Council announces plans for Toowong former ABC site including luxury residential development

A high-end residential development is set to undergo a change as part of plans for a new green bridge. SPECIAL REPORT

Part of the former ABC site at Toowoong will be used for the northern landing of the West End green bridge, Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner has revealed.

The Monarch development at Toowong. Picture: Supplied

Speaking at the opening of the Monarch Residence’s display office on the riverside site, Cr Schrinner confirmed that Brisbane City Council would move ahead to acquire a 2217sq m portion of the luxury residential development for the bridge landing.

“That will be the landing point for the Toowong to West End Green Bridge, so that process is now proceeding,” he said.

“We’ve budgeted the money for the acquisition and we’re moving ahead.”

Council has committed $550m to the green bridge project, however, the Mayor would not reveal the potential cost of resuming the land as negotiations were underway with the company behind the high-end residential development, Consolidated Properties Group.

“If I reveal how much it has budgeted for that (it) will ruin the negotiation,” he said.

“We want to get it for the most effective price for ratepayers so I won’t reveal that at this time.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

He said the figure will be announced once the negotiations are complete and that acquiring the portion of the development was important prior to construction of the bridge.

Council will foot the entire bill for the land acquisition and Mr Schrinner called on the federal government to support the bridges’ construction. The federal government previously contributed $60m to the Kangaroo Point green bridge, which is currently under construction.

Builder Scott Hutchinson and developer Don O’Rorke on site at their new Monarch development at Toowong. Picture: Lachie Millard

“We’re asking for further federal funds to help us with the Toowong Bridge and we’ve also had the support from groups like the RACQ, which is interesting because this is a motoring lobby group,” he said.

“But they support our investment in green bridges because they know it helps take cars off the road, it helps reduce traffic congestion getting more people on foot or on bikes … so the RACQ is backing our pitch to the federal government,” he said.

Cr Jonathan Sriranganathan, whose Gabba ward includes West End, at the opposite end of the proposed Toowong bridge, criticised council’s lack of full funding for the bridge.

An artist’s rendering of the Toowoong to West End green bridge.

“Coming into the last election, the Mayor announced that he would deliver five green bridges, and the fact that he doesn't even have full funding allocated to this one feels a little like a broken promise,” he said.

Mr Schrinner said the two remaining West End bridges were put on hold to focus on Brisbane's recovery after the devastating 2022 flood.

He said he expected the Toowong – West End bridge to carry 5300 trips per day by 2041.

The rest area on the proposed Toowong to West End green bridge. Picture: Supplied

The high-end residential development on the ABC site will offer 224 homes from $645,000 to $15m across two 15-storey towers and include the restoration of the heritage listed 150-year-old Middenbury House.

The finished restoration will be set on 1.2 hectares of landscaped gardens, 30 per cent of which will be public parkland that will incorporate the proposed bridge landing.

An artist’s render of the Monarch development at Toowong.

“There’ll be 3000sq m of publicly accessible landscaped land and that is going to provide the community with full access, so this is not a private exclusive enclave, this is public access land that will be created,” Cr Schrinner said.

Mr Sriranganathan questioned the creation of “publicly accessible landscaped land” as opposed to public green space.

“There are big differences between privately owned publicly accessible land and genuine public park lands,” he said.

“We need green spaces that are freely accessible to everyone, not just paying customers.”