Billionaire developer John Lin’s Shayher Group under fire over westside’s biggest project
Opposition is growing to a billionaire developer’s $300 million masterplan for what could be the biggest unit project ever in the city’s inner west. SEE THE PLANS
Opposition is growing to a billionaire developer’s $300 million masterplan for what could be the biggest unit project ever in Brisbane’s inner west.
There are now 100-plus objections to Shayher Group’s Milton Green proposal, overlooking the Brisbane River and next to one of the 10 oldest homesteads in the city.
Council recently wrote to town planners acting for Shayher about its plans for four towers at the site, lodged in June for a huge block fronting McDougall St and Coronation Drive.
There were now also more than 100 formal public submissions, although how many were sparked by a Greens MP’s letter-writing campaign was not clear.
The $300 million-plus project, touted as a “landmark design which will shape the western approach to Milton and the Brisbane CBD’’, would include a riverfront public plaza, indoor sports facility, shops, units and retirement living spread across towers ranging from 30-37 storeys.
Shayher founder John Lin has made a huge mark already on the Brisbane skyline with projects such as the Barracks urban renewal project in Bulimba, the W Hotel, a $250 million commercial hub next to Capalaba Central shopping Centre, a luxe housing estate at the old CSIRO site in Long Pocket and the Brisbane Quarter precinct.
Town planners Urbis said in a “material change of use’’ (rezoning) application to Council that the project would for the first time in decades unlock river views to heritage-listed Milton House, which Shayher recently restored to its former glory.
The 1853-era homestead built by pioneering chemist and cotton grower Ambrose Eldridge, one of the 10 oldest houses left in Brisbane, sits on part of the 14,780 sqm property.
A key aspect of the proposal was opening up 5000 sqm of the site to public green space.
A preliminary Council approval dating back to 2012, for 20 storeys, was current until 2026.
Shayher had asked for a maximum of 40 storeys, but reduced that to 36 after Council’s planners said at a pre-lodgement meeting that it was “ambitious’’.
Council officers wrote to Shayher asking for more information on the impact on skyline views and views to Milton House.
“It is acknowledged that the subject site has a current development approval which enables a maximum building height of 20 storeys,’’ they said.
“Notwithstanding this, the proposed towers, varying in height from 30 to 37 storeys, will make a significant visual impact on Brisbane’s urban skyline.
“Their prominence will be noticeable from various key vantage points, including the Kurilpa precinct and South Brisbane.
“Additionally, the development may impact long-range views to the north-west, compromising the significant mountainous vista of Mt Coot-tha.’’
They also said that while removal of the 20-level building in the north-western corner of the site created a more suitable setting for Milton House and views through to the western ranges, the proposed four taller buildings had the potential to “conflict with a sensitive and respectful interface with state heritage places at Milton House and (nearby) Cook Terrace’’.
“Both the landscaping and terracing have the potential to obscure views of Milton House from Coronation Drive.’’
But Urbis said the development would be entirely visible only from Riverside South and West End Riverside.
“The development will only be partially visible from Kurilpa Bridge, North Quay Bikeway and Highgate Hill Park, however in the context of surrounding policy compliant and future assumed development, the proposal will complement the overall changes expected to the Brisbane skyline,’’ Urbis wrote.
“Views to Mt Coot-tha will not be compromised by the proposal.’’
Urbis said Brisbane’s skyline was expected to change significantly in the coming decade.
A controversial State Government decision earlier this year to approve a Council rezoning at South Brisbane, allowing 90 storeys in a flood zone along the river, would however block views from the CBD to Mt Coot-tha.
“Through its location within the suburb of Milton, its location in the context of adjoining sites, its exceptional design and the vast public benefits brought to the area, the proposed density at both suburb and site scale is appropriate,’’ Urbis said.
“Kings Row will unlock a key inner-city landholding and deliver on a vision for a world class architectural and landscape design for the site.’’
Daniel Bairstow, one of the 100-plus people to lodge submissions, said Kings Row was “inconsistent with the neighbourhood plan, incompatible with community expectations and will have a negative impact on the surrounding neighbourhood’’.
The Kings Row DA proposes a 1500 sqm lawn along Coronation Drive as grounds to build four highrise towers, up to 32 stories above the current height limit for the site, bringing an estimated additional 1670 residents and 1419 cars to the precinct,’’ he wrote.
“According to the Brisbane City Council’s own desired standard of service, for every 1,000 residents there should be 1.5ha of green space.
“Therefore, this represents 10 per cent of the Council’s own expectations of green space, without even taking into account the thousands of residents who have already been brought to the neighbourhood in other nearby developments.
“Milton residents need functional, accessible, open green space, not a tiny lawn facing a major arterial road that will offer no amenity.’’
Local federal Greens MP, Stephen Bates, has organised a letter-writing campaign and community campaign in response to the masterplan.
“This proposal fails to include any provision for affordable housing, but does include at least four storeys of short-term accommodation,’’ Mr Bates said.
“We do not need any more AirBNBs and riverfront luxury apartments.
“We are in a housing crisis, we need more genuinely affordable housing, which is why the Greens are calling for 20 per cent inclusionary zoning for all new developments to ensure supply of public and community housing.’’
Mr Bates said Coronation Drive and surrounds already experienced heavy traffic congestion and a lack of street parking.
“There have been serious doubts raised about the developers assessment that their proposal would only add 217 trips per hour during morning peak times and 404 trips per hour during afternoon peak times, when the developer is building 1419 car parks,’’ he claimed.
