1 William St Brisbane

[ozbob]

[Stillwater]

The giant finger 

[skippy]

60,000 m2 puts 3,000 employees in the only part of the CBD remote from rail. The 15 min walk to Roma St, Central or South Bank station will be enough deterrent for many. If only there was a rail station nearby!

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Green light for CBD skyscraper

Green light for CBD skyscraper
December 21, 2012

UPDATED: A 43-storey high building will go ahead near the parliamentary precinct in Brisbane's CBD as part of a $653 million Newman government-backed project.

The government on Friday announced Cbus Property had won the contract to develop the new building, which would include new offices for public servants and senior ministers.

The mixed-use development at 1 William Street is part of the government's controversial plan to replace the executive building on George Street and lease back government offices in the new building.

The existing executive building houses Premier Campbell Newman and senior ministers. Mr Newman has previously said it would be demolished. The opposition argues the state has higher priorities than a new government office building.
Advertisement

Ministers said the 1 William Street property, currently government-owned, was a "dry, dusty eyesore of a car park" that would be transformed by the mixed-use development.

The new building is set to be 258 metres high, including its spire, and will boast 119,977 square metres of gross floor area. The building will also include 74,853 square metres of lettable office space, of which the government would require about 60,000 square metres.

Work is expected to begin early next year and finish by 2016.

Making the announcement alongside Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney, Treasurer Tim Nicholls bristled at suggestions the government was gifting the land to the developer.

Mr Nicholls said the government would retain ownership of the land although the developer would gain a 99-year lease over the site.

project on Friday. Photo: Daniel Hurst

The $650 million building would be constructed by the private sector at no cost to taxpayers and the government would then lease back office space, Mr Nicholls said.

"It won't cost taxpayers a cent to build the building," Mr Nicholls said, adding that the government would pay to rent the office space.

The government argues the work will directly support 1000 construction jobs and when the building is complete, will allow the government to cut back on leases over other government offices in the CBD.

Mr Nicholls said this consolidation of government office space would save up to $60 million a year by the time public servants were relocated to the new building.

He said the government would rent office space in the building on an initial 15-year lease and would then have the opportunity to renew that lease.

Mr Nicholls insisted the rental price would be competitive but indicated the terms would not be made public as they were "commercial in confidence".

Pressed on whether the government would need to provide any bridging finance to allow construction to start, Mr Nicholls said there was no cost to government.

The government received 13 expressions of interest for the project.

The winner, Cbus Property, is owned by an industry superannuation fund for the construction, building, infrastructure and allied industries.

Its other projects include a new 63,000 square metre building for the National Australia Bank in Bourke Street, Melbourne, and a 33,860 square metre commercial and retail building in Martin Place, Sydney.

Cbus Property chief executive Adrian Pozzo said his company would put a team together to construct the building and it would include Brookfield Multiplex.

Mr Pozzo said he was delighted to be involved in the project, saying it would double the investment of Cbus's superannuation funds in Queensland.

"The government decided to make it happen; make it happen in a short time frame. With other projects in other states, it doesn't happen that quickly," he said.

Mr Nicholls said the government had opted for Cbus Property because the design was modern, addressed the climate and the aspect of the river.

Mr Nicholls said the government had confidence the developer could deliver on the project and this certainty was important in selecting a bidder.

Mr Seeney said the government had worked closely with Brisbane City Council on the project and he did not anticipate any hold-ups in the planning process.

It is unclear what will now happen to several other government-owned parcels of land in the nearby part of the CBD.

Mr Seeney said he would carry out a "precinct planning process" to work out the future of the area.

Asked about Mr Newman's previous comments that the existing executive building on the corner of George and Mary streets would be knocked down, Mr Seeney said: "I think that would be a natural outcome of the renewal of that precinct."

Mr Seeney said it was fair to assume a new building "of some sort" would be constructed at the executive building site.

He said the government did not want to undertake the process of planning the other parcels of land until after the 1 William Street building was under way.

Mr Seeney said 1 William Street was the "first domino" in a process that would revitalise the parliamentary end of the CBD.

"I don't think it should be seen in isolation from the opportunity to develop the remainder of the precinct," he said.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state had "higher priorities than a new office tower for the Premier and LNP Ministers who have spent their time in office making life harder for others".

"This will not be a happy Christmas for tens of thousands of Queensland families thanks to the LNP's mass sackings and savage cuts to frontline services," Ms Palaszczuk said.

Ms Palaszczuk called on Mr Nicholls to release any Treasury or Queensland Treasury Corporation advice behind the decision.

"We need to see the cost to taxpayers of renting the new building and the duration of leases.

"We need to see the advice that says it is better for taxpayers if the government shifts from being a landlord to a tenant.

"We know the Queensland Treasury Corporation has told the government that owning its office blocks is the preferred option."

Ms Palaszczuk said the government also needed to explain whether it was selling other government buildings in the Brisbane CBD.

"In particular there are a several heritage buildings such as The Mansions and Harris Terrace in George Street whose future and suitable use must be guaranteed," she said.

Asked whether the new building was a Christmas present to Mr Newman, Mr Nicholls said: "I think this is a Christmas present to the construction industry."

The new building will include just 318 car parks but would have high office energy and water ratings.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/green-light-for-cbd-skyscraper-20121221-2bqns.html

[Stillwater]

Send the Maroon Glider via 1 William Street, perhaps?

[ozbob]

Albert St station (CRR) will be handy .... " Wake up Ozbob!  You have fallen alseep at the keyboard again " ..

Oh, I had a dream .... 

[colinw]

What are you worrying about, there's a freeway ramp!  :conf

[ozbob]

http://johnquiggin.com/2012/12/21/tanstaafl-3/

TANSTAAFL
December 21st, 2012 John Quiggin

At about the same time as announcing that Queensland was an economic basket case, requiring large scale sackings of public employees to balance the books, the Newman government called for tenders for a project that, among other things, involves demolishing the 1970s office tower in which the Premier, Deputy Premier and Treasurer work, and replacing it with a spiffy new one. Some might see a contradiction here, but according to Treasurer Tim Nicholls, the new building "won't cost taxpayers a cent".

I'm tempted to say "if you believe that, I have a bridge for sale", but of course Australian governments of both parties have become adept in bogus sales of bridges, roads and assets of all kinds. So, I'll quote the famous aphorism, There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

In the case of the "free lunch" apparently offered by US bars in the past, it's clear enough that you are unlikely to get the lunch more than once if you don't order a beer or two, and that the price of the lunch is included in that of the beer. In a complex transaction like the current one, it's not immediately obvious how we are paying for Mr Nicholls' new office. Some of it is in the 15-year lease payable to the owners of the new building, some of it in land being given away with the deal and some of it, probably, in valuable rights being handed over free of charge. What we do know is that, when you can't see the price of what you are buying it's almost certainly higher than if you paid upfront.

Of course, we have a Commission of Audit, headed by former Treasurer Peter Costello, that is supposed to expose dodgy transactions in the State's books. The Committee prepared its draft report over the same period as this deal was going down. The government hasn't released the report. An amusing, but unlikely, possibility is that the Commission actually did its job and criticised this boondoggle, leading the government to bury the report. More likely, Costello has done his job by helping to create the panic needed to justify 20 000 sackings, and is now just an embarrassment.

No free lunch?  Someone has been telling porkie pies ...



* TANSTAAFL = "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

[ozbob]

What are you worrying about, there's a freeway ramp!  :conf

318 car parks, oh dear .... how will they cope the poor dears ....

"I can't park my car!  This building sucks ...  "

[colinw]

318 car parks.  Even with one occupant per car that is still catering for 3.18 times as many people from the sprawl as will be able to catch the train from Springfield Central. 

Our priorities in SEQ are completely skewed, and sadly recent discussions on this board lead me to conclude that we are as much a part of the problem as anyone ...

[somebody]

sadly recent discussions on this board lead me to conclude that we are as much a part of the problem as anyone ...

