What will Albion look like in 15 years? It’s time to have your say

THE first stage of a massive redevelopment of a busy train station in Brisbane’s inner-north is about to drop and the company behind it wants your input on the masterplan for the precinct. Here’s how you can have your say.

An artist's impression of the Albion train station redevelopment.

PLANS for the $750 million Albion train station revamp will soon be revealed.

Brisbane developers Geon Property, which will be delivering the State Government-designated Transport Orientated Development of the 4ha site, has been visiting community groups and residents to discuss the 15-year, 10-stage project.

A public consultation session will be held at the Windsor Bowls Club on September 15 at 9am-noon.

An artist's impression of the Albion train station redevelopment.

Information about the session states the company has finalised Stage One plans and will submit them to Brisbane City Council “in early September”.

“While the design of the masterplan is still evolving, Geon Property would like to ideas around potential new uses for the precinct,” the information states.

“The proposed $750 million Albion Train Station Precinct Redevelopment project is located just 4.5 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, and includes Albion’s train station precinct bordered by Mawarra St, and Albion and Hudson Rds.

MARCH 2018: Brisbane station to get stunning $750m upgrade

“Stage One is the largest stage, involving the development of two residential towers over a commercial and retail podium. This stage incorporates a 4900 sqm green, public plaza connecting Albion Rd, food and beverage tenancies, outdoor dining opportunities, health and wellbeing uses together with a $28.7 million upgrade to transport facilities and access to the Albion Train Station.

The project website states that it’s “a vibrant new heart for Albion”.

“Geon Property is excited to share our vision for a vibrant and revitalised Albion Train Station precinct. Our plans feature brand new connections through and around the rail station, including a new over-rail podium — a type of green bridge — connecting the area from Hudson Road with Albion Road and Mawarra Street.

“We will also develop new housing and lifestyle facilities including restaurants and bars, fitness studios and much more. We have begun speaking with our neighbours and the community about our plans.”

An artist's impression of the Albion train station redevelopment.

The company says the site will have:

10 stages delivered over 15 years

Encompassing about 4ha of land

Integration with the future North Brisbane Bikeway

Provision of social infrastructure

Facilities that support transport and employment nodes

Recreational activities that complement the transport-oriented setting

Use of transitional heights to protect residential neighbourhood

“While the design of the masterplan is still evolving, Geon Property would like to ideas around potential new uses for the precinct.”

The public consultation session will be on Saturday, September 15, 9am-noon, Windsor Bowls Club, 69 Blackmore St, Windsor.

Info: albionredevelopment.com.au

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Phone: [phone]

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Earlier this year, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said an agreement had been signed with Geon Property to revitalise the Albion site through a Transit Oriented Development (TOD).

In March, Mr Bailey said the 15-year, 3.5ha project would integrate Albion train station with nearby commercial and residential buildings and vacant land “to deliver an exciting community asset”.

General photographs of the Albion traffic area which is congested, Wednesday August 22, 2018. (AAP/Image Sarah Marshall)

Geon Property Managing Director Ben Griffin said the TOD would include a “seamless” mix of apartment living, retail, food and beverage outlets and public open spaces.

Mr Bailey said the Albion Train Station Precinct Redevelopment would also include an upgrade to transport facilities and access to the Albion train station intended to revitalise the suburb of Albion and surrounding community.

He said the project would complement planning currently underway by Queensland Rail for an accessibility upgrade of Albion train station in 2019.

He said that upgrade would include new platform access with lifts, raised platform sections providing improved assisted boarding points, and other accessibility features such as hearing aid loops, signage and tactile flooring surfaces.

“Construction on the accessibility upgrade is … expected to start in late 2019,” Mr Bailey said.

The developers will:

■ Design and construct a mixed-use TOD integrated with Albion Train Station and the wider area

■ Work with the state to design improved Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) compliant access to Albion Train Station and construct

■ Work with the state to optimise the design and location of commuter carparking (to ensure no net loss of park’n’ride numbers) and undertake construction of the necessary works

■ Integrate with a section of North Brisbane Bikeway through the precinct

After the March announcement, LNP Member for Clayfield Tim Nicholls called on the State Government to ­release more detail of the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) proposed for Albion. Mr Nicholls said there was a noticeable “lack of detail” around the plan and its impacts on residents.

“The issues are going to be in relation to carparking ­because the Albion area is already short of carparking,” Mr Nicholls said.

He said the plan also ­conflicted with the cutting of 42 rail services a day to the station.

“Buses are now being used and they’re clogging local streets,” he said.

“The first thing to do is to make sure your railway ­services are working ­properly.”

Mr Nicholls said he was also unsure whether Brisbane City Council or the State Government would ­approve plans, which he said would impact the say the community could have over the proposal.