TODs (Transit Oriented Developments)

[Gazza]

Im all for increasing density in Brisbane, but it has to be done properly for it to be acceptable, sustainable and livable.

[Old Northern Road]

There are far more appropriate places for TODs before worrying about Sunshine and Hemmant (Northgate and Coorparoo in particular)

[HappyTrainGuy]

If someone wants to build TOD at Hemmant, Sunshine or Rocklea, let them do it. Would require some industry to move out, then very well.

And that's what's annoying me. You just say "oh well, some industries have to move out. No big deal". When that's a huge bloody big deal. All these places you have made reference to in Brisbane was when these industries we're in the dying stages or when the whole area had been left in a sh%t state. Like the whole gasworks area. The railway line spur was still there in the early 2000's before the land was sold off and that now random apartment complex built in its place. The roundabout with the tracks in the middle is long gone. Then came the 5m pit/swimming pool at the gasworks when some legal battle came up. Many of these industrial buildings you speak of had no businesses running from them, used as storage or were small businesses. A couple buildings burnt down. Then the gasworks which everyone knew was coming closed down pretty sure back in 95? where it just sat idle for something like 13 years before the proposed redevelopment started. Around the same time as the Gasworks closing down the Woolstores conversion really took off. Many of the buildings in this area were old buildings constructed during the war as the Americans set up a naval base here. Pretty sure you can still find a couple aircraft hangers randomly placed if they haven't been demolished yet. The one next to the servo on Commercial road might still be there. As the city expansion got down towards here the developers were just throwing money at these people who took it and ran. Some held on and then sold the land for even more once the area was in full swing. 

Remember the whole redevelopment didn't happen in a few years. It was a long time coming. You can turn Sunshine into a TOD but there are no guarantees that there will be an IGA, Woolies, Aldi or Coles there mainly because you still have a major industrial area on the other side of the tracks and you would still be in favor of a car dependent occupants.

If you apply your mentality to industrial properties why not go to town on single dwelling residences around other train stations such as Carseldine, Zillmere, Geebung, Bray Park, Lawnton, Petrie, Northgate, Virginia, Toombul, Nundah, Eagle Junction, Albion, Wooloowin etc etc because there are other stations and areas with a far better potential for a sustainable tod than a place like Sunshine.

[#Metro]

Remember the whole redevelopment didn't happen in a few years. It was a long time coming. You can turn Sunshine into a TOD but there are no guarantees that there will be an IGA, Woolies, Aldi or Coles there mainly because you still have a major industrial area on the other side of the tracks and you would still be in favor of a car dependent occupants.

I agree there is industrial on the other side of the tracks. But have you considered that Portside Hamilton is in the same position? They have shopping centre, restaurants and luxury residences a stones throw from dead industrial buildings.

DFO Brisbane Airport has a Woolworths - despite no residences within the DFO precinct. How do you explain that?

NIMBYism and 'can't do' has become so entrenched it is the normal. If there are enough people, there will be demand, at least for the larger TODs.

For smaller TODs, there might not be, but I do not believe that should be a reason to ban it. After all, people in single-family homes are already living near all of these stations. I don't see anyone forcing them to relocate on exactly the same grounds - by declaring their single-family house 'unacceptable', 'unsustainable' or due to the risk that 'they might buy or drive a car'.

Just imagine that for a moment - someone from council knocks on your door and says, "Sorry Sir/Madam, we are resuming your house because it is unsustainable, unacceptable, you might buy a car, there isn't a shop nearby and we think you are to stupid to make the right choices."

If someone like that had to move, where would they live? Probably not near a train station, and thus their reliance on the car would be even more.

To some (small) extent, some TODification is happening around stations but I suspect these are limited by heights. Example Enoggera. No stores etc included here because it is too small scale to support that. Should these two developments have been banned?