Do you mean the discussions about car parks on the Springfield line?  There are planned to be 950 free car parks on the line.  What is the appropriate number of free car parks?

[colinw]

Not specifically that thread, although it contributes.

Your 950 car parks example is completely skewed, as those car parks are mostly at Richlands, and are already spoken for by residents of Forest Lake.  Springfield residents will find their meagre supply of parking gone in short order, and in order to reach Richlands will find themselves on a nice upgraded motorway, at which point they will probably drive to the city anyway.

The Springfield extension is shaping up as a typical Queensland flop. Unless TransLink manages to pull out a usable feeder bus network that people actually use, the patronage from Springfield Central is going to be low.

[somebody]

Yes well those Forest Lake residents should be given an incentive to use feeder buses which should also be ramped up.  And this is where we should be directing our efforts if you ask me.

So I don't think it's skewed at all.

[colinw]

Yes well those Forest Lake residents should be given an incentive to use feeder buses which should also be ramped up.

What, so people from Springfield can ignore their own inadequate stations and drive to them?  Agree there should be better feeder buses, that is a given, but if the Richlands car parks aren't for the local residents who are they for?

Can anybody on this forum actually give a credible story as to how the Springfield line, in its current proposed form, is actually going to work and attract a decent amount of patronage from beyond Richlands?

Anyway, we've gone OT here (mea culpa), and should take this out of this thread.

[ozbob]

No doubt CityCycle will have a role to play in William Street ....  :bi   

[somebody]

Yes well those Forest Lake residents should be given an incentive to use feeder buses which should also be ramped up.

What, so people from Springfield can ignore their own inadequate stations and drive to them?

I'd say so that (a) people that don't want to use a feeder bus are given an option of paying the extra and being able park 'n' ride if that is what they want to do.  An interesting blog post here actually:

Agree there should be better feeder buses, that is a given, but if the Richlands car parks aren't for the local residents who are they for?

Well people that don't want to pay to park are given the choice to use a more reasonable feeder bus and people that are happy to pay are still able to park at 9am.

There are also residents of Carole Park etc.  There seems to be something strongly held in the culture of Brisbane which is dead against such a concept.

Anyway, my main objection to that thread was the amount of time spent talking about (presumably) free parking spaces, while no one really was interested in the feeder buses.  That, and arguing that people from Greenbank and Redbank Plains would want to use Springfield Central - Richlands is perfectly acceptable if they are driving that far anyway.

Can anybody on this forum actually give a credible story as to how the Springfield line, in its current proposed form, is actually going to work and attract a decent amount of patronage from beyond Richlands?

Anyway, we've gone OT here (mea culpa), and should take this out of this thread.

I can't see how Richlands will get a huge workout on the current urban form.

So if that is not it then what is meant by this:

sadly recent discussions on this board lead me to conclude that we are as much a part of the problem as anyone ...

Or does it not bear talking about?

[ozbob]

[#Metro]

Maybe they can put a decent busway style stop there now that the exec building might go and there is development at 1 william street.

[somebody]

Maybe they can put a decent busway style stop there now that the exec building might go and there is development at 1 william street.

No need for concrete.

[haakon]

one of the free cbd loop bus routes goes down william street and the other is less than a block away.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yeah. It needs a glass bus shelter stop with bright lights instead of a few seats.

[Golliwog]

Maybe they can put a decent busway style stop there now that the exec building might go and there is development at 1 william street.

No need for concrete.

Except for CRR! If they're going to redo this precinct then it makes sense to tie in decent PT. It's 1.2km to the nearest train station, around 700m to QSBS and 900m to KGSBS/Adelaide St. CRR is needed for many more reasons than this, but if you can get private money towards it by tying it to some new buildings down that end of town then why not?

[somebody]

Right.  Of course CRR is needed, but this is only a minor reason for it, not a major one.

[Jonno]

Love how the video convienieny forget to show the 2 freeway off ramps thus us stuck between.  Elephant What Elephhant?

