Drone keeps bird’s eye view on city’s tallest building

THE civil aviation watchdog is putting eyes in the sky to spy on work at Skytower, Australia’s tallest residential tower in Brisbane, and ensure it doesn’t put passing commercial airlines in danger.

THE civil aviation watchdog has used a drone to spy on work at Skytower, the tallest residential tower in Brisbane’s CBD.

A spokesman for Hutchinson builders said the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, was actively policing several buildings to ensure construction complied with height restrictions to prevent the skyscrapers spiking the city’s flight paths.

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This was confirmed by leading architect Noel Robinson whose firm is designing the 90-storey 274m building at 222 Margaret St for Billbergia, a private developer from Sydney.

Architect Noel Robinson takes in the view from Skytower. Picture: AAP/Richard Waugh

Mr Robinson, 70, the author of several major highrise buildings in Queensland, said he and the developers wanted to build Skytower to 100 storeys but height restrictions prevented that.

“With 1141 apartments it will be the largest residential building in Australia,” Mr Robinson said.

“However it is not the tallest in Australia, with that gong going to Q1 at the Gold Coast at 322.5m with 78 storeys.” Q1 added a rooftop spire to achieve the record.

The view from Sky Tower, still under construction in Brisbane CBD. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Waugh

A Hutchinson site manager said the firm had been given special permission to erect a crane during daylight hours that exceeded the approved height limit. It may reach 287m. It had to be lowered each evening.

Although the upper levels of Skytower are still under construction, many of the lower apartments have been sold and already have people living in them.

The highest tenant lives on the 66th floor.

This week the builders provided a sneak peek of level 87, the highest point of the building so far. Three more floors will be put on top of it and cement specialists have to mix a special “brew” to ensure it does not go off while being pumped to the top.

Skytower will have three swimming pools including the world’s highest on level 90.

Mr Robinson said the building may contain two top-floor penthouses – unless a determined buyer wanted to make it one.

The upper levels offer jaw-dropping vistas of the city all the way to the Glasshouse Mountains on one side and Moreton Bay on the other while the 77-storey Soul tower on the beach at Surfers Paradise is also visible.

Below, the Story Bridge appears a rusty safety pin, the Woolloongabba cricket oval resembles a thimble and Old Government House at QUT looked like a matchbox.

Skytower will be open to the public during Brisbane Open House on October 13 and 14.