QUEENSLAND
Destination Brisbane Consortium has finally taken possession of the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development site to begin demolition and enabling works on its $3 billion world-class integrated resort.
For the next several years, the consortium will transform the historic yet underutilised Queen’s Wharf Brisbane CBD site into a vibrant tourism and entertainment destination set to be the envy of other Australian states.
The developer, Destination Brisbane Consortium, is a joint venture between lead partner The Star Entertainment Group and its two Hong Kong-based partners, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium.
The Star Entertainment Group CEO and Managing Director, Matt Bekier, said it marked a fresh beginning for Brisbane and an exciting future for the Queensland economy.
“Today marks a new year, new changes to our CBD streets, and a new facelift for Brisbane as the city begins its long-anticipated transformation,” Mr Bekier said.
“With an expected opening in 2022, this development will put Brisbane on the map as a tourism, leisure, and entertainment destination, attracting an extra 1.39 million visitors to the city each year.
“In the interim, we know it will be a long and complex build and we want to thank the people of Brisbane in advance for their patience as our consortium begins the demolition and enabling works and will continue to keep them regularly informed.”
Destination Brisbane Consortium Project Director Simon Crooks said the hand-over represented a significant milestone for the project team.
“Last year, we worked on our detailed design and planning and now we can finally take over the site, with the first step involving our demolition and enabling works contractor safely hoarding the site,” Mr Crooks said.
“We have been and will continue to work closely with the state government, Brisbane City Council, and TransLink to manage any impacts on motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
“Meanwhile, we are committed to keeping the community well-informed during construction and our recently refreshed website now allows users to subscribe to receive free regular updates.”
As part of the demolition and enabling works, Mr Crooks said people will initially see the contractor secure the site for safety with mesh fencing that will then be replaced with permanent timber hoarding, which will remain throughout construction.
“The hoarding will be followed by the gradual safe demolition of the three non-heritage buildings, located at 80 George St, 100 George St, and the Neville Bonner building at 75 William St,” Mr Crooks said.
“The demolition of each building will take place brick by brick, floor by floor as the safety of workers, motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and the surrounding heritage buildings will be of the highest importance.
“All nine heritage buildings and two heritage parks will remain in our development, and be beautifully restored and repurposed into a range of cultural, retail, dining, hotel entertainment, and tourist attraction spaces.”
Mr Bekier said the economic benefits of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane will be significant to Queensland, including 2000 jobs at peak construction in 2020/21, and 8000 jobs once open and fully operational.
“More than a year ago, our consortium entered into contractual agreements with the state government in which it committed to some very clear priorities to use contractors that support local jobs; local training and apprenticeships; Indigenous participation; local suppliers; and to enforce the highest level of health and safety standards for its people,” Mr Bekier said.
“Further, the state government has a rigorous oversight process in place to monitor compliance of these commitments. Quite simply, our consortium’s focus is on jobs for Queenslanders and working with organisations who share that vision.”
Project timeline
The development will take the most part of seven years, however the main resort is slated to open in 2022.
Key facts
- Two CBD roads closed from 1 January 2017 to enable the project’s safe construction: a section of William Street, from Elizabeth to Margaret streets, during the build; and Queens Wharf Road permanently.
- Appointed early works contractor, Probuild, will erect the hoarding for safety, before removing three non-heritage buildings in the precinct – expected to take up to 12 months to complete.
- The demolition and enabling works will be followed by the main construction works, which is expected to begin in late 2018/19 once excavation of the foundations, basements and underground car parks is complete.
- The Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development will extend from the current Treasury Casino building at the top of Queen Street Mall to Alice Street, and from the Brisbane River’s edge to George Street.
- The Queen’s Wharf Brisbane integrated resort development contains:
- world-class gaming facilities, comprising less than five per cent of the development
- 1000 additional new premium hotel rooms
- 50 new bars and restaurants, plus significant new retail space
- restored and repurposed heritage buildings and places
- the equivalent of 12 football fields of public space
- a free and accessible Sky Deck 100m above William St
- 2000 apartments
- a new pedestrian bridge to South Bank.
Want to know what it will look like? Click here to read more about the Queen’s Wharf Design.
Impact on local retail businesses
Once completed, the Queen’s Wharf development should attract a substantial increase in domestic and international tourists, as well as local consumers seeking high-end, experiential shopping. As well as retail spaces within the main resort development, the project also plans to convert the current Treasury casino heritage building into a high-end shopping complex, similar to the iconic Queen Victoria Building in Sydney, creating a premium shopping destination.
During the seven-year build, however, traffic and transport routes will no doubt be affected. If managed poorly, these interruptions could deter consumers from travelling in to Brisbane city, and could negatively affect metro-based retail businesses.
The consortium has published a Traffic & Transport Factsheet with maps showing the changed routes to traffic and pedestrian routes.
Find out more
To stay informed about traffic conditions and changes during construction, visit www.131940.qld.gov.au or call 13 19 40.
For more about Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, visit www.queenswharfbrisbane.com.au.