CityHoward Centre Smith Master Wharves Plan Revitalisation Project Planning Institute of Australia ‘Game Changers’ Seminar 17 October 2017

Rebecca Arnaud, Principal Urban Planner Urban Renewal Overview • Site context • Early history • Initial DA, master plan and local plan amendment • 2011 flood • CCMP and Ideas Fiesta • Request for proposals • HSW consortium • Current DA Context

• Located between Brisbane City and Fortitude Valley • Approximately 3.43 hectares in size • Collection of significant buildings and surviving sections of wharfage along the riverfront History: 1930s-60s

• Wharves constructed by the Government in the 1930s • Howard Smith Co. Ltd shipping company leased the site until the 1960s • Five air raid shelters constructed in WWII History: 1960s onwards

• Site largely vacant since the 1960s • State heritage listed in 1997 and Council listed in 2000 – Rare evidence of pre-1940 port of Brisbane in the city centre – Rare collection of three ‘pillbox’ and two ‘pipe’ air raid shelters – Aesthetic significance (cliffs and ) Recent planning history timeline Transfer of site from State to Council

• In 2002, Council and State signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Council to acquire the HSW site through an exchange of land agreement • Council acquired the HSW site in 2004 • MOU required that the site be primarily used for public open space or parkland (i.e., not commercial uses) City Centre Master Plan 2006

• Strong community support to revitalise HSW site • The City Centre Master Plan 2006 included HSW as a demonstration project – Positioned site as an activated public space with connections to New Farm – Proposed some commercial elements Application for commercial uses

• In 2007, Council sought approval from the State to allow commercial uses on the site • State granted consent subject to conditions – New buildings could not exceed 10% of total site area – Site must stay in public ownership – Revenue generated must be invested in parkland/open space – No residential development allowed on the site 2009 DA proposal

• DA (preliminary approval) was approved to allow tourism-focused commercial uses on the site (e.g., hotels, restaurants and tour boat operations) to accompany parkland and community facilities • An appeal was lodged and in 2010 Council decided not to proceed with the DA 2009 DA approval Planning scheme amendments

• In 2010, Council commenced two planning scheme amendments to facilitate renewal of the HSW site – City Plan amendments (Howard Smith Wharves amendments to the New Farm and Teneriffe Hill Local Plan) to enable revitalisation of the site via code assessment – A new Park Management Planning Scheme Policy to enable park works (e.g., stairs and a lift) via code assessment Local Plan amendment

• HSW sub-precinct in the New Farm and Teneriffe Hill Local Plan – Emphasises parkland, public access, heritage values and mixed use intentions for the site – Allows for range of uses to be code assessable – Includes code provisions for building height, gross floor area, building separation and site cover – Specifies where development can occur • In September 2010, amendment sent to State Government for 1st State Interest Review Local Plan amendment

• Land use overview – 80% open space – 10% heritage buildings – 10% new development • No residential development • Cliffs remain visually prominent 2011 flooding

• The HSW site was affected by the January 2011 floods • Amendment was with State at the time • In August 2011, the Minister advised that Council could not proceed with the proposed amendment 2011 Brisbane River flooding

1. Behind Water Police building (western portion of site looking east)

2. View from Bowen Terrace

4. View from Kangaroo Point 3. In front of Water Police building Resolution after the floods

• In December 2012, the Minister advised that Council could publicly notify the proposed amendment • Notification occurred from 22 February to 10 April 2013 • Twenty-eight properly-made submissions were received – Support for public open space, reuse of heritage building and better connections with the river – Opposition to hotel uses on the site • Council adopted the amendment in November 2013 New City Centre Master Plan

• Council had commenced the new City Centre Master Plan process • Included a 3-week long ‘Ideas Fiesta’ in April/May 2013 – Local architecture and design firms prepared concepts for key sites across the city, including the HSW site – Council and partners presented 17 community events at various sites (e.g., picnics, laneway and park events), including the HSW site – Community invited to have their say at these events Ideas Fiesta 2013 at HSW CCMP 2014 released

• Identifies HSW as one of six priority projects for the city centre • Concept designs included in the CCMP are indicative and to guide community discussion • Later in 2014, the New Farm Riverwalk was also completed HSW revitalisation project

• In 2013, Council invited the development industry to submit Request for Proposals to revitalise HSW – Followed an earlier procurement process that was terminated after the January 2011 floods • In 2014, HSW Nominees announced as preferred candidate based on concept plans – 5-star hotel – Dining, retail and tourism uses in heritage buildings – Exhibition space – Public open spaces that could hold markets/festivals HSW Nominees: the plan Development approval

• The original development approval was issued in December 2015 (modified in March 2017) – Heritage buildings will be used for restaurants, bars and a brewery – New development will comprise a hotel and an event space • Construction started in May 2017, