TODs (Transit Oriented Developments)

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/10/2/brisbanes-next-urban-village-creates-jobs

Media Statements
Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney
Thursday, October 02, 2014

Brisbane's next urban village creates jobs

One hundred and eighty jobs will be created during the construction of Brisbane's newest riverside development, Yeerongpilly Green.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said expressions of interest had been called for Stage One of the new development that would provide a timely boost to Brisbane's construction sector and create a thriving new urban community.

"Yeerongpilly Green is expected to generate approximately 180 jobs during construction and delivers on our government's commitment to provide better infrastructure and planning in Queensland," Mr Seeney said.

"The new precinct will offer excellent lifestyle advantages, including access to nearby recreational facilities such as the Queensland Tennis Centre, golf courses and children's playgrounds".

The Yeerongpilly Green site between the Queensland Tennis Centre and Yeerongpilly Railway Station is just 7km from the Brisbane CBD and will incorporate residential, retail and commercial spaces, parks, plazas, and cyclist and pedestrian-friendly streets.

"I encourage the private sector to submit expressions of interest for Stage One and seize upon a rare opportunity to revitalise this quality Brisbane site," Mr Seeney said.

The release to market of Stage One of Yeerongpilly Green follows the State Government's finalisation of the Yeerongpilly Transit Oriented Development planning framework that regulates development of the 14 hectare state-owned site.

The land offer includes over 4.6 hectares suitable for development, comprising 10 lots with the potential to accommodate over 260 new residential apartments; 8,750 m2 of retail space and 9,800 m2 of commercial space. Historic buildings on the site will be protected and revitalised as part of the development.

Mr Seeney said the call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) followed rigorous community consultation conducted earlier this year.

"The Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning reviewed 76 submissions from members of the community, local businesses, organisations and elected representatives," he said.

"A series of 'talk to a planner' sessions was also held on the Yeerongpilly TOD site and at the local railway station."

Expressions of Interest close at 2pm on 6 November 2014.

For more information about Yeerongpilly Green visit www.yeerongpillygreen.com.au (external site)

[ENDS] 2 October 2014

[#Metro]

They need to stop making King Arthur Tce anti-bus with the traffic control devices and reroute buses so that they stop directly outside the Tennis Centre.

[ozbob]

Sort of a TOD ...

Brisbanetimes --> Fortitude Valley apartment towers set to be approved

[ozbob]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/kurilpa-riverside-project-to-be-revisited/story-fnn8dlfs-1227249572935

... Ms Trad says her government is committed to lobbying the Commonwealth for funds to help build pubic transport infrastructure with no asset sales on the table to fund them under Labor.

Ms Trad today announced progress at a planned transit-oriented development in Coorparoo which will eventually link up to the extension of the eastern busway between Brisbane and the Redlands.

The old Myer site on Old Cleveland Road is due to be demolished to make way for the residential part of the project,

But with funding still needed for the busway part, Ms Trad said she had already begun discussions with her federal counterpart, Warren Truss.

"This was always intended to be a transit-oriented development. we know public transport is a critical issue for the southeast corner and particularly for the inner city suburbs like this one," Ms Trad said.

"We want to see the eastern busway built but we know that we need assistance from the Commonwealth Government.

"I have already raised this with the Deputy Prime Minister and I will continue to raise Federal Government funding for critical city-changing, city transforming infrastructure.

"We will keep knocking on the door to make sure that we can get the funding. We know that the eastern busway has taken some time to build. This is another phase of that." ...

[hU0N]

I was just leafing through the sales brochures for the new Icon tower at Milton. Now I know that this building is within the Milton TOD area, but still, I was impressed that right up front of the brochure was this attached map of all the places you could get to from Icon via Public Transport.

I think that these developers should be congratulated for doing this, and more should be encouraged to follow suit, even outside TOD areas. Too often a person buying into an area is told all about the roads, at length, but is barely even pointed in the direction of the closest station.

[pandmaster]

Top form!

I wonder how many people will/do live there and never use the train!

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Consolidated Properties, LJCB Investments win tender for Yeerongpilly development

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Consolidated Properties, LJCB Investments win tender for Yeerongpilly development

Twitter

John Taylor ‏@JTQld

What's there now, and what's proposed, on 14 hectares of state land at Yeerongpilly. @abcnews @612brisbane

[ozbob]

^ Yeerongpilly Transit Oriented Development

>> http://www.dlg.qld.gov.au/infrastructure-and-planning/strategic-planning/yeerongpilliy-tod.html

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/4/15/major-jobs-boost-as-developer-appointed-to-transform-yeerongpilly-green-site

Media Statements
Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Jackie Trad
Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Major jobs boost as developer appointed to transform Yeerongpilly Green site

Around 250 jobs are closer to being supported through construction of the $850 million Yeerongpilly Green Transport Orientated Development following the announcement of the preferred tenderer for the 14 hectare project today.

Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Jackie Trad said Queensland company Consolidated Properties, in a joint venture with LJCB Investments, would construct the project over two phases with the final phase being completed in 2024.

"This is about providing strong economic benefits to South East Queensland and transforming Brisbane's inner-south," Ms Trad said.

"The nine year project will deliver an economic injection to the area and is expected to support around 250 jobs during construction, and hundreds of ongoing retail and hospitality jobs once the development is completed.

"The State Government will deliver about $30 million of community amenities throughout the development, including 1.8 hectares of parkland and open space.

"The development also adjoins the Queensland Tennis Centre and Yeerongpilly rail station, providing excellent public transport links and is only eight kilometres from the CBD."

"The urban village will include more than 1100 environmentally sustainable residential apartments, boutique shopping and restaurant experiences, a supermarket and specialty stores, and a 103 room boutique hotel.

"The apartments will be designed and constructed specifically for South East Queensland's subtropical climate conditions and that means great outcomes for new home owners.

"It means less electricity use, more efficient water use and a higher degree of environmental sustainability.

"With unemployment still at 6.5%, it also means more jobs for more Queenslanders."

Chairman of Consolidated Properties, Don O'Rourke, said the development was an important vote of confidence in the Queensland construction industry.

"Today demonstrates the Palaszczuk Government's commitment to the development and construction industry in Queensland," Mr O'Rourke said.

"The benefits of a project like this cannot be underestimated – it will change the face of the area and highlight all that Queensland has to offer.

"As a Queensland based business we are pleased to be working with the Government to revitalise the Yeerongpilly Green site and in turn, provide real job opportunities to Queenslanders."

Consolidated Properties and LJCB Investment Group will now enter into exclusive negotiations with the State Government to finalise a development agreement and plans will then be submitted to Brisbane City Council for Development Approval.

Construction will be handled by Hutchinson Builders, one of Australia's largest privately-owned building and construction companies and one of the country's largest employees of apprentices and cadets in the industry.

[pandmaster]

Overall, I think this is fantastic news. A reasonable number of dwellings and an improved land use in the area.

I have no idea why the government is coughing up $30 million (and prime land) when the unit prices will be massively inflated by the rail line (and thus inflate the developer's profits). The developer should be paying the government for the right to develop this site!

One sensible comment:
"This is the sort of medium/high density development we need around transport hubs. Draw a line in the sand and say no more urban sprawl. The only sustainable way for a city to grow is upwards, not outwards."

I hope this is sarcasm:
"Who wants to live next to a train station? The answer is nobody. Who will be living next to a train station? The poor people that have no choice such as myself."

[pandmaster]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/toowong-towers-nine-storeys-too-high-labor-lord-mayoral-candidate-20150602-ghetza.html

This is Toowong after all. Any developments there should be high density. Shame on Harding!

[James]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/toowong-towers-nine-storeys-too-high-labor-lord-mayoral-candidate-20150602-ghetza.html

This is Toowong after all. Any developments there should be high density. Shame on Harding!

Personally, I don't like the development for three reasons.

1. Access to Toowong train station hasn't even been factored in for. Um, hello? We are about to build a major Transit Oriented Development yet we're going to force people to cross Coro Drive and walk 800m just to get to the train station? The development also seems to have been built with cars in mind. Particularly for a location like Toowong, it is time to think about forcing people in these buildings to not use cars.
2. The towers look butt ugly. The Toowong Tower is an icon on the skyline, particularly looking west. I would have been much happier if they were designing something in that vein rather than this monstrosity. In the same breath, they are also too tall - again, same height of the Toowong Tower would be far nicer.
3. They're only providing "parkland", not parkland. You do not need to shove 'culsha' down our throats by putting in yet another overpriced coffee shop, low quality high price restaurant and a heap of concrete. Just give us some nice open space leading down to the river. Oh wait, that doesn't pay rent.

There is certainly a need to put in high-density there, but unless you are going to feed these people directly into the station (an overpass will do, paid for by the developer), they're just going to hop into their cars or unnecessarily crowd into buses.

[#Metro]

It's Toowong. Case closed.

If people don't like it, don't buy an apartment there.

I think the minimum parking requirement is a regulatory thing, might even be demanded by people who want to live there. Hard to tell.

[Jonno]

"Car-oriented density is a collosal failure"

[hU0N]

Personally, I don't like the development for three reasons.

Fair enough. On your three points however, I would like to add my perspective.

(1) Toowong station concourse is located over the extreme southern end of the platforms. The former ABC site is located adjacent to the extreme northern end. So however you dice it (short of converting the entry level of the toowong village northern carpark into a second concourse) the walk to the station is what it is. Either you go up the eastern footpath and over the existing overpass, or cross further to the north and walk up the western footpath. It's not a particularly good situation, agreed, but that's the station that's there.

(2) I personally think they look great. So tom-ay-to tom-ah-to I guess. As a side note on height, they don't breach the city plan as some aspiring politicians have suggested. Less than 15 storeys on this site would have been eligible for a type of concession on the approval process. This development didn't get any concessions on its approval process, instead it got assessed on its merits, which is exactly what the town plan requires)

(3) I agree, if you'd just built a park, you would probably have wound up with a more interesting park. But the density has to go somewhere. And to be honest, large parks aren't always better than small ones (check out Kelvin Grove Urban Village).

[#Metro]

http://www.toureiffel.paris/en/everything-about-the-tower/themed-files/71.html

An extract from the "Protest against the Tower of Monsieur Eiffel".

Charles Gounod masque photo Charles Gounod

""We come, we writers, painters, sculptors, architects, lovers of the beauty of Paris which was until now intact, to protest with all our strength and all our indignation, in the name of the underestimated taste of the French, in the name of French art and history under threat, against the erection in the very heart of our capital, of the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower which popular ill-feeling, so often an arbiter of good sense and justice, has already christened the Tower of Babel. (...) Is the City of Paris any longer to associate itself with the baroque and mercantile fancies of a builder of machines, thereby making itself irreparably ugly and bringing dishonour ? (...)

To comprehend what we are arguing one only needs to imagine for a moment a tower of ridiculous vertiginous height dominating Paris, just like a gigantic black factory chimney, its barbarous mass overwhelming and humiliating all our monuments and belittling our works of architecture, which will just disappear before this stupefying folly.

And for twenty years we shall see spreading across the whole city, a city shimmering with the genius of so many centuries, we shall see spreading like an ink stain, the odious shadow of this odious column of bolted metal.

[hU0N]

PS My bus showed up, so I had to post and run, but I wasn't having a go, I think all your points are valid criticisms. For me they aren't enough to change my mind about this development, but that's just my opinion.

[SurfRail]

For me, the main benefit is that it doesn't look like South Brisbane which, outside of the expertly managed section formerly under the control of the South Bank Corporation, is a big sea of mismatching concrete boxes.  The view out of the left hand side of the train between South Brisbane and the Merivale Bridge heading inbound is horrible.

[Gazza]

Lolwut James?

The toowong tower is a boring 80s glass box. If it had character etc I might agree, but there is nothing about toowong tower that needs to be preserved etc in terms of maintaining heights.... In fact, it looks WORSE if you build up an area and have all buildings the same height:


Having a skyline with differing heights, shapes, materials, widths is what makes a city look like a city.
Its dumb to say that everything in Toowong has to be the same height as the existing tower just because some developer in the 80s decided that the height built at Toowong made commercial sense at the time, or some other arbitrary reason.



These 3 towers are iconic.


Finally, its not 800m, from the back edge of the site and over the bridge to the station gates is bang on 400m, and Regatta stop is right there too.

I think buyers in this sort of development would use train or ferry over bus.

[techblitz]

i like it
yep the toowong skyline needs invigorating....theres 3 PT options for residents....definitely in the T.O.D class no matter how far from the train station it is...

[ozbob]

TOD is an interesting construct.  I suppose it was conjured up as a counter to the gross suburban sprawl that took off seriously post WW2.

I was raised in inner Melbourne, Windsor in the main.  This inner suburb was very well served with the trams in Chapel St, and Windsor railway station (Sandringham line) a couple of hundred yards down the street.  There were no garages or even car spaces in the houses.  Cars that were around were parked out in the street. The back yards were not large but you could, depending on lanes etc. sometimes squeeze a car in the yard. We never had car, had bicycles of course. These inner suburbs be they in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or large regional cities were in effect ' natural ' TODs.

I suppose the thing that strikes me about this Toowong development is just how hard it will be to push out onto the roads with cars particularly during peak times.  Most people if they have a brain would probably use the bus for local commutes, and head to the rail for longer journeys during these times. Ferry is another option as are bicycles.

The design of the buildings is interesting.  Hope they are structurally sound.  At least people will be above flood levels .. 

[DayboroStation]

This is another reason why Toowong station needs increased train frequency. IMHO 15 minutes is not frequent enough during off-peak and counter-peak. 9 or 12 minutes would be a good improvement, and would encourage greater patronage.

I personally cannot see a problem with the Grace on Coronation towers. My only concern is with the increase in road traffic congestion, which is already at choking point in this area of Toowong.

Perhaps this is an opportunity to improve pedestrian accessibility of Toowong station from Coronation Drive. A northern concourse would certainly reduce pedestrian congestion at the station, and would also improve access to the new towers and other businesses which are along Coronation Drive.

[SurfRail]

^ Knowing QR the second concourse would only be open for 6 hrs each weekday (excluding Thursdays), and the gates would all be left open and unmanned.

[James]

Fair enough. On your three points however, I would like to add my perspective.

(1) Toowong station concourse is located over the extreme southern end of the platforms. The former ABC site is located adjacent to the extreme northern end. So however you dice it (short of converting the entry level of the toowong village northern carpark into a second concourse) the walk to the station is what it is. Either you go up the eastern footpath and over the existing overpass, or cross further to the north and walk up the western footpath. It's not a particularly good situation, agreed, but that's the station that's there.

(2) I personally think they look great. So tom-ay-to tom-ah-to I guess. As a side note on height, they don't breach the city plan as some aspiring politicians have suggested. Less than 15 storeys on this site would have been eligible for a type of concession on the approval process. This development didn't get any concessions on its approval process, instead it got assessed on its merits, which is exactly what the town plan requires)

(3) I agree, if you'd just built a park, you would probably have wound up with a more interesting park. But the density has to go somewhere. And to be honest, large parks aren't always better than small ones (check out Kelvin Grove Urban Village).

1) If you put a bridge across from Archer St (approximately) you could take people directly in to the shopping centre and train station. Far more pleasant than walking along Coro Drive.

2) Just my two cents.