Villas near Enoggera Station https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27.4209839,152.9918311,3a,75y,180.8h,77.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAu3W1BlMDRv_wLtDfGx2fA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Townhouses backing on to Enoggera Station
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27.4211949,152.9924947,3a,75y,17.03h,82.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siiaa7jVEeKZAWgapQY-9YQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

If you apply your mentality to industrial properties why not go to town on single dwelling residences around other train stations such as Carseldine, Zillmere, Geebung, Bray Park, Lawnton, Petrie, Northgate, Virginia, Toombul, Nundah, Eagle Junction, Albion, Wooloowin etc etc because there are other stations and areas with a far better potential for a sustainable tod than a place like Sunshine.

Why not? Let's see TOD zoning around all of these stations.

The only reason we are discussing Sunshine is because another poster put it up as an example of areas that should not have TOD. I would agree with you here - let the zoning around all rail stations relax, and then the market can go around and test which ones it is most interested in. Not every station will be developed, even if the opportunity is there.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Sunshine is not in the same solar system as what Portside is. Once again I still don't know why you constantly.... constantly keep bringing up these flawed examples of what could happen. It will never happen or be even remotely similar. They are two.... two very very different areas.

Woolies at DFO..... As someone that does shift work I can very easily tell you why.
1. There is a large work force out there that have very different alternating shifts. For example some airport staff might do the morning shift, head home for 4-6 hours and then go back for the arvo/night shift. Other staff might not knock off until 11pm or 3am. As soon as you start all these different shift work and your body adjusts to it you just don't have the same time and energy to get to the shops at other times. Ask anyone that does shift work and see what they would say if they had access to a 24hr grocery store. Have you ever been so flat out for 1 day that you just haven't had the time to get to the shops? That's what shift work is like but instead of being just a day that's your life.
2. There are lots of people that fly in and out at all times of the day. Some returning from trips at whatever time can simply stop in and grab a few groceries on their way through.
3. Its federal land. They don't have to abide by the same rules that apply elsewhere in Queensland ie opening hours are 24hrs a day/7 days a week.
4. The major airport hotel is physically across the street. You simply walk out of Woolies and cross the road to the Novatel hotel. If one is having a stop over you can simply hop on the airport shuttle bus and it takes you directly to the hotel. Throw your stuff in the room, go for a look at the shops and grab some food in the process.

You are describing a Bowen Hills expressway repeat all over again. If you are too young to know what happened then give it a quick google. I'm sure someone would have done a write up about it. with a few before and after photos.

It's as if you are in your own little bubble and you only see what you want to see backing it up with other similar areas on paper but in reality its by far from the truth or from what's even possible. You didn't even know that there was a qr mtce facility let alone 3 or 4 different qr depots near Sunshine because it wasn't marked on a map that you looked at. And you keep referring to areas that have become a success story of what can happen but many of these areas simply came about as a result of the rich trendy people, multi use areas such as the eat street markets and a passenger shipping terminal that and Brisbane expanding. And all these places like restaurants, cafes, shopping villages and grocery stores....... they do not exist anywhere near Sunshine... and many stations for that fact. And plus portside is enclosed in its own community. It doesn't see much of the industrial or traffic effects besides ksd.

[#Metro]

Sunshine is not in the same solar system as what Portside is. Once again I still don't know why you constantly.... constantly keep bringing up these flawed examples of what could happen. It will never happen or be even remotely similar. They are two.... two very very different areas.

Sure.

Once again, the only reason why we are discussing Sunshine (or any other 'brownfield' places around rail stations) is because someone else brought that up. If a TOD around Sunshine never gets built, it won't be a loss for me. It is true there are other areas where the market might be more interested - Taringa for example.

Woolies at DFO..... As someone that does shift work I can very easily tell you why.
1. There is a large work force out there that have very different alternating shifts. For example some airport staff might do the morning shift, head home for 4-6 hours and then go back for the arvo/night shift. Other staff might not knock off until 11pm or 3am. As soon as you start all these different shift work and your body adjusts to it you just don't have the same time and energy to get to the shops at other times. Ask anyone that does shift work and see what they would say if they had access to a 24hr grocery store. Have you ever been so flat out for 1 day that you just haven't had the time to get to the shops? That's what shift work is like but instead of being just a day that's your life.
2. There are lots of people that fly in and out at all times of the day. Some returning from trips at whatever time can simply stop in and grab a few groceries on their way through.
3. Its federal land. They don't have to abide by the same rules that apply elsewhere in Queensland ie opening hours are 24hrs a day/7 days a week.
4. The major airport hotel is physically across the street. You simply walk out of Woolies and cross the road to the Novatel hotel. If one is having a stop over you can simply hop on the airport shuttle bus and it takes you directly to the hotel. Throw your stuff in the room, go for a look at the shops and grab some food in the process.

