Kangaroo Point tower cuts penthouses, adds hotel, rooftop restaurant and smaller units

Penthouses have been scrapped at a prominent riverfront unit proposal in inner Brisbane, which is instead converting lower levels into a hotel and proposing a rooftop restaurant. SEE THE PLANS.

PLANS for a 11-storey riverfront tower have been overhauled yet again, with a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Kangaroo Point Cliffs among new features added.

Banyan Tree, on River Tce, Kangaroo Point, was first proposed in 2014 with residents promised city views across the Brisbane River.

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The project, which originally had 76 units, was then changed in 2018 to have 100 apartments.

Now a new development application for Banyan Tree would see that number rise again to 128 units.

The number of two and three-bedroom units in the project has been halved and penthouse apartments scrapped.

20 one-bedroom apartments and 60 short-term accommodation units have been added instead.

The proposed tower would be located on the corner of Main St and River Tce, Kangaroo Point, opposite the iconic cliffs and facing the CBD. Picture: PDOnline/Woods Bagot

40 of the 172 car parks in the current plans would be also be removed under the overhaul.

“The rooftop bar/hotel use is no longer proposed, however a rooftop restaurant is proposed,” the application said.

The plan is now out for public consultation.

Gabba councillor Jonathan Sri however slammed the proposal, saying hotel rooms and one-bedroom units were “directly contrary” to the needs of residents.

“It will create more conflict within the building down the track, because long-term residents won’t like living next to hotel rooms,” Cr Sri said.

Plans show space for a rooftop restaurant overlooking the CBD and Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Picture: PD Online/Woods Bagot.

“The developers know their project is commercially unviable, and they’re trying to make it profitable by squeezing more and more apartments onto the site.”

Cr Sri also accused the development of being too bulky.