Oh to get our river bank back!!

[Mr X]

Love how the video convienieny forget to show the 2 freeway off ramps thus us stuck between.  Elephant What Elephhant?

Oh to get our river bank back!!

Shows them at 1:05 and 1:32?

Agree about the riverbank. The expressway is hideous. It isn't even a proper motorway.

[Jonno]

Love how the video convienieny forget to show the 2 freeway off ramps thus us stuck between.  Elephant What Elephhant?

Oh to get our river bank back!!

Shows them at 1:05 and 1:32?

Agree about the riverbank. The expressway is hideous. It isn't even a proper motorway.

Sorry I meant in the close up foyer/ground floor shots!

[Jonno]

For my point 2 above this link explains why we need to minimize motor vehicle usage.

http://theconversation.edu.au/is-modern-transport-making-war-on-the-human-body-10335

Finally, the 60-75% mark is the % of trips in a city than can be made by public and active transport. The remainder must be made by motor vehicle due to the nature of the trip/goods, etc.

[#Metro]

I think that article takes a "slow everything down and the world will be much better" approach, which I don't agree with. People value speed both vehicle speed and in the sense of low journey times. The way developers meet these current goals is to have high speed arterial and sub arterial roads / freeways and then terminate these in long windy roads, cul de sacs, circuitous roads in local suburbia plus lots of traffic calming. This is what results in totally anti-PT suburban design where you have buses trapped in mazes and bumpy rides for passengers. If you've had to catch 230 and 235 down LaTrobe Street in Wooloongabba and experienced being becalmed between traffic calming devices/crawling over bumps, you'll know what I mean.

Not everywhere can be a mall. Furthermore arguments advanced on the grounds of (localised, at least) pollution are going to have a problem as in the future it is likely vehicles will be electric. Further down the track, these energy sources may even be renewable/low emission, hence making pollution arguments redundant.

Is the 70% mark of trips purely PEAK HOUR or ALL DAY? Because if it is all day, it would imply metro systems everywhere, something that costs $300 million/km which is another problem with this forecast separate to the problem that current pax is around ~7% PT patronage all day in suburban areas.

[Jonno]

For my point 2 above this link explains why we need to minimize motor vehicle usage.

http://theconversation.edu.au/is-modern-transport-making-war-on-the-human-body-10335

Finally, the 60-75% mark is the % of trips in a city than can be made by public and active transport. The remainder must be made by motor vehicle due to the nature of the trip/goods, etc.

I posted in wrong thread

[nathandavid88]

60,000 m2 puts 3,000 employees in the only part of the CBD remote from rail. The 15 min walk to Roma St, Central or South Bank station will be enough deterrent for many. If only there was a rail station nearby!

I don't think it's going to be much of a deterrent at all considering it's only a couple of minutes of extra walk from where the majority of these same employees currently work – the Executive Building. I don't see there being any need to specifically adjust public transport on account of 1 William Street. People working at the Executive Building, Public Works Building and Neville Bonner Buildings appear to be able to get there perfectly well as it is, likewise people studying at QUT Gardens Point.

Better spreading out the bus stops throughout the CBD (as opposed to all buses lead to Adelaide St) would definitely be a good idea, as would a proper decent Loop service, but these things don't need to be done just because of 1 William Street.

[ozbob]

JOINT STATEMENT
Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney
Treasurer and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Tim Nicholls

Ground-breaking milestone for 1 William Street Project

The Newman Government today broke new ground on the 1 William Street development, marking a major milestone on a project that will create more than 1,000 jobs each year during construction.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney and Treasurer and Minister for Trade Tim Nicholls joined representatives from successful contractors Cbus Property today to celebrate the latest step forward in the 1 William Street Project.

Participating in the official sod turning, Mr Nicholls said the 1 William Street Project was a key part of the Government's strategy to stimulate the construction industry, one of the Government's four economic pillars.

"As Cbus Property indicated, when we announced the award of this Project just a few months ago, more than 1,000 direct jobs per year will be required on site as the development proceeds, which will also have a positive impact on indirect jobs and the overall economy," Mr Nicholls said.

