The $3 billion development that will transform the Brisbane CBD will have its first completed stage of the project open to the public in under two years.
Destination Brisbane Consortium – led by The Star Entertainment Group in a joint venture with high-powered Hong Kong-based partners Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium – today revealed how a new water’s edge parkland and walkway will be delivered to the city, its residents and tourists by late 2019.
Multiplex has won the tender to create the Mangrove Walk and Waterline Park areas through a rejuvenation of the under-utilised area beneath the Riverside Expressway.
Located between the Goodwill Bridge and the 1 William Street government building, the upgrade will form part of the 12 football fields of public realm to be developed with the Queen’s Wharf precinct.
The Star Entertainment Group Managing Director and CEO, Matt Bekier, said the riverfront beautification project will bring the reality of the Queen’s Wharf project into focus well before its completion date.
The integrated resort development is expected to open in 2022.
“We are delighted the people of Brisbane will have an opportunity to enjoy this first stage of the development well before we open what will be the most spectacular integrated resort in Australia,” Mr Bekier said.
“Our commitment to Queensland, to driving tourism and significant additional economic benefits for this State, is unmatched.
“The levels of investment we are proposing for transformational projects in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast are proof points that we are prepared to support our talk with real dollars.”
Destination Brisbane Consortium Project Director Simon Crooks said the parkland and walkway will create high quality public spaces that will showcase the Brisbane River and provide outdoor experiences to help locals, domestic and international visitors enjoy Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate.
“Brisbane is a river city,” said Mr Crooks. “By creating these new scenic spaces, we are helping to unlock the riverfront. “This work will rejuvenate an underutilised part of Brisbane by connecting the city’s botanic gardens with the future precinct and bring people closer to the river.”
The works will create three features for the public to enjoy – the pedestrian Mangrove Walk, upgrading of the existing Bicentennial Bikeway, and new recreational space at Waterline Park.
“The Mangrove Walk will be a pedestrian-only walkway with boat house café facilities that will start at the base of the Goodwill bridge, run along and outside the mangroves, before connecting with the upgraded cycle and pedestrian path just behind 1 William Street,” said Mr Crooks.
“Waterline Park will be an oasis in the CBD that will provide active outdoor leisure and relaxation opportunities with some of the best views in Brisbane.
“With life in Brisbane having such a major focus on the outdoors, we will enhance these new public spaces by including recreational facilities like outdoor gym equipment, table tennis tables and the boatshed café along the river so that people enjoy active and healthy lifestyles in the heart of city.
“This is also part of our 6 Star Green Star Community rating that promotes activity and health within our precinct.”
Mr Crooks said the existing riverside bikeway will undergo significant upgrades.
“The Bicentennial Bikeway will be increased to a continuous three metre segregated bikeway throughout most of the precinct,” he added.
“We will remove hazardous narrow points along the bikeway and build a parallel pedestrian path that compliments the Mangrove Walk to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists.”
DBC is working closely with Multiplex, QUT, neighbouring landholders and traffic authorities to ensure impacts to road and bikeway users are kept to a minimum.
Construction planning will ensure access for city-cat terminal users, and cyclist and pedestrian travel continuity, are maintained during the works.
All construction details will be communicated publicly ahead of work starting.
To learn more about Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, visit www.queenswharfbrisbane.com.au and/or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/queenswharfbrisbane/.