This is a great explanation. But it boils down to two things: (1) Because there is demand, and (2) because by a legal quirk, the rules allow it.

The rules need to allow TODification around as many QR stations etc as possible.

I'm not sure the same thing could have occured under BCC rules. Perhaps they would be like: "Oh, let's just put a big exclusion zone around a noisy airport and nobody can do anything within 1km of that." Well intentioned, but with unintended effects.

For the large TODs it is not an issue whether they are regulated into providing shops etc, as they would provide some anyway. Adding rules forcing that is like regulating that homes have front doors - it makes no difference as it would go in anyway. But for the smaller 'MicroTODs', the ones where there may not be a large land parcel, this may very well not be the case.

Have you looked at the links I have posted around Enoggera Station?

Townhouses backing on to Enoggera Station
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27.4211949,152.9924947,3a,75y,17.03h,82.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siiaa7jVEeKZAWgapQY-9YQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Should the developer there have been forced to provide a Woolworths, or failing that, just have their application blocked?

A big developer could provide one. But for a small or individual one, no chance. There would be a single family home on that lot, and a lot of people would have to look elsewhere, likely not near a train station.

And you keep referring to areas that have become a success story of what can happen but many of these areas simply came about as a result of the rich trendy people, multi use areas such as the eat street markets and a passenger shipping terminal that and Brisbane expanding.

The existing TODs are unaffordable, luxury boutique proposals. Very few people have $690 000 to buy something at The Milton, for example. There needs to be TODs further out in the suburbs where they can be more affordable to middle income, lower income people and first home buyers.

And plus portside is enclosed in its own community. It doesn't see much of the industrial or traffic effects besides ksd.

That is a gigantic qualification there.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Portside also has the highest percentage of soccer mums that drive their kids to Ascot 

I really can not be bothered wasting my time and effort. A tod around Sunshine or similar stations is never going to happen or be somewhat effective as you are making them potentially be so we might as well end it there.

[Derwan]

DFO Brisbane Airport has a Woolworths - despite no residences within the DFO precinct. How do you explain that?

24-hour trading. 

[ozbob]

At Enoggera
More enlightened thinking in 1981 pic.twitter.com/gUPtlnKkXo

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) October 4, 2016

[ozbob]

Interesting document from 2010

Transit oriented development guide

Queensland Government

>> https://t.co/KHrSUIh1pi  PDF

[ozbob]

" It was also revealed a Transit Oriented Development at the Ferny Grove train station would allow for an extra 250 car parks, adding to the 900 already available. "

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-public-transport-new-fare-structure-arrives-early-20161215-gtbohz.html

[aldonius]

I can only assume that means a partial-multistorey.

[OzGamer]

Isn't adding more Park n Ride spaces the opposite of a TOD? Please don't let TOD become one of the devalued terms that means what ever a politician wants it to mean.

[ozbob]

I have requested clarification on what is actually proposed at Ferny Grove ...  I suspect a TOD with 250 car park spaces ... 

Wait and see ..

[#Metro]

I have requested clarification on what is actually proposed at Ferny Grove ...  I suspect a TOD with 250 car park spaces ...

\

They are really in love with the mandatory parking spaces thing.

There should be no mandate.

The whole idea of a TOD is that you have reduced, or no, car parking.

How much is a decision that should be left to the developer.

[ozbob]

It seems there will be a TOD and the 250 parking spaces mentioned will be added to the existing 900 park and ride spaces.

Seems to be part of the deal.  Not much else available at present publicly.  Will search around when time permits.

