Article: Public transport on your doorstep

[Derwan]

From Brisbane Times.

Do you want to live on top of Milton train station?

After a Brisbane City Council meeting this morning, you may well get your chance.

A special meeting of Brisbane City Council's Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment committee is likely to give the OK to a 32-level development that includes residential units, commercial units and a hotel.

The development is called FKP's Union @ Milton.

Development Assessment committee chair Amanda Cooper said the proposal will be one of Brisbane's first Transit Orientated Developments (TOD).

"This mixed-use development is close to the Brisbane CBD and places public transport on the doorstep of future residents, hotel patrons, and workers," Cr Cooper said.

She said the two-tower project proposal incorporated office space, hotel rooms, residential and commercial activities and an upgrade to Milton station.

"TODs are playing an increasingly important role as we plan for our city, in ensuring we reduce the impact of private vehicles on the inner city," she said.

Amendments to the original plan were recommended about a month ago and the new plans is set to be decided this morning.

Earlier this year, the brisbanetimes.com.au reported that the residential population in the precinct could double to nearly 4000 if the proposed 30-storey residential tower is built.

And as many as 2800 workers could fill the proposed 10- or 20-storey office buildings taking Milton's employee population to more than 20,000.

The last Transit Orientated Development approved in Brisbane was the 18-level Valley Metro above the Brunswick Street rail station.

...

[ozbob]

Lets hope the train frequency is ramped up by then ...

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail click here!

Green light for high rise built over Milton station

Green light for high rise built over Milton station
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Alison Sandy

September 16, 2008 12:08pm

A 30-storey highrise with 210 units, hotel, and a 10 storey office tower over Milton railway station will be built within the next three years after receiving the greenlight from Brisbane City Council.
The council's neighbourhood planning committee voted unanimously to approve a development application for the $330 million project, subject to conditions, such as a station upgrade and a public concourse.

It also provided for developer FKP to pay almost $10 million in infrastructure charges.

FKP Queensland general manager Matthew Miller welcomed the decision saying the development had been about five years in the making.

"It's pretty complicated building over a railway line," he said.

"It's really the future for the city I think."

FKP is also building another transit oriented development at Albion, which was approved by the council in April.

Mr Miller said so far 120 of the 140 units averaging about $650,000 each had been sold.

Neighbourhood Planning chairwoman Amanda Cooper said there were a number of issues that needed to be handled such as the environmental impact from the brewery, heritage and traffic.

"They've dealt with all of the air quality issues (and) the heritage impact on the building," she said.

"I think what's happening is people are accepting that we're going to have some growth and if it's done properly - with design excellence, community benefit, sustainability features - than that is acceptable in appropriate locations."

Cr Cooper said another condition was for FKP to ensure construction did not impede traffic on Milton Rd during the construction phase, and predicted that upon completion, the impact to traffic would still be minimal.

"It's basically designed for residents to have their cars for the weekend and have public transport during the week," she said.

Labor spokesperson Milton Dick said developments such as these should be resolved much quicker in future.

"Council needs to ensure these developments are delivered in a more timely manner," he said.

[O_128]

are there not plans for a development like this over southbank station aswell?

[stephenk]

Lets hope the train frequency is ramped up by then ...

Absolutely, there is no point having public transport on your doorstep if you can't get onto a train because it's full!

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Skyscraper to be built over Milton Rd

Skyscraper to be built over Milton Rd
Tony Moore | September 17, 2008 - 5:51AM

More than 330 car parks will be provided as part of a futuristic hotel, residential units and office block complex that will be built over Milton train station.

Of the 337 car spaces built in the complex, 242 have been set aside for residents living in the residential tower.

Meanwhile compromise appears to have been reached with the Fourex Brewery about how the development will impact on the heritage-listed brewery and its famous ?Mr Fourex? sign.

The project, pictured here, includes a 30-storey residential complex, a 10-storey office tower, a motel with 127 rooms, a tavern, retail and commercial space.

Called ?Union @ Milton?, it will be built over the Milton train station in the block of land running between Milton Road and Railway Terrace, opposite the Fourex Brewery on Milton Road.

The massive skyscraper does not fit in with the guidelines set down by the Milton local plan which shows the area should support low-rise office accommodation.

However, the location ? over a rail station ? fits with state planning guidelines to encourage residential development in areas that maximise public transport.

Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment committee chair Cr Amanda Cooper said the local road network would be able to cope.

She said no construction work is allowed to impact on Milton Road during the project.

Although, she said there could be some minor changes to the street network on the Coronation Drive side of the rail line.

?There will be some changes as part of the Milton Precinct Plan though,? Cr Cooper said.

?But (the project) is basically designed for residents to have their cars for the weekend and then they can catch public transport during the week,? she said.

?So that is part of what we are trying to achieve, that not everyone is on the road at the same time.?

Developers FKP Commercial Developments Pty Ltd must pay a $9.1 million infrastructure charge within the next 12 months for the project to start.

Escalators will be built to bring people in from Railway Terrace up to the train station level.

Fourex Brewery across Milton Road has raised their concerns at how the project contrasts strongly with the heritage presentation of their iconic Brisbane brewery.

The plans have been revised to take in the concerns of the brewery, Cr Cooper said.

?I think the brewery has concerns at the impact it will make on them and their ongoing use,? Cr Cooper said.

?It is something that we will continue to be aware of, but we can?t stop development,? she said.

?As long as they (the developers) deal with all those issues themselves, then we can?t prohibit development.?

This includes noise, air-conditioning, air quality and heritage impacts, she said.

An upgrade of Milton train station is being funded by Queensland Rail as part of the project, however no details are available at this time.