Government pulls plug on plan to build an aquarium at the Maritime Museum, South Bank
TWO high-profile inner-Brisbane projects, announced with much fanfare under the Queensland Government’s market-led proposals program, have been withdrawn.
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TWO high-profile projects floated under the Queensland Government’s market-led proposals program have been withdrawn.
The Courier-Mail can reveal a plan to build an aquarium at the Maritime Museum at South Bank, announced with much fanfare in 2016, has been scotched.
And Foundation Theatre’s proposal for a new theatre within the Queen’s Wharf precinct has also been withdrawn.
It comes just months after the Labor Government announced it had decided to fund a much-needed new theatre itself with the new venue to be built at the QPAC site instead.
State Development Minister Cameron Dick, who took over market-led proposals in the post-election reshuffle last year, said he had asked his department to work with industry to “sharpen” the program going forward.
“Market-led proposals must stack up if they are to proceed and be supported by government,” Mr Dick said.
“Private sector proposals depend on capability, finance, third party agreements and deliverability.
“We’re working with industry to sharpen our focus on projects that can deliver.”
So far more than 150 market-led proposals have been received under the program since it began in 2015 with two successful, the Brisbane Cruise Ship Terminal and the “Logan Enhancement Project”, a $512 million series of upgrades to the Logan and Gateway motorways.
More than 20 have progressed through to the first stage and about five are at the second stage, the detailed proposal stage.
One project, a plan to build a car park at The Prince Charles Hospital car park, was closed after the state decided to build the car park itself.
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