Article: Luxury hotel a step closer for South Bank

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Luxury hotel a step closer for South Bank

Luxury hotel a step closer for South Bank
Georgina Robinson | June 27, 2008 - 11:40AM

The Queensland Government has given the nod for early works to start on a $650 million luxury hotel and residential development next to the South Bank railway station.

South Bank Corporation (SBC) needed government approval to amend its planning scheme so the 18 storey Southpoint project, which will include an arthouse cinema and 130-room hotel, could be formally proposed.

SBC chairman Steve Wilson said the government had approved its proposal to increase building heights from 12 to 18 storeys in some places following a public consultation period.

That essentially paves the way for the Southpoint project to proceed, subject to formal development application approval by the SBC board.

"This is an exciting and pivotal development for South Bank providing a precinct landmark at the important Vulture and Grey Street intersection," Mr Wilson said.

Developer Anthony John Group - the firm behind Fortitude Valley's Emporium project - will construct Southpoint next to the South Bank train station on the corner of Grey and Vulture Streets.

It will include restaurants and retail spaces as well as the hotel, cinema and 56 residential apartments.

A three-storey historic home dating from the 1890s will also be protected as part of the project, which will reach to 16 storeys on its northern end and 18 storeys on its southern end.

An SBC spokesperson said the planning scheme amendments had gone out to public consultation but the development application was not required to.

Demolition and excavation was due to begin in coming months.

[ButFli]

Whatever happened to that residential tower that was supposed to straddle the tracks in South Brisbane? Is this a modified version?