[newbris]

FWIW, there is this tender from 2 years ago suggesting a mixed used development:


FERNY GROVE STATION PRECINCT - TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT(CLOSED TENDER)

Closing date:   14-02-2014(closed)

Description:   
The State seeks the involvement of the private sector in the planning, design and delivery of a mixed use Transir Oriented Development (TOD) outcome on the Site consistent with the Suburban TOD classification in the TOD Guide and aligns with the intent of the Local Plan.

This presents an opportunity for organisations with experience in the development of medium to large-scale mixed use developments and construction of transport infrastructure to:

* Design and develop a mixed use development on the Site that supports the public transport facilities
* work with the State to jointly optimise the design of the commuter car parking
* construct/reinstate the necessary commuter car parks to ensure no net loss of park 'n' ride capacity


Source: https://www.australiantenders.com.au/tenders/172419/ferny-grove-station-precinct-transit-oriented-development/#.WFKFv3d7FPM

[Derwan]

I think that having the extra parking is a win-win.

Sure - we should be reducing car-dependence in (or close to) the city.  But we're talking about the end of a train line here.  We're talking a very large catchment area.

The residents of the TOD will likely have at least one car per household.  Where will they park if there isn't enough space for resident cars?  Oh - the train station has plenty of parking!  Do we want to spend taxpayers money policing that?  (Of course - Go Card entry would solve this - but the politicians don't seem interested in this idea.)

People from further out than Ferny Grove will likely drive.  If there aren't enough parking spaces at Ferny Grove, they will drive further towards the city - or all the way.

I think we need to be sensible on TODs.  Not every TOD is the same.

[SurfRail]

I know a few things about this project but can't share.

It will be interesting to see it unfold.

[OzGamer]

I agree that Ferny Grove is one of the stations that it makes a lot of sense to have a lot of parking at, I just don't want the term "TOD" to come to mean anything that is built near public transport.

From the other comments, though, it sounds like they are aiming for a developer to build a multi-level commuter car park with more spaces but on a smaller footprint and build a real TOD on the rest of the existing carpark. That could be a very good outcome depending on how it's done.

[BrizCommuter]

I assume car parking will be reduced during the redevelopment - ouch!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

31st January 2017

Comment: Vertical villages around Redcliffe Peninsula Line Stations

Greetings,

RAIL Back on Track welcomes Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland's re-zonings of land around the Redcliffe Peninsula line stations (1).

Rezoning land for higher density is a quick way to increase land values. Unlike extending car parks around stations, transit oriented development (TOD) actually generates money for through increased rates revenue council (2).

Higher density living is not for everyone, but for many people it is a choice that they would like to have. There are some very good examples of TOD interstate, such as Chatswood in Sydney, that mixes high density apartment living with office buildings.

Unfortunately, in Queensland, TOD has been treated like a boutique special project rather than a mainstream way to generate more living space for people. New apartments are generally luxury and unaffordable. That approach needs to change. As many railway stations as possible should be zoned for TOD.

The mass rezoning of Queensland Rail stations for TOD will also help generate funds for raising platforms to full height and improve disability access.

The Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council need to consider altering the Brisbane City Plan and placing land around all Queensland Rail stations into a higher density dedicated-purpose TOD zoning.

It would be a win for all sides - affordable homes, great access to transport, station disability upgrades and more rates revenue for Brisbane City council.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

References:

1. Vertical villages will lead highrise future around stations on new Redcliffe Peninsula rail line
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/moreton/vertical-villages-will-lead-highrise-future-around-stations-on-new-redcliffe-peninsula-rail-line/news-story/f29d08ff3a7e026ea057e9a8f9184547

2. RAIL Back on Track's Position Paper on Transit Oriented Zoning around stations is here:
https://backontrack.org/docs/tod/RBoT_TODSep16.pdf

[ozbob]

Latest media:
Comment: Vertical villages around Redcliffe Peninsula Line Stations
> https://t.co/csMIxyIi1A#qldpol@Team_Quirk @TMRQld pic.twitter.com/nuArQvNZO2

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 30, 2017

[Stillwater]

Springfield trumps Redcliffe.  Now, THAT'S a TOD!