3) I just mean that little 'green space' out the front. I'm fine with the density, but if you are going to give the residents open space, make it proper open space. Area to have a picnic, maybe kick a ball etc. It is what South Bank grossly lacks - proper green space. Instead we have a heap of overpriced restaurants and a beach which doubles as a pee pool for the under 5s. South Bank is a pretty ordinary park compared to parks like Stanley Park (Vancouver) and Central Park (New York).

Lolwut James?

The toowong tower is a boring 80s glass box. If it had character etc I might agree, but there is nothing about toowong tower that needs to be preserved etc in terms of maintaining heights.... In fact, it looks WORSE if you build up an area and have all buildings the same height:

Having a skyline with differing heights, shapes, materials, widths is what makes a city look like a city.
Its dumb to say that everything in Toowong has to be the same height as the existing tower just because some developer in the 80s decided that the height built at Toowong made commercial sense at the time, or some other arbitrary reason.

These 3 towers are iconic.

Finally, its not 800m, from the back edge of the site and over the bridge to the station gates is bang on 400m, and Regatta stop is right there too.

I think buyers in this sort of development would use train or ferry over bus.

I disagree, I really like the look of the Toowong Tower. Same height was a poor choice of words - but something between 10 and 20 storeys would be preferable. I also don't find the towers 'iconic'.

The thing which sticks in my mind with respect to walking from this site is when I walked from the Regatta terminal to the Benson St bus stop (outbound). In the middle of summer, this really wasn't pleasant at all.

I suppose the thing that strikes me about this Toowong development is just how hard it will be to push out onto the roads with cars particularly during peak times.  Most people if they have a brain would probably use the bus for local commutes, and head to the rail for longer journeys during these times. Ferry is another option as are bicycles.

^^^ Question is, what about all those going to non-PT served destinations? Traffic signals to let cars out of the development will be a must - can probably tie this up the Booth St lights.

[ozbob]

Be a long wait ...

[Jonno]

The issue with this whole area is that it is appalling urban and road design.  The wall to Coro drive that is the railway station, the car park above a railway station with some of the best frequncy in Brisbane is just so badly done it rivals Indooropilly for Planning 101 - How not to plan course!!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th June 2015

Self-Fund: Develop Rail Properties To Fund Cross River Rail

Sunshine Coast transport consultant Peter Quick is on the money. The Queensland Government has a number of options to self-fund Cross River Rail:

1. Property and land development above and around QR Stations.
2. Borrowing against the value of profit-making public assets withheld from sale.
3. Extending Land Taxation by removing the tax-free threshold and broadening the base.*
4. Growing the Queensland Economy

A visit to the website of MTR Hong Kong - the same company operating Melbourne's rail network - shows its property development division MTR properties has almost fifty stations where high-intensity development has been placed above or around rail stations, including light rail stops.

Attempts to recapture value generated by Queensland's transit infrastructure to date have been lacking. Private property owners around rail stations are already getting a free boost to their property values, courtesy of the Queensland Government and taxpayers. Or high-value land has been left to low value uses such as park-and-ride, which is not the highest and best use. We think the government can do a better job of clawing back that money through station development and land taxation changes.

Inner-city locations where land values are high or stations close to shopping centres are good choices. Increased development around stations will generate jobs for Queenslanders, grow the Queensland economy, and increase farebox revenue on the public transport network generally. If student accommodation is built, it may also attract a subsidy from Brisbane City Council.

Proposals to fix up the bus network (mostly using existing resources, http://tiny.cc/newnetwork ) and a concept proposal for a RiverCity Rail tunnel (see link below) have already been developed by our members. This would complement the above changes.

