Three 50-level towers planned for former Hanson West End concrete site

Three massive unit towers and a huge riverfront public park have been proposed for an old West End concrete factory site as the area faces its biggest transformation in a century.

(Clockwise from left) Artist's impression of public parkland at the concrete factory site; the Visy glass factory which has been earmarked for Olympics infrastructure.

Three 50-level unit towers and a landmark riverfront public park have been proposed for an old West End concrete factory site as a huge chunk of the area is poised to transform ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Plans for a 620-unit project and 5400 sqm public park at the Heidelberg Materials Australia property on Montague Rd were submitted just before Christmas.

It came just weeks after a nearby 16.8ha riverfront block sold for $48.8m after its Chinese owners, R&F Property Australia, dropped plans for a seven-tower mega unit development.

Agents Savills said an interstate buyer beat off seven other bidders for the former industrial site, straddling Donkin and Buchanan streets.

It was not known what they were planning, but significant remediation would be needed before building could start on the vacant block.

Artist's impression of the proposed 5400 sqm public riverfront park.

How the three towers could look from ground level.

Town planners Urbis said 75 per cent of the Heidelberg concrete plant site, on Nott St, would be landscaped, although some of that would be on rooftops and facades.

The three-stage project also included a community meeting space and ground-floor retail outlets.

About 370 of the units would have three or four bedrooms and were aimed at owner-occupiers, rather than investors.

“South Brisbane, and specifically the Kurilpa Precinct, is undergoing significant change in response to Brisbane’s demand for housing supply, affordability and diversity in the inner-city areas,’’ Urbis said in the development application documents.

The Visy Glass recycling factory at West End is making way for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games international broadcast centre. Picture: David Clark

“The proposal comprises an integrated, subtropical, high-density mixed-use development.

“(It) goes above and beyond the usual offering for a residential building with a level of community and public benefit that is unprecedented for a development of this scale in Brisbane.’’

A flood report said habitable areas would be above the highest possible Brisbane River flood level, even taking into account climate change by the year 2100.

The Parmalat milk factory has been earmarked for Olympics infrastructure. Picture: David Clark

The two blocks are near the Visy glass factory, bought by the State Government 18 months ago for $165m for an Olympics media centre.

After the Games the 7.5ha property would become an extension of the South Bank Parklands, with Visy moving to a state-of-the-art plant in Logan.

The Parmalat milk factory was also earmarked for Olympics infrastructure.

Montague Rd, for decades an unappealing industrial area, is already well on the way to becoming one of Brisbane’s premier residential areas.

Aria Property Group has begun construction on a luxury $150m boutique unit project in the precinct, called Casamia, while Brisbane City Council has approved a two-tower project overlooking Davies Park proposed by Henroth Investments and Manly Properties.

The 16-level and 19-level towers would have 345 apartments and included a large public green space.

Originally published as Three 50-level towers planned for former Hanson West End concrete site