"At present, between consultants and the main contractor, there are more than 200 people working on the early stages of the project."

Mr Nicholls said the 1 William Street development was the largest commercial office building in Queensland and one of the largest in Australia.

"Since the announcement of Cbus Property as the successful tenderer, development work, both on and off site, has been proceeding at a great pace," he said.

"On site, geotechnical and soil investigations have been undertaken, while various surveys have been completed on and around the location.

"Off site, the developer's team has been refining the design of the building and site and preparing documents for the necessary Development Approval applications required from the Brisbane City Council (BCC) to start works."

Mr Seeney said the timely approval process was helped by the team's professionalism in preparing the documents for approval and the spirit of cooperation and collaboration from State agencies and the BCC.

"While it is very early in the delivery process, the fast pace they have set now means that works are proceeding well ahead of the original development program," Mr Seeney said.

"This is a very large project and the excavation and foundation work will be the major activity on site for the next 10 months or so."

Mr Seeney said the site at 1 William St had been a dusty carpark for years and the development would reinvigorate the upper George Street part of Brisbane.

"Cbus Property's development will revitalise the site and is the first stage in delivering a mixed-use precinct that will facilitate greater community use of the northern bank of the Brisbane River," he said.

Once complete, the 75,000 square metre office tower will become home to Queensland's public service.

It will also rationalise the Government's CBD office portfolio and save taxpayers about $60 million every year.

The 1 William St Project is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

[ENDS] 4 March, 2013

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/6/19/public-comment-sought-on-precinct-redevelopment

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney

Public comment sought on precinct redevelopment

The Queensland Government has today launched an online survey for people to have their say on how the Brisbane Government Precinct can be redeveloped.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the survey was an easy way for the public to provide their feedback and vision for the underutilised precinct.

"Now that 1 William Street is clearly proceeding, the time has come to engage the community in an extensive consultation process to define the redevelopment of the broader government precinct," Mr Seeney said.

"We want the public to have their say on how they believe the precinct could best be renewed, what sites should be involved and what the appropriate uses for those sites may be.

"Should a casino be ruled in or out, what are the best uses for the heritage buildings that will be preserved as part of the precinct redevelopment and how will that redevelopment appropriately relate to Parliament House, 1 William Street and the Brisbane River?

"This is a unique opportunity to revitalise the George Street end of the Central Business District, which includes Heritage listed buildings which date back to our city beginnings."

Mr Seeney said the government would seek private sector investment to revitalise the areas through a mix of new uses which could include retail, quality hotels, cultural activities, entertainment and convention facilities.

He said the government's invitation for community input of the redevelopment would remain open until 2 September this year.

"We will host several community events in the Brisbane CBD to give the public the opportunity to talk to the Queensland Government team about the project.

"We will also talk to peak industry bodies and Brisbane City Council to ensure a broad cross section of opinion is provided. The public will also be invited to be part of the community reference group.

"Brisbane City Council is currently working on its new City Centre Master Plan and the Government will work with it to ensure the precinct's redevelopment is in line with this plan.

"The next major step after public feedback will be to call for Expressions of Interest for the private sector to put forward their proposals for the precinct."

To find out more about the community events, community reference group and access the online survey visit www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/precinct.

[ENDS] 19 June 2013

[nathandavid88]

This is a very important survey to have a say in, as it's the largest inner city redevelopment since South Bank and has the potential to change the face of the city in a big way. I definitely recommend taking some time out to do the survey.

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/10/14/integrated-development-for-government-precinct

Media Statements
JOINT STATEMENT

Premier
The Honourable Campbell Newman
Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney
Monday, October 14, 2013

Integrated development for government precinct

The Newman Government will seek proposals for an integrated development through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the redevelopment of the government precinct in Brisbane's CBD.

Premier Campbell Newman said the outcome must be a landmark development that stamped Queensland and Brisbane on the world stage as an international destination.

