Two militant Qld unions turn to Brisbane property development side hustle

Two militant unions are taking a punt on property development, lodging plans for highrises at their Brisbane headquarters. And you can bet there will be no stop work action on these jobs.

Two of the state’s most militant unions have lodged plans for highrise towers at their Brisbane headquarters in deals likely to net them millions.

But both projects are also “rent to build’’ concepts aimed at young professionals and lower-paid workers struggling to find affordable medium-term to long-term rentals.

The Queensland branch of construction and mining union the CFMEU has lodged plans for a 30-level unit project at its Bowen Hills base, which it has occupied for a decade.

Late in 2020 it emerged that the union had acquired seven adjacent lots for $10.2 million on Campbell, Edgar and Hazlemount streets.

Render of how the Bowen Hills tower could look.

Its existing lowrise union office is often draped with political banners and was controversially raided by police several years ago.

The 29,000 sqm apartment building, designed by Nettletontribe Architects, would be a “build to rent’’ project in keeping with the union’s ideals.

Instead of selling individual units to occupiers or investors, build-to-rent schemes involved selling to a single entity which rented out units on a medium-term to long-term basis.

The Australian Federal Police raid the CFMEU office at Bowen Hills in 2015. The union successfully appealed against the legality of the raid. Picture: Adam Armstrong

The concept is gaining traction in Australia as the rental market tightens.

Over at Peel St in South Brisbane, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has lodged plans to build another 30-level build-to-rent unit tower.

It’s two-level building and a next-door house, as well as the old TLC (Trades and Labor Council) medium-rise tower, have been local landmark for decades.

They also often are covered in political banners.

The ETU has applied for a 358-unit tower, designed by Nettletontribe, with 77 studios, 154 one-bed apartments and 127 two-bed units.

Aerial view of the development site.

The Peel St site often sports political slogans.

There would be a four-level podium and rooftop communal area with pool to make up for limited green space for residents.

A traffic report conceded the 313 parking spaces was less than Council guidelines, but planners Urbis said as the site was so near public transport and the CBD many renters would not have cars.

Both projects were aimed at the more affordable end of the market.

“The upper two floors of the building provide high quality, functional communal open space, allowing all residents to enjoy sweeping scenic views of the city,” Urbis said.

Artist's impression of how the building would look.

It wrote that build-to-rent was ideal for the area, which had a lot of healthcare workers, students, hospitality workers and young professionals.

The ETU has owned the Peel St site since the 1980s and will move to new offices when the project begins.

The CFMEU development will have 377 units—53 studio, 92 one-bed, 104 two-bed and 25 three-bed — with ground-level retail.