Destination Brisbane Consortium’s proposal for the $3-billion Queen’s Wharf precinct in Brisbane has been officially approved after a (predictably) contentious development application process.
According to the proposal, the integrated resort project will occupy 12 hectares of land in an under-utilised section of the south-west corner of Brisbane’s CBD. A further 15.3 hectares is also likely to be used. This will make the Queen’s Wharf casino the largest single urban redevelopment in Queensland history.
Making use of existing heritage buildings along with new structures, the project will include five hotels, a casino, 50 bars and restaurants, retail space, and a number of other amenities and attractions. A Grimshaw-designed pedestrian bridge will connect the new development to South Bank.
The project site currently accommodates 13 existing buildings. Eight of these are heritage-listed and will be retained. The other four will be demolished. Towers of up to 74 storeys will be among the new buildings developed.
In 2015, the Destination Brisbane Consortium won the right to develop the site. Architects responsible for the project include Jerde Partnership, Cottee Parker, Grimshaw, ML Design, Urbis and Cusp.
Despite the recent approval, the project has been criticised by the likes of the Australian Institute of Architects and Australian Institute of Landscape Architects for its close location to the seat of Queensland’s government.
Now that approval has been granted, work is anticipated to begin this year. Construction is due to be completed by 2022.
