New Year To Bring Start Of Boggo Road Redevelopment
Published Wednesday, 12 December, 2007 at 11:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Work will begin in the new year to transform the Boggo Road Gaol site into a new, vibrant inner-city precinct, Premier Anna Bligh announced today.
Ms Bligh named Queensland-based Watpac Australia Pty Ltd as the preferred tenderer to oversee the $330 million redevelopment and said construction would begin in February 2008.
“The Boggo Road Gaol site has long been part of Brisbane’s historical landscape and today it moves another step closer to being part of the dynamic Smart City vision of the future,” Ms Bligh said.
“The redevelopment will unlock the potential of the inner-city site and transform it into a multi-use area incorporating residential, retail, commercial, research and recreational facilities, while retaining the historic significance of the site.
“It will deliver up to 500 residential units – including studio, one, two and three bedroom accommodation – with a 25 percent of these being affordable housing.
“Our goal with Dutton Park is to build on the success of the award-winning Kelvin Grove Urban Village to providing a livable, connected and sustainable community with affordable housing and unprecedented access to public transport.
“Infrastructure works will include the creation of new roads, footpaths, bicycle paths, public paths, a boulevard and the provision of extensive services such as sewage, water, gas and electricity for future residential, retail, commercial and recreational facilities,” she said.
Ms Bligh said the project would be a landmark development, bringing significant benefits to the local and wider community.
“This investment will deliver an enormous amount of benefit to the Dutton Park community, including better public transport options, pedestrian and cycle ways and green space.
“It will also mean more employment opportunities – with restaurants, cafes, retail and health and leisure facilities all a part of this redevelopment.
Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten said Watpac was selected to carry out the work after a select tender process, led by the Department of Public Works, involving Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd, Laing O'Rourke Australia Construction Pty Ltd and Watpac.
“The Boggo Road Urban Village Development Application was approved by the Brisbane City Council in late November subject to a range of conditions, including a requirement that 25 percent of all residential dwellings be for affordable housing,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Infrastructure works are expected to be completed in 2009 and will be followed by the sale of selected residential and mixed-use sites to the private sector for development.
“We expect private and public housing to be completed by 2011, however we will work to fast track the construction phase wherever possible.
“We will now work closely with Watpac to create an environmentally responsible, energy efficient and vibrant community hub and will ensure the Dutton Park community is fully informed of progress throughout,” he said.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said a key element of the redevelopment of the Dutton Park site would be the building of Australia’s first dedicated Ecosciences Precinct, due for completion in 2010.
“The Ecosciences Precinct at Dutton Park will bring together some 1000 research staff from across the CSIRO and the Queensland Government to address some of the country’s and indeed the world’s biggest environmental issues – climate change, water, and balancing industrial development with environmental sustainability,” she said.
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office),
3237 1184 (Minister Schwarten’s office)
3225 1005 (Minister Boyle’s office)
Ms Bligh named Queensland-based Watpac Australia Pty Ltd as the preferred tenderer to oversee the $330 million redevelopment and said construction would begin in February 2008.
“The Boggo Road Gaol site has long been part of Brisbane’s historical landscape and today it moves another step closer to being part of the dynamic Smart City vision of the future,” Ms Bligh said.
“The redevelopment will unlock the potential of the inner-city site and transform it into a multi-use area incorporating residential, retail, commercial, research and recreational facilities, while retaining the historic significance of the site.
“It will deliver up to 500 residential units – including studio, one, two and three bedroom accommodation – with a 25 percent of these being affordable housing.
“Our goal with Dutton Park is to build on the success of the award-winning Kelvin Grove Urban Village to providing a livable, connected and sustainable community with affordable housing and unprecedented access to public transport.
“Infrastructure works will include the creation of new roads, footpaths, bicycle paths, public paths, a boulevard and the provision of extensive services such as sewage, water, gas and electricity for future residential, retail, commercial and recreational facilities,” she said.
Ms Bligh said the project would be a landmark development, bringing significant benefits to the local and wider community.
“This investment will deliver an enormous amount of benefit to the Dutton Park community, including better public transport options, pedestrian and cycle ways and green space.
“It will also mean more employment opportunities – with restaurants, cafes, retail and health and leisure facilities all a part of this redevelopment.
Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten said Watpac was selected to carry out the work after a select tender process, led by the Department of Public Works, involving Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd, Laing O'Rourke Australia Construction Pty Ltd and Watpac.
“The Boggo Road Urban Village Development Application was approved by the Brisbane City Council in late November subject to a range of conditions, including a requirement that 25 percent of all residential dwellings be for affordable housing,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Infrastructure works are expected to be completed in 2009 and will be followed by the sale of selected residential and mixed-use sites to the private sector for development.
“We expect private and public housing to be completed by 2011, however we will work to fast track the construction phase wherever possible.
“We will now work closely with Watpac to create an environmentally responsible, energy efficient and vibrant community hub and will ensure the Dutton Park community is fully informed of progress throughout,” he said.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said a key element of the redevelopment of the Dutton Park site would be the building of Australia’s first dedicated Ecosciences Precinct, due for completion in 2010.
“The Ecosciences Precinct at Dutton Park will bring together some 1000 research staff from across the CSIRO and the Queensland Government to address some of the country’s and indeed the world’s biggest environmental issues – climate change, water, and balancing industrial development with environmental sustainability,” she said.
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office),
3237 1184 (Minister Schwarten’s office)
3225 1005 (Minister Boyle’s office)