Albion Exchange masterplan goes to public consultation
Submissions on a controversial masterplan which aims to transform an inner-north neighbourhood over two decades are now open.
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SUBMISSIONS on a controversial masterplan which aims to transform an inner-north neighbourhood over two decades are now open.
Public notification on the Albion Exchange masterplan is now open and the public can make submissions on the development application until May 28.
The development is a State Government initiative to create a transit oriented development (TOD) centred on Albion Railway Station.
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This development application, if approved, would set the parameters for all ten stages of the masterplan for the Albion Exchange.
It essentially sets out a new neighbourhood plan for the area, outlining the height limits, setbacks, landscaping and open space requirements Geon Property wants for precincts two, three and four.
There is a separate development application for precinct one, which includes 300 apartments, 3000 sqm of private recreation space, retail and roughly 5000 sqm of public plaza.
That precinct one development has already been through public notification and is being considered by Brisbane City Council for a decision.
RESIDENTS REACT TO CONTROVERSIAL PLAN
Cr David McLachlan (Hamilton) said there was “considerable concern” from the community about the masterplan, which he said was “well outside” the existing Brisbane City Plan.
“They’re all in character residential. So, this is a wall of big buildings they’d be looking at,” he said.
He said the land was acquired for transport purposes and should be used for public and active transport and accused the State Government of “privatising the land for profit”.
Marlene Evans of the No Super-Sized High Rise for Albion Action Group said the Brisbane City Council should “reject this application outright”.
She said the developer ignored “the many years of public consultation which resulted in the current Neighbourhood Plan which still successfully serves to benefit the community, to further their own commercial interests”.
Geon Property senior development manager Tim Rossberg said Geon Property had conducted “much greater” community consultation than that required by planning consultation.
“After extensive consultation with local businesses, residents and community groups, the approach for Albion Exchange was met with overall positive sentiment,” he said.
He said the proposed building heights had considered existing development approvals neighbourhood plan, and the current and future needs of the suburb.
He said the proposed building heights had considered existing development approvals neighbourhood plan, and the current and future needs of the suburb.
“Buildings closer to low rise residential housing will be lower rise, transitioning from two to eight storeys,” he said.
In response to accusations the development was privatising public land for profit he said: “The State Government engaged with the private sector in order to identify future uses for the land and Geon was selected as the successful tender based on the concept that Geon created”.
ALBION EXCHANGE MASTERPLAN NEW HEIGHT LIMITS
Under the Brisbane City Plan 2014 much of the 4ha development site is classed “special purpose” for the train line.
The bordering zoning to the west of precinct four includes district centre, high density and mixed residential and mixed use, and low to medium residential.
However, precinct two includes and is bordered by character residential.
The development application for the three other precincts asks for a 16 storey height limit in precinct two, at the corner of Albion Rd and McDonald Rd.
Precinct three, bordered by Mawarra St and the train line, would have an eight storey height limit and precinct four would have a 12 storey height limit.
The developer has also set out two “scenarios” for what would be built on each precinct, although the second and third precinct have the same layout in Scenario A and Scenario B.
Precinct two has one 16 storey tower with three storeys of podium parking, one storey simply labelled podium, and 11 storeys for commercial space.
Precinct three has four towers varying from five to eight storeys, with a total of 132 dwellings.
In Scenario A, precinct four has four towers varying from 8 to 12 storeys with 370 dwellings.
In Scenario B it has three towers that have commercial and residential space, varying from eight to twelve storeys, with 208 dwellings and 8800 sqm of commercial space.
— Search A005035465 on Brisbane PD Online
— Three precincts, with height limits ranging from eight storeys to 12 storeys
What do you think? Email editorial@citynorthnews.com.au
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