“Development con job”
If the populace took to dancing in the streets in joyous celebration following the release of images of the proposed Victoria Park stadium I must have missed it.
According to the architects the design aims to “really integrate a very, almost humble and tenacious Queensland approach to the physical expression of the stadium” whatever that means with the roof said to be inspired by the verandah of a classic Queenslander home. Really?
A more sanguine view was expressed on Facebook by local resident, former deputy lord mayor and councillor, acclaimed artist and well-respected nice bloke David Hinchcliffe.
“The new ‘artist impressions’ of the ‘$3.8b’ stadium are as much a fantasy as the promised cost. As an artist and a former deputy mayor of Brisbane I have learnt how to distinguish between reality and artistic fantasy and a development con job,” he said.
Six years to go and all we have are some very pretty computer-generated impressions complete with lots of computer-generated trees and shrubs and enough media releases to fill Suncorp Stadium. There are some interesting times ahead.
Teneriffe banks on guard dogs
According to newly erected signage at the Teneriffe Banks riverfront development site in Skyring Terrace, “the transformation begins,” an allusion we must presume to the start of construction, much delayed due to the inconvenience caused by the difficulty in finding someone prepared to build it.
As part of this announcement signs proclaiming “WARNING. GUARD DOGS ON SITE” were erected complete with images of snarling, teeth-baring Alsatians for the benefit of those passersby who may have failed to appreciate the canines’ ability to tear you limb from limb should they ever escape the confines of the site.
Several days after they were erected the signs disappeared. Perhaps someone in authority belatedly realised that boasting of having snarling, salivating attack dogs on site did not fit well within the Newstead-Teneriffe neighbourhood. No sign yet of guard towers, searchlights, sirens and razor wire but I’ll keep you informed.
2026: bound to repeat history?
Ever the optimist – well, mostly apart from those rare moments when my cynicism overwhelms, which is quite often – your correspondent looks forward to 2026 while fearing some things will stay the same.
Population density will continue to be an issue as the council continues on its path to allow ever increasing apartment tower heights, existing development approvals now routinely withdrawn and resubmitted with an extra 10 or more levels added and just as routinely approved with inconsequential modifications. Is there a limit to corporate greed disguised as “solving the housing crisis”, aided and abetted by the council? Apparently not.
Will the neighbourhood continue to be used as a canine urinal by dog owners who stand blithely by as their dogs leave puddles and streams of urine around or over which pedestrians have to step or will they realise that this is gross, anti-social behaviour?
Show some civic pride and consideration for your fellow residents and carry a water bottle to rinse the puddles away. Thank you!
Keep our streets clean
It can rain a lot in the River City in January as we have been made painfully aware in the past so perhaps it might be a good idea if the council despatched a team of workers to clean the gutters which have become blocked with leaves.
Heavy rainfall and drains blocked with leaves and general detritus are a dangerous combination. If it can find millions to contribute to the cost of Olympic infrastructure then it should be able to spare a few dollars to keep our gutters clean. It might also care to reseal the surfaces of streets which have been trashed by construction site trucks but I appreciate that would be asking too much.
Happy New Year!
Have your say on valley plan
The Brisbane City Council has used the Christmas-New Year holiday break to quietly reveal a plan to significantly increase building heights and remove current planning restrictions in Fortitude Valley, James Street and parts of Newstead in a move which could materially alter the character and look of these precincts.
Never heard of the Fortitude Valley Sustainable Growth Precinct Plan? You are not alone but according to the council, “community engagement” began on December 8 around the same time people were distracted by the forthcoming holiday season.
Residents only had until February 15 to comment.
According to the council, the plan “will allow additional height in a dedicated area which will support more homes (“homes” is now code for “apartments”) sooner and economic revitalisation while boosting lifestyle opportunities.”
Not surprisingly, the 2032 Olympics are being used as cover to throw out existing planning schemes put in place a mere 15 years ago to strike a balance between residents’ lifestyle and development.
According to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, “by enabling new homes and backing the valley’s live music and creative industries we’re strengthening its day-and-night-time economy and protecting the character that makes this precinct unique”.
Just how one might protect the unique character of a suburb by demolishing existing low rise buildings and replacing them with high rise apartment blocks and filling an already overstretched road system of narrow streets with thousands of additional cars has not been made clear.
But wait! There’s more! The plan to building towering apartment blocks will be “protecting our suburban bushland”. Really?
The council says a draft precinct plan allowing community feedback will be available sometime this year and plans to have it adopted in the City Plan by next year.
Sounds like a done deal to me unless there is a significant public outcry.
