Rivermakers site reveals hidden gems as developers push ahead
The old Mobil Refinery site in Brisbane’s east has opened up a few hidden secrets as development progresses through the massive riverside precinct.
Southeast
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THE massive Rivermakers development has revealed a few hidden secrets to the Morningside site as BMI Group pushes ahead with future stages.
The next phase of development will re-open the century-old heritage-listed Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory to the public.
The impressive 1917 brick building was previously obscured by the two-storey coldrooms and smoke stores of the former Hans Primo smallgoods factory which operated at the site until 2012.
The lime factory was one of a handful of Commonwealth defence factories built during World War I and the site was later used as a migrant accommodation centre.
BMI Group development manager Michael Irvine said the building was now under restoration and would be transformed as part of the development’s Heritage Quarter.
“It has been hidden for so many years, the idea is to bring this back into the public realm and turn it into an industrial wholesalers’ precinct,” he said.
Rivermakers stretches over a 30ha site from 506 Lytton Rd back to the Brisbane River, including 250m of river frontage between Colmslie Recreation Reserve and Colmslie Beach Reserve.
Raptis Seafood occupies the frontage next to Colmslie Beach Reserve.
A future stage of the $250 million Rivermakers business park development currently before council is planned to deliver public access to the river.
“We’ll end up having a boulevard connecting up the two parks with a river cycle lane. That’s the ultimate goal,” Mr Irvine said.
“We’re in discussions with council looking at the best way to connect it all up.”
The plans for the Brisbane River frontage answers part of the puzzle raised by southside councillors Kara Cook (Morningside), Jonathan Sri (Woolloongabba) and Lisa Atwood (Doboy) earlier this month to improve public access along the southern banks of the river.
Redevelopment at the nearby Bulimba Barracks will be another major opportunity to open the river to public access.
The 30ha Rivermakers site consists of the former 27.5ha Mobil refinery and the 2.5ha Hans Primo site.
BMI Group has remediated the former Mobil refinery over the past three years with 150,000sqm of soil remediated.
The first stage to Lytton Rd, The Depot, now under construction, is 15% of the entire site.
The development will feature The Depot with main entry from Lytton Rd, the Business Park behind it and the Heritage Quarter.
The Depot consists of three buildings, each with a showroom, office and warehouse totalling 11,000sqm, and a Caltex service station with a fast food outlet at the centre of the site.
Construction started on The Depot in June last year and is expected to be completed by mid-March with tenants moving in late March.
The Depot is approved to open seven days a week and will supply goods and services to local businesses, builders and home renovators.
The first subdivision behind The Depot was completed late last year and is home to Bidfood headquarters, Comcater, Brisbane Brew Partners and Impact Labels. A development application for another 10 lots is due for approval this month.
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