Controversial Brisbane marina project revived

Revised plans have been submitted for a proposed marina in the Brisbane River, as part of a highrise development. SEE THE CHANGES.

Janet Hohnen near where the revised marina project on Macquarie Street, St Lucia, would be built if approved. Picture: AAP/Sarah Marshall

The developer of a controversial riverfront highrise has cut the size of a planned marina berth after concerns from Council, the State Government, neighbours and elite rowers.

QM Properties earlier this year applied to build a 35m-long, five berth marina at its 160 Macquarie St luxury tower in St Lucia in Brisbane’s inner-west.

Rowing clubs which used that stretch of the Brisbane River said it was so long they feared being forced into the path of CityCats, which must use the middle third of the river.

Conmus has now submitted a revised plan with a single berth marina which would jut only 13.5m into the river.

The developer has also asked Council to end a “stop the clock’’ provision, which bought it time to consider how it would proceed with the project.

The 130-day provision was due to expire next month.

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“The proposed changes have significantly reduced the extent to which the landing may (pose) an obstacle to the navigation of vessels within the Brisbane River,’’ planners Urbis said in the new development application.

“Due to the single berth design, the pontoon now measures 23.5m in length, to allow for a moderately-sized vessel to be moored.

“In order to reduce the extent to which the landing projects into the river, the walkway is now proposed to affix to the approved deck in a more central location, rather than at the eastern end of the site.’’

The news comes as QM Properties said buyer interest in the tower, the first riverfront St Lucia highrise in a decade, had been record-breaking despite COVID-19.

There had been $30 million in sales since April, including five $3 million-plus deals.

Launched to the market in mid-March at the start of lockdown, it nevertheless has now achieved pre-sales on 40 per cent of the 34, three-bed units.

160 Macquarie St is the first riverfront development in the suburb in a decade.

“The success of 160 Macquarie shows there is still an appetite for luxury apartments, with buyers seeing the value in paying upwards of $3 million to secure a riverfront location, in a boutique building, with well-designed, home-sized residences,’’ QM development manager Glenn Rix said.

“This is a fantastic result and is evidence there is positivity in the market and a sense of urgency from buyers who are able to recognise the limited opportunity to be part of what is a unique offering.’’

Toowong Rowing Club chairman, Peter Schryver, said the original proposal was of great concern but he believed they could “mitigate our way around’’ the revised plan.

“It will need high-quality LED lights and there has to be proper exclusion zones,’’ he said.

“The construction phase is of significant concern as our members get out in the dark, at 4.30am, and if things are moved around that is a problem.

“This is what happened when they were constructing the Eleanor Schonell Bridge (upstream at St Lucia) - there were a lot of collisions.’’

He said while the pontoon should not unduly affect his club, it might have greater impact on the Brisbane State High School, Nudgee College, GPS and Commercial rowing clubs which all used that reach of the river.

Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, who has opposed the 160 Macquarie St highrise, said the revisedmarina was “a win for residents who campaigned against the original outrageous proposal’’.

“Earlier this year I made a submission to Council, supporting locals’ objections and raising a number of concerns about the obstruction of river traffic including rowers, kayakers and leisure craft,’’ he said..

“Now, in response to community pressure, Council and the State government agencies like Marine Safety Qld have come up with a better compromise, which is really good news.

“The newly approved single-berth pontoon is much more sensible, but I still think Council should be prioritising more public infrastructure, like the green bridge from Toowong to West End and a new public pool at the ABC site.

“I’m now focused on ensuring that access to the popular cycling route to UQ along Macquarie St is maintained, because the developer still hasn’t properly explained what impact their proposal might have on that critical active transport corridor.”

Urbis said in its revised DA that there were 26 other jetties and pontoons nearby on the river, between Glenny St and the University of Queensland ferry terminal.

One at 100 Macquarie St, 260m away, had two berths and jutted 19m into the river.

Its proposed deck was shorter than one at 88 Macquarie St, which also projected further into the river than the Conmus Enterprises revised plan.

Council officers wrote to the developer earlier this year to say the 35m marina was out of character with other jetties and pontoons in the area and was “excessive’’.

Head of Uni Rowing, Richard Powell, spoke out about the original plan in May, saying he was particularly concerned about less experienced student rowers and coxless crews.

“Thirty-five metres is a fair way to jut out into the river,’’ Mr Powell said.

“It’s a well-used stretch — you could have 50 boats on it on a big day.’’