Plans for Cross River Rail Roma St busway not finalised

Plans for an entertainment and sports arena in Brisbane’s CBD have been officially integrated into Cross River Rail, but the location of new bus platforms remain a mystery.

The location of a $250 million busway stop within the revitalised Roma Street station still hasn’t been firmed up, two years after the State Government announced it would supposedly go underground.

Planning documents released this week show the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority intend to press ahead with Brisbane Live and 30 storey towers above the new rail line at Roma Street, rejuvenating a once run down end of the CBD.

But two years after it was revealed that the Inner Northern Busway would be tunnelled underground next to Cross River Rail’s new platforms, The Courier-Mail understands the CRRDA still hasn’t finalised the transport link’s final route.

The Palaszczuk Government announced in May 2019 it would throw an extra $250 million to bring the busway underground and allow better interchange between train and bus.

The busway, which would be used for Brisbane City Council’s much-publicised Metro project, will instead now be reliant on developer feedback for its final design.

Renders of the underground bus-train integration provided by Cross River Rail in 2019. Picture: CRRDA

It comes as the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority this week released its development scheme for the Roma Street precinct, pushing for Brisbane Live and the pedestrianisation of Albert Street between the Botanic Gardens with Roma Street Parklands.

The two initiatives would join Cross River Rail, Queen’s Wharf and Brisbane Metro as major projects set to transform Brisbane’s CBD within the next five years.

“A major sport, recreation and entertainment facility could anchor the precinct with supporting cultural, recreation, community, food and beverage and tourist facilities,” the document said.

The documents also argue that turning Albert Street into a ‘green spine’ linking Roma Street Parklands with the Botanic Gardens would have a major impact on the CBD.

Artist impression of Brisbane Live at Roma St

“Over time Albert Street is to be transformed into a green spine, landscaped and prioritised for pedestrians and cyclists, extending through the city centre connecting Roma Street Parkland to the City Botanic Gardens,” the documents said.

Parts of Albert Street have already closed to traffic to allow construction of the new Albert Street railway station, and these will be reopened only to pedestrians.

Planning documents push for towers with “a maximum average building height” of 30 storeys tall to be built above the currently under construction Roma Street underground station.

ASM Global, which is the world’s largest venue management company and operates the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Suncorp Stadium and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall, has welcomed the official inclusion of Brisbane Live.

Artist impression of the Albert St Green Spine in Brisbane’s CBD.

“That Roma Street precinct has so much potential, firstly because of its location and secondly because of its amount of space,” ASM Global chief executive Harvey Lister said.

“I think it’s terrific to see that progress,” Mr Lister said.

“There’s always been a need for government to address the issue of what happens above Cross River Rail.”

Mr Lister described Brisbane Live as a “no-brainer” and compared the pedestrianised Albert Street to what Caxton Street is to Suncorp Stadium, saying he expected it to rejuvenate the CBD by “draw(ing) people through the space and helping people in the middle.”

“This is an enabler for the great design of other ideas.”