"The redevelopment of the precinct presents a once in a generation opportunity for Brisbane and the Government has considered a range of development scenarios for the precinct," Mr Newman said.

"Market sounding has indicated the best outcome for the precinct and for the protection of heritage sites will be achieved through an integrated development."

Mr Newman said the redevelopment could provide new six star hotels, retail, restaurant and entertainment zones, theatre and convention facilities and new open spaces.

"The Government has decided that a casino licence will be offered in the EOI process to encourage the provision of a world class integrated development in Brisbane's CBD," he said.

Mr Newman and Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney also announced today that the State Government would consider making two other casino licences available for major integrated resort developments in other parts of Queensland.

"The Government believes Queensland can sustain up to three new integrated resort casinos and believes there would be strong interest in other parts of the state," Mr Newman said.

Mr Seeney said the EOI for the government precinct redevelopment would go to the market by the end of the year.

He said such a massive project would deliver significant boosts to both the construction and tourism sectors of the state economy.

"Integrated developments including casinos have proven their ability to increase visitor numbers and stays elsewhere in the world. They are not just casinos as we have previously seen in Queensland; in fact, the casino is only part of these major developments which are tourism drawcards in their own right," Mr Seeney said.

"Singapore's foreign visitor numbers were declining in 2008 and 2009. When two integrated resorts with casinos (Marina Bay Sands and Resort World Sentosa) opened in 2010 visitor numbers rose by more than 20 per cent.

"The resorts contributed $3.7 billion to Singapore's gross domestic product during the first nine months of operation, of which only $720 million was attributed to gaming tax.

"We believe the redevelopment of Brisbane's government precinct could lead to similar benefits for Queensland.

"There is no doubt a project of this scope and size holds enormous potential for the development and tourism sectors, for the residents of Brisbane and visitors to the city."

Mr Seeney said officers of his department had met with the Singaporean Government regarding the establishment of the resorts in Singapore and they would test the appetite in Asia and North America to enter the EOI for Brisbane.

A Probity Code of Practice will be established for the precinct project and an independent probity adviser will be appointed to oversee the EOI and selection process. The probity adviser appointee will be announced before the process begins.

Mr Seeney said when the EOI for the government precinct was released the government would also release a draft Queensland Casino Policy for public comment.

The policy will guide the state's future approach to casinos and gaming.

"The policy will consider issues such as market capacity, implications of additional licences on existing and future operations, financial implications for the state, community interests and social implications," he said.

[ENDS] 14 October 2013

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney

Precinct Probity Adviser appointed

Plans to redevelop the rundown government precinct in Brisbane are advancing with the announcement today of the appointment of former Queensland Auditor General Len Scanlan as probity adviser.

Deputy Premier and State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jeff Seeney told Parliament the appointment of Mr Scanlan by the Government would ensure the evaluation process would be beyond reproach.

"Mr Scanlan is well known in Government and professional circles and his appointment will be important to the process running smoothly and ensure it will pass any scrutiny," Mr Seeney said.

"We recently said we were looking for an integrated resort where a casino licence will be offered to encourage a world class development which will reinvigorate this historic precinct that was left to languish under the previous government.

"Labor paid little attention to the construction industry, but it is being reinvigorated as one of the four pillars of the economy by the Newman Government and this project will give the sector a bigger boost.

"We have made it clear that the state is open for business and Government officers will shortly leave to test the appetite of North American and Asian developers for this once in a generation opportunity.

"We are keen to engage overseas interests, to ensure the state gets the best possible development.

"What we will deliver is an open, fair and equitable process with all potential bidders having the same opportunity to win the tender."

Mr Seeney said Mr Scanlan was one of two key appointments with business consulting firm BDO appointed as probity consultants.

"The roles of the consultants and Mr Scanlan will oversee the accountability process from start to finish," he said.

The Expression of Interest process, starting with Registrations of Interest for the Government Precinct Redevelopment, is set to commence by the end of the year.

The EOI period is expected to be concluded by the end of March 2014 and following assessment and shortlisting a Request for Detailed Proposals issued by the end of June 2014.