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/63-billion-springfield-lakes-development-to-change-suburb-forever/news-story/91d82ef3a94bde50856097f77a917201

[ozbob]

3rd February 2017

Media Release
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

More jobs follow new Springfield Development

More than 1000 jobs are headed for the growing Springfield area as part of the next stage of development, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said today.

Ms Palaszczuk said the partnership between the Springfield Land Corporation and two international investors to undertake a $6 billion development consisting of 10,000 apartments as well as retail and commercial space was a sign of confidence in the Queensland economy.

"I'm told that in the first three years after construction starts early next year, this project will generate 377 jobs directly," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"It will also lead to a further 709 jobs being indirectly created.

"And in the long term, there will be retail jobs created as this development will create its own demand which will lead to jobs."

Ms Palaszczuk said the Springfield Rail Line was very important in development of the region.

"To have a transport-orientated-development- you need transport," the Premier said.

"That's why the Springfield rail line is so important."

Ms Palaszczuk said the investment was a sign of confidence in the Queensland economy and proof the Government's economic plan for Queensland was working.

"Deloitte Access Economics Investment Monitor has confirmed the pipeline of major projects in Queensland is way ahead of New South Wales and Victoria," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"The Investment Monitor lists $152.2 billion worth of known investment projects in Queensland in the December quarter 2016.   New South Wales recorded $132.2 billion and Victoria had just $68.2 billion."

Guangzhou-based R&F Properties, already has several projects underway in Brisbane, including a 30-storey apartment complex in South Brisbane.

The other partner, Hong Kong-based Etone Investment Development Ltd, is new to Australia, but the company intends to make its Australian headquarters in Springfield, creating a further 30 jobs.

Greater Springfield is one of Australia's fastest emerging new cities with a current population of approximately 32,000 people, which is expected to grow to 86,000 residents by 2030.

[ozbob]

50 new high-rise towers planned for Brisbane's skyline. @KateLJones7 #7News https://t.co/hB53sRN4Dp

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) February 20, 2017

[aldonius]

That was one of the more tangentially informative videos I've watched. Talked about pretty much everything but the 50 new towers!

[#Metro]

The best Brisbane suburbs for public transport – and the price buyers pay to get in

Public transport advocate Robert Dow said through property prices, public transport could become a major economic driver. His lobby group, RAIL Back On Track, is frequently consulted by state and local governments.

"Public transport is gold for real estate," he said. "It definitely has a very significant impact on housing value and we're seeing a lot of transit-oriented development."

https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-best-brisbane-suburbs-for-public-transport-and-the-price-buyers-pay-to-get-in-20170304-guo2xf/

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> More density around rail stations and new schemes for renters: NSW housing plan

The NSW government will ramp up a program of encouraging major housing development near rail stations in Sydney, as well as pushing for new schemes that make it easier for renters to buy their own property.

The program of fostering developments near rail stations will take place through an expanded "priority precincts" program – an existing scheme under which areas such as those around stations on the new rail line to Sydney's north-west have been rezoned for new housing.

And the new schemes to improve housing affordability could include programs such as rent-to-buy, where renters are offered a chance to keep some of the increased value in their home, or a joint equity arrangement, where the government or another institution takes a partial stake in a home.

In an interview, Planning and Housing Minister Anthony Roberts said the government's housing strategy – nominated as a priority by Premier Gladys Berejiklian – would be framed around the principles of affordability, choice and growth.

"We've got to house people," said Mr Roberts. "This is a crisis. We're almost at the point of no return."

The state government has 11 areas already earmarked as "priority precincts," mostly around rail stations, such as the Sydney Metro NorthWest stations of Bella Vista and Showground.

But Mr Roberts said the government was looking at "up to 20 Priority Precincts, subject to discussions around proximity to transport, and upcoming rezonings".

The minister, who said a housing affordability package of policies would be released ahead of the mid-year state budget, said the multi-lot planning of precincts around rail stations would lead to better designed areas, as well as benefits to home owners.

"One of the things I'm working with the Greater Sydney Commission on is when we go to communities and say there is going to be an increase in population here... we have a compact with them that says we will build the schools, we will build the roads, we will build the infrastructure that goes with this," Mr Roberts said.

He said Landcom, which has been split off from the government developer UrbanGrowth, would play the role of "honest broker" between those selling their properties and developers and planners.

"I want everyone to be winners in this," he said. "If you are going to get your house bought, or you want to sell your house because you actually live near a railway station... I want this to be, and this government wants it to be for those people, to be like winning the lottery."

The role of Landcom, he said, could be in ensuring larger areas are consolidated. This could lead to better design in new developments and better deals for sellers.

"If you are going to be bought out, you are going to get more money if you are in a lot of 20 because of the scale and capacity of a 20-lot size than if you are just one of two or three," Mr Roberts said.

Calls for more co-ordinated policies to address a lack of affordable housing – for renters and buyers – in Sydney have become a steady drumbeat. Sydney councils are increasingly adopting expanded affordable housing policies, and Mr Roberts said it was important that communities retained places for people of all incomes to live.

"Just because you are a police officer starting off or a nurse, why do you have to travel an hour and a half to your shift and then an hour and a half back again? I think we have an obligation around that."

He said priority precincts would also be places where affordable housing models were applied.

"A superannuation company might build a 500-unit development and it could be totally based around one of the schemes," he said. "It could be rent to buy, it could be joint equity. But I think you've got to give the market-place freedom to actually come up with products."

And the minister expressed enthusiasm for suggestions from property developers that extra dedicated affordable housing units – to be rented to key workers at lower than market rates – could be encouraged by allowing developers to build higher. A 10-storey dwelling could be allowed to become 12-storeys, with one of the extra floors reserved for affordable units.

"You build another storey that's yours, and the other storey goes into an affordable housing scheme," he said.

[ozbob]

RAIL Back on Track's Position Paper on Transit Oriented Zoning around stations is here:https://t.co/gs78jMMhY2#nswpol #qldpol #springst pic.twitter.com/WTSk4FUj29

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) March 19, 2017

[#Metro]

In an interview, Planning and Housing Minister Anthony Roberts said the government's housing strategy – nominated as a priority by Premier Gladys Berejiklian – would be framed around the principles of affordability, choice and growth.

"We've got to house people," said Mr Roberts. "This is a crisis. We're almost at the point of no return."

Great to finally see blanket TOD zoning across railway stations is on the table.

[Cazza]

This isn't much of a development compared to high rise buildings etc. but one way to drastically encourage public transport usage is to build kindergartens and schools along with Park and Rides near public transport hubs (Key Interchange Points as mentioned in the bus reform) so workers can drop off their kids to kindy/school, park their cars in the PnR then catch PT to their work. This is a way of greatly reducing congestion and help encourage public transport use.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane City Council approves 550-room student accommodation without residential parking

A $90 million student accommodation project in Brisbane's west will ditch resident car parking in favour of car-sharing, an Uber set-down bay and more than 200 bicycle parks.

The Alexander project at 25 Archer Street, Toowong, was approved by Brisbane City Council on Thursday and is the first council approval to have a council-enforced requirement to include a recognised car-sharing scheme for residents.

A development at Toowong has been approved with a council-first requirement to include a recognised car sharing scheme for residents.

The Azure Property Group's 15-storey development will have 555 rooms with 592 beds and 58 parking spaces, with 20 of these dedicated to car sharing.

The remaining 38 car parking spaces will be visitor car parking spaces. There will also be 238 bicycle parking spaces.

Azure Property Group director Trent Keirnan said the car sharing scheme was part of a broader sustainable transport strategy for the development.

"We recognise that students these days very rarely need full-time personal transport, particularly with the multiple public transport options available within a short stroll from the project," Mr Keirnan said.

"More sustainable means of transport offerings are being requested by operators of student accommodation facilities broadly.

"The car-sharing scheme also helps to reduce the number of cars on the roads in the local area, assisting to ease traffic congestion."

The development application was first submitted to the council on November 4, 2016, and during its assessment received more than 90 public submissions.

JFP Urban Consultants made a submission on behalf of Archer Street residents that said the proposal represented a significant overdevelopment of the site.

"The significant lack of car parking is also a central concern that must be addressed further," the submissions said.

"Our clients have serious concerns about the lack of suitable car parking needed to service the proposed development.

"Our clients have also advised that there are existing parking problems within this part of Toowong.

"Any parking relaxation would only exacerbate these problems."

The council's city planning boss Julian Simmonds said car share schemes were the perfect fit for student accommodation.

"Council understands that most students have limited need for individual vehicles, particularly in locations such as this where the Regatta CityCat Terminal,Toowong Rail Station, the Bicentennial Bikeway and frequent bus services are all available nearby," Cr Simmonds said.

"The introduction of car-sharing initiatives was a key recommendation of the Parking Taskforce, which identified ways to manage on-street parking in the inner city."

Cr Simmonds said a number of changes had been made to the original plans through the assessment process, including larger communal areas for students, requirements for established trees to be planted in landscaping and improved design.

University of Queensland lecturer and expert in urban design and transportation Dorina Pojani said she considered the car sharing scheme a good idea but thought it would likely be a short-term solution as driverless cars would soon be available.

"I think on principle it's a really good idea because we need to prepare our cities for what's coming, so that's one way to repurpose things or not allocate as much parking space anymore because it just simply will not be needed," Dr Pojani said.

"If we want to make Brisbane more sustainable we need to regulate and restrict car ownership and car use to some extent.

"Other places have been doing this for much longer than we have so it's time for us to also catch up.

"It might be the case with Brisbane – because we haven't done car-sharing so much before we might end up going straight to driverless cars, that's also possible."

The development is due for completion in early 2019.

[OzGamer]

In my opinion it's a step in the right direction. People can choose not to move there if they want to own a car, but for those who are happy to walk, cycle, bus, ferry, train, or occasionally drive a share car (all available from that location), the apartments will be cheaper for not having to build unnecessary car parking.

[kram0]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/north/first-images-of-retail-residential-and-cinema-complex-planned-for-ferny-grove-railway-station/news-story/b355a6fd6ba9f09c441c169d08d95f1d

[verbatim9]

^^At last a sensible project

[mufreight]

But no provision made to allow for any further extension of the line towards Samford.

[aldonius]

Reminder that Samford currently gets a whole two TransLink buses in the morning and another two in the evening.

[Gazza]

But no provision made to allow for any further extension of the line towards Samford.

It would be a shitty usage of heavy rail though. It would be hundreds of millions of dollars for what would essentially become glorified park and ride station (The walk up usage would be negligible due to the low density of Samford)
And the idea of densifying Samford if a railway were built there would go down like a fart in a submarine if you put the idea to locals.


Just build more parking at Ferny Grove and get the Samford residents to drive there, would be a fraction of the cost for similar patronage gain.

The abysmal patronage on the Hurstbridge line beyond Eltham sort of demonstrates what you could expect here.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane apartment glut causing canyon effect in inner city

AREAS of inner Brisbane can expect to be permanently cast in shadow and suffer "canyon effect" under the council's urban renewal plan, says a planning authority.

Griffith University's Dr Tony Matthews said it's inevitable that the number of high rise apartments popping up around inner Brisbane would cause massive changes at ground level.

The lecturer in urban and environmental planning said the most likely change was "canyon effect" which is synonymous in major cities dominated by high rise buildings.

Canyon effect includes wind tunnels, loss of light and microclimatic changes where there is extreme heat or cold at ground level between tall buildings, he said.

"The development pattern in Brisbane at the moment, with clusters of tall buildings in specific areas, means you can get a canyon effect," Mr Matthews said.

"That's where entire streets become flanked by tall buildings and you get very little light penetration, often times it gets very warm or very cold, and you get wind tunnelling.

"All of those consequences are very likely to happen in some places for sure."

Brisbane City Council's Urban Renewal Plan, which started in earnest in 2014, includes approving clusters of apartment buildings within proximity to major transport hubs.

In recent years there has been a heavy concentration of high rise apartment developments in Fortitude Valley, Newstead, the West End and the CBD.