Several 50-storey buildings between South Bank and West End could begin construction from March 2027 following recent plans for a sweeping redevelopment in South Brisbane.
The state government’s EDQ has now launched the Landmark Waterfront Development project as a response to the housing crisis, promising to deliver over 4,000 homes on the 7.1-hectare riverside site occupied by Visy’s glass recycling and manufacturing facility.
With proposed coastline and hinterland views, and an enabled build height up to the flight cap of 274 metres, this does not appear to be a small development.
Ed Haysom, our Village Voice columnist has written about the development and sees parallels to a similar riverside development in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (pictured).
“There are lessons to be learned from a very similar thing happened in Ho Chi Minh City on a site close to the CBD that was once an industrial and shipping place,” he said.
“The city wanted a mixture of high rise and retention of some of the old buildings but were overruled by Hanoi who handed the whole site to the market.
“They knocked down the historic wharves, building high rises and expensive villas.
“Despite the same claim about providing housing for the people, the rich moved into the development, and you can go onto the site now and play the game of “spot the local’’.
“It is a precinct for the wealthy, with security guards everywhere.”
Meanwhile, rowers in Brisbane are concerned that the development, just 500 metres from all rowing sheds at West End, could impact their sport.
Senior rower and long-term rowing administrator Ross Kynaston said he feared the development’s proposed river access infrastructure could alter existing riverbanks.
“I support renewal of the South Brisbane precinct; however, I do not support any development that involves reclamation or alteration of the existing riverbanks,” Mr Kynaston said.
“During my time at the club, I have experienced, first-hand, the devastating consequences of flooding on the club’s facilities and equipment and on neighbouring communities.
“Any proposal that reduces the river’s capacity or constrains its natural flow path will exacerbate existing flood risks to my club, the six other rowing clubs in the neighbourhood, and the broader Milton Reach community.
“Beyond the flooding implications, a reduction in river width will lead to increased flow velocities and heightened navigational hazards.
“The Milton Reach is one of the busiest sections of the Brisbane River, used daily by seven rowing clubs, and any narrowing of the river will reduce safety margins between powered and unpowered vessels.
“Sustainable renewal of the precinct must not come at the cost of increased flood risk, degraded river safety, or diminished public amenity on this vital community waterway.”
What do you think of building high rise apartments in South Brisbane? Do you think there should be river access for boats so close to rowing sheds?
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