A decision on the successful proponent is expected to be finalised by mid-2015.

[ENDS] 31 October 2013


BACKGROUND - LEN SCANLAN

Len Scanlan held the position of Auditor-General of Queensland from December 1997 until December 2004. In this role he was also the chief executive officer of the Queensland Audit Office. Prior to his appointment as Auditor-General he held the position of Assistant Auditor-General (4 years) with the Queensland Audit Office.

As the Queensland Parliament's external auditor he was responsible for the audits of all local governments and State public sector entities, including government departments, statutory bodies, government-owned corporations, government companies and the controlled entities of these organizations.

He was a career Queensland public servant for 31 years working in the former Department of the Auditor-General with experience in external audit, policy and planning and audit services development. He served with the Premier's Department (inter-governmental relations), the Transport Department (policy and planning) and the Queensland Treasury (financial management policy).

Mr Scanlan is a graduate of Queensland Institute of Technology (now QUT) with a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy).

He also holds degrees in Arts, Public Administration and Master of Public Administration (UQ).

He is a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Institute of Internal Auditors (Australia), the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Auditor-General questions 1 William Street tower project

Queensland's auditor-general has questioned whether the state government got value for money from its CBD revamp.

No business case was developed for the William Street tower, a government agency hub to be built by the private sector opposite Parliament House.

Auditor-General Andrew Greaves says government policy wasn't followed and alternatives weren't investigated such as direct public sector ownership or leasing at other locations.

"While the costs associated with 1 William Street may represent value for money, it was not determined before the decision was taken, or subsequently, that it epitomises value for the state," the report said ...

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/auditorgeneral-questions-1-william-street-tower-project-20131210-2z3ss.html

[STB]

Brisbanetimes --> Auditor-General questions 1 William Street tower project

Queensland's auditor-general has questioned whether the state government got value for money from its CBD revamp.

No business case was developed for the William Street tower, a government agency hub to be built by the private sector opposite Parliament House.

Auditor-General Andrew Greaves says government policy wasn't followed and alternatives weren't investigated such as direct public sector ownership or leasing at other locations.

"While the costs associated with 1 William Street may represent value for money, it was not determined before the decision was taken, or subsequently, that it epitomises value for the state," the report said ...

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/auditorgeneral-questions-1-william-street-tower-project-20131210-2z3ss.html

And with that money, we could've afforded a proper CRR. 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> New state government HQ will cost Queensland taxpayers $1b in rent

[Jonno]

Brisbanetimes --> Auditor-General questions 1 William Street tower project

Queensland's auditor-general has questioned whether the state government got value for money from its CBD revamp.

No business case was developed for the William Street tower, a government agency hub to be built by the private sector opposite Parliament House.

Auditor-General Andrew Greaves says government policy wasn't followed and alternatives weren't investigated such as direct public sector ownership or leasing at other locations.

"While the costs associated with 1 William Street may represent value for money, it was not determined before the decision was taken, or subsequently, that it epitomises value for the state," the report said ...

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/auditorgeneral-questions-1-william-street-tower-project-20131210-2z3ss.html

And with that money, we could've afforded a proper CRR. 

Which is why the argument that we can't afford CRR or doing the BUM properly is absolute b%*#!%*t. It is a choice to not afford it !

[#Metro]

Which is why the argument that we can't afford CRR or doing the BUM properly is absolute b%*#!%*t. It is a choice to not afford it !

A building can be resold as there is demand for others to use that space. The BUM tunnel will be built at a net economic loss (from the private sector perspective) as the user fees will not cover the cost of construction over the lifecycle of the infrastructure hence it is a gov't project.

Think about the bus and train components separately for a moment. The train needs to dive down around Dutton Pk to get into the alignment. Now ignore the train component and focus on bus. Is there any justification for building a bus tunnel on such a bizzare and odd alignment? Unlikely. Buses should enter at W'Gabba - this would also allow eastern bus services to use the tunnel too.