Ultimately the Queensland Government must fund the lion's share of Cross River Rail as it is the sole owner of Queensland Rail. The Perth precedent shows that self-funding can be done. The Queensland Government is responsible for governing Queensland. History shows that governments that fail to act are quickly removed from office.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

References:

MTR Hong Kong Property Development
https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/corporate/properties/prop_dev_index.html

The Unique Genius of Hong Kong's Public Transportation System
http://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/09/the-unique-genius-of-hong-kongs-public-transportation-system/279528/

Opinion: Queensland should forget federal funding for cross river rail and turn to private sector to get things moving
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-queensland-should-forget-federal-funding-for-cross-river-rail-and-turn-to-private-sector-to-get-things-moving/story-fnihsr9v-1227373139965

Basics: The math of park and ride
http://www.humantransit.org/2014/10/basics-the-math-of-park-and-ride.html

River City Rail Tunnel Concept
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11413.msg155988#msg155988

Brisbane City Council Subsidies
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/developers-to-receive-discounts-to-build-brisbane-student-accomodation-20150225-13om7y.html

* Rough Calculation

10 billion dollars (project cost) divided by 5 million people (rounded population of Queensland) divided by 40 years (infrastructure economic life) = $50 per person, per year.

New Bus Network Proposal (Updated) ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork
Current Brisbane City Council Bus Network ---> http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus
Bus Reform Report  'Frequency is Freedom' ---> http://backontrack.org/docs/bus/reform/BusReformBlueprint.pdf

Transit Oriented Development - possible locations

Inner City

Auchenflower
Bowen Hills
Buranda
Coorparoo
Dutton Park
Fairfield
Morningside
Park Road
Taringa
Windsor
Wooloongabba (co-constructed with CRR)

Suburban

Cleveland
Eagle Junction
Mitchelton
Nundah
Sandgate
Strathpine
Toombul
Wynnum

Other

Beerwah
Caboolture
Helensvale
Nambour
Robina

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Anti-highrise group has own plans for Toowong ABC site

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Goodna residential tower in pipeline thanks to town plan

BUZ the 524!   

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Eldorado Village tower development plan updated

The owners of the Eldorado cinemas are hopeful amended development plans will pave the way for the tower project to proceed.

United Cinemas Australia went back to the drawing board after Brisbane City Council requested information on a number of ­issues in March last year.

The proposed development's height, bulk, design, traffic impact, function and aesthetics were called into question by council.

United Cinemas Australia director Sam Mustaca said the response, which was submitted last week, was an improvement.

"It's a better proposal this time around and it addresses the concerns the council had in regards to aesthetics and design," Mr Mustaca said. "It made us work harder to really think outside the square.

"From the entertainment precinct to the restaurant streetscape to the activation of the two street frontages and the articulation of the towers, I think it's a much better outcome for the community."

The original development, on the corner of Coonan St and Station Rd, proposed two towers at 16 and 21 ­storeys. The resubmission proposes a northern tower of 20 storeys and a southern tower of 17 storeys ...

http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/1c4074eb2a03bcf3222c037c86045274?api_key=qy2gvdw92m3b23ptgyv4995z&width=650

[colinw]

Perfect place for it.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane City Council approves Buranda student towers

[ozbob]

Media Release
Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Jackie Trad

Construction begins on Yeerongpilly Green

Construction has started today at Yeerongpilly Green, Queensland's latest $850 million masterplanned community 5.5km from the Brisbane CBD.

The project will create 6,600 direct and indirect jobs during its 10 year construction programme, with 1,200 apartments and townhomes being built and will include a retail and commercial precinct with boutique coffee shops, bars and restaurant, a major supermarket, 100 bed hotel and a number of commercial office buildings.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Jackie Trad said the creation of 6,600 jobs is great news for Queensland's economy.

"Not only will we see 6,600 new jobs created - and this includes 335 apprentices as part of the workforce - but once completed Yeerongpilly Green will also see 1,000 people with long term employment," Ms Trad said.

"This is a great example of the Queensland Government and the private sector working together to deliver great facilities for the community.

"There will be more than a hectare of parkland with walkways and community facilities as part of the masterplan. This prime land is currently sitting vacant and by working together we have delivered a thriving community hub."

