.

Aria, which has transformed the West End/South Brisbane skyline in recent years, promised a landmark project which it said had been years in the making.

It included a 50-level tower and high-quality hotel that would “serve the city during the Olympic Games and leave a lasting legacy for tourism beyond (that)’’.

There would also be a “world class’’ retail and dining precinct connected by arcades, similar to Fish Lane.

The laneway was brought to life after Aria built several adjacent unit towers and supported major bars and restaurants which moved there.

“The development ... is expected to be the catalyst for the continued revitalisation of the area,’’ town planners Saunders Havill said in the development application (DA) documents.

“By virtue of its size, position and prominence on Melbourne St, the site is of critical importance to South Brisbane and has the potential to be the catalyst that propels the next generation of revitalisation in the area.’’

Three unit towers of 24, 40 and 50 levels with a total of 678 units were proposed.

There would also be a “signature’’ gym with pool, food and drink outlets within the lower levels, public art and a 10-year commitment to art “activations’’.

The hotel in tower C would have 216 rooms.

A 1600 sqm public, north-facing open space and 2700 sqm of arcades, laneways and streetscapes were proposed.

It was the latest in a series of changes for the huge site bounded by Melbourne, Manning and Edmondstone streets.

Aria was already about six months into a two-year project to carve out seven levels of underground carparking for 1078 cars and 75 motorbikes.

Torrential rain on the weekend caused some issues at the 7300 sqm site, which flooded in 2022 forcing hairdressing icon Steve “Stefan’’ Ackerie to move his headquarters.

Artist's impressions of how the rooftop areas will look.

Mr Ackerie’s Bach Living lowrise building would be demolished for the Aria project.

In October last year the then Labor government signed off on a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) for the Kurilpa precinct in South Brisbane, greenlighting buildings up to 90 levels.

Then Premier Steven Miles and Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner touted the TLPI as “anti sprawl’’ and a means to boost housing supply, including a requirement for 20 per cent of homes to be “affordable’’.

There is presently only one 90-level building in Brisbane, Skytower in Margaret St in the CBD, dubbed the “Bon Bon’’.

Mirka Shannon, who lived nearby and also has a unit in the Skyneedle apartment tower, said it was exciting news.

“I will definitely look at what they have to offer. Aria is the best developer in South Brisbane, they have done wonders for the area,’’ she said.

“All their buildings are multi award-winning. Tim Forrester (Aria co-founder and managing director) makes sure their buildings are the best of the best.’’

The new tower designs proposed by Aria.

However, more than 120 objections to Aria’s previous plans for the site were lodged two years ago, many by residents in the neighbouring Halo tower who were concerned about loss of views, shading, noise and dust.

Aria said at the time that Halo’s balconies were oriented to the street and so views would not be affected.

West End Community Association (WECA) president Seleneah More said one of their major concerns was that the TLPI meant residents would have no input into very large towers of 40 and 50 levels, something that had never happened before.

“The TLPI rides roughshod over the community. It was rushed through to address the housing crisis, but 14 months later there still hasn’t been one approval,’’ she said.

“This is a massive (seven stage) project. The construction impacts will last for years.

“Council keep giving Aria night work permits and we are told council is very slow in responding to complaints about noise and dust.’’

The Aria site, with nearby unit towers Halo and Alto (top).

She said one of WECA’s major concerns was the cumulative effects of continual upzoning on traffic, schools and parks in what was already a heavily populated peninsula.

Ms More also described the project as an “affordability hoax’’, saying there was no mention of affordable stock in the application.

“The TLPI has been drafted so developers can easily get out of providing affordable housing,’’ she said.

“They can just provide a diversity of housing, which basically means the number of bedrooms, but that is in the commercial interests of developers anyway.’’

However Aria pointed to the public green space that would be created.

It also said heritage buildings near the site would be protected, including sightlines to the heritage-listed Skyneedle.

The new design includes more than 3500 sqm of north-facing public green space.

The design would be visually compatible with the art deco Bond’s Sweets Factory building, which for many years was used to store film reels for Universal Pictures, and also the Malouf’s fruit shop which at one time was owned by the family of renowned local author David Malouf.

Saunders Havill said the 17m gap between the project and the Halo building would retain its sweeping views of Musgrave Park.

It added that retail levels and units would be built above the flood height, with “dry’’ routes between buildings for pedestrians and flood-resistant design and materials.

Cars would not have to be moved out of the basement during flood events.

Aria had spent “hundreds of hours’’ and brought in a range of experts at extra expense to ensure the project would be the best design possible.

The heritage Malouf corner store building.

“As a result of this planning and investment, it is believed that the site will become the centrepiece of South Brisbane and a focal point for high end residential living, dining, retail and recreation,’’ Saunders Havill said.

“Co-ordinated but varied architecture, finishes, materiality and landscaping will create a strong identity and revitalise South Brisbane, putting the City’s best foot forward for the Olympic Games and leaving a legacy beyond.’’

Tower A, fronting Manning Street, would be 24 levels.

The 145m tower B on the corner of Manning and Melbourne streets, which contained the gym and retailers, would “present’’ as 36 levels plus rooftop. Tower C would be 50 levels.

More details on council’s online DA portal developmenti. Search for application A006663110