Mega Milton riverside unit project hangs in balance, heritage body to rule in April
The fate of the biggest unit project ever planned for the riverfront in an inner-city suburb hangs in the balance. “Heritage’’ views of one of the city’s oldest homesteads could decide if it goes ahead.
The fate of the biggest unit project ever proposed for the riverfront in inner-city Milton, the four-tower Kings Row development on Coronation Drive, hangs in the balance with a State Government heritage body now not due to make a decision until April.
The State Assessment and Referral Agency, which oversees heritage and other state matters, has raised concerns about protecting “heritage’’ views to Milton House.
The 1853 homestead is one of the five oldest colonial homes left in Brisbane.
Developer Shayher Alliance Pty Ltd, headed up by low-profile billionaire John Lin, restored the property to its former glory in 2022, just before lodging a development application (DA) for Kings Row.
Shayher has also asked for more time, lodging a request with Brisbane City Council three days before Christmas asking to “stop the clock’’.
Negotiations with Council and Shayher will now resume from March 1.
Shayher meanwhile agreed last week to a request from SARA to postpone its ruling until April 2.
SARA wrote to the developer late last year with concerns that the towers could block views of Milton House to — and from — the Brisbane River.
But town planners Urbis, for Shayher, said in the DA documents that the heritage code which protected the views had not been updated since 1992.
“It is also worth noting that there is no single location along the boundary of the site, on the northwestern side of Coronation Drive, where the views to Milton House are wholly unencumbered,’’ Urbis wrote.
“There are therefore many views of the house (and) there is no formal view corridor, as such, that is to be protected in terms of ... compliance with the Queensland Heritage Place State Code.’’
More than 120 public submissions have so far been lodged about the project, most objecting to its bulk, lack of green space, impacts on views and traffic.
Greens MP for Brisbane, Stephen Bates, has spearheaded community opposition to the project which he said was too tall, too large and lacking in sufficient green space, among other concerns.
However he was pleased Council officers late last raised a number of issues with Shayher, including the impact on views of Mt Coot-tha from the CBD.
“Milton has faced years of unsustainable and almost constant development and Kings Row is one of the last pieces of waterfront open space accessible to local residents,’’ Mr Bates said.
“Our community already has no substantial green space and a distinct lack of public infrastructure.
“We are in a floodprone area that experiences gridlocked traffic morning and night. This development would make these problems worse.
“In the two years since I got elected I’ve met with hundreds of residents about the impact overdevelopment has on them and their neighbourhoods.’’
The Greens have proposed a review of town planning laws if they won the balance of power at the March 16 Council election, including forcing developers to comply with planning rules.
But the $300 million-plus Kings Row project was touted by Shayher as a “landmark design which will shape the western approach to Milton and the Brisbane CBD’’.
It would include a riverfront public plaza, indoor sports facility, shops, units and retirement living spread across towers ranging from 30-37 storeys.
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’’.
“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 in the DA documents.
“Views to Mt Coot-tha will not be compromised by the proposal.’’
Shayher founder John Lin has made a huge mark on the Brisbane skyline with projects such as the Barracks urban renewal site in Bulimba, the W Hotel, a $250 million commercial hub next to Capalaba Central shopping Centre, a luxury housing estate at the old CSIRO site in Long Pocket and the Brisbane Quarter precinct.
The Kings Row project was impact assessable, meaning it could be appealed in the planning court. Shayher must inform neighbours.
More details on Council’s online DA portal developmenti. search for 50 McDougall St or application A006291436