The site spans 14 hectares along the Brisbane River between the Queensland Tennis Centre and Yeerongpilly Railway Station.

Executive Chairman of Consolidated Properties Don O'Rorke said the development will provide a range of benefits for the community in terms of jobs and amenities but it will also provide a financial boost to the Queensland Government through a structured development agreement.

"This agreement provides a much greater financial return on the land to the government and allows them to remain actively involved in creating the new community," Mr O'Rorke said.

"We look forward to creating a community that will set new benchmarks in town planning, building design and sustainability. We have a proud history of delivering high quality development and creating homes and communities that people love."

The development will be undertaken in a joint venture between Consolidated Properties, CVS Lane Capital Partners and LJCB Investment Group.

The commercial terms are governed by a 10 year deed of agreement which was recently signed, allowing for construction to now start with site preparation, earthworks and the removal of redundant cables.

[#Metro]

Jonno, what do you think about this Champagne flute thing at Toowong? Yay or Nay?
Comments from others?

It will be 500+ apartments on the old ABC Toowong Studio site.

Quirk 'ambushed' by Toowong tower opponents
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/quirk-ambushed-by-toowong-tower-opponents-20151022-gkg6l3.html

[pandmaster]

I am a fan of it. Toowong is hideously low density. I personally think it looks pretty good. Even if you do not like the appearance, you can not deny that the housing is appropriate for the area and that it is architectural distinctive.

[colinw]

This whole NIMBY thing in inner city, well served areas really ***ts me off.  If you're going to build density & high rise anywhere, these inner suburbs with good bus links, citycat and full-time 4TPH or better service are where it should happen.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Car-free housing encouraged in London, says city's transport planning boss

[dancingmongoose]

Yeerongpilly Green: http://coolcalmconnected.com.au/

Very little info on that website though.

Work is starting for the TOD, lots of fencing up.

[ozbob]

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

First step to deliver new transit-oriented development for Gold Coast

State-owned land at Varsity Lakes will be transformed under a plan to deliver more parking for the important transport hub in time for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games, Stirling Hinchliffe, announced the Palaszczuk Government is seeking expressions of interest to develop the 8.4 hectare site next to the Varsity Lakes Train Station into a vibrant transit-oriented retail, commercial and residential development and boost parking facilities for the Commonwealth Games.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the best and most qualified developers to deliver a high-quality, transit-oriented development project that integrates a new retail and residential precinct with the Varsity Lakes Train Station," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"In addition to developing the mixed-use site, the successful tenderer will need to double the permanent park 'n' ride capacity from 300 to 600 spaces, and also provide additional temporary parking for spectators attending Commonwealth Games venues on the Gold Coast."

Mr Hinchliffe said a successful transport operation was critical to the success of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"It is forecast that six million extra journeys will be made across the Gold Coast during the 2018 Commonwealth Games and it is critical we enhance and improve transport coordination, existing rail and bus services, boost park'n'ride facilities and improve the road network," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Linking the road network to heavy rail, the Varsity Lakes Train Station and park 'n' ride will be an important transport hub, providing necessary day-to-day transport connections for Gold Coast residents and commuters, as well as spectators at Games time.

"This precinct will be a fantastic development for the Varsity Lakes community and provide a lasting legacy of improved public transport in the area."

Mr Hinchliffe said expressions of interest would be sought from the development industry through the competitive tender process released today.

The Expression of Interest (EOI) is the first stage in the process to appoint a tenderer to design and deliver a transit-oriented retail, commercial and residential development and transport infrastructure for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads will work with the preferred tenderer to facilitate delivery of the mixed-use precinct and deliver the park 'n' ride infrastructure.

More information about the EOI is available on the QTenders website www.hpw.qld.gov.au/qtenders/ (Tender No. TMR15015)

For further information about the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games visit www.gc2018.com (external site) and aheadofthegames.embracing2018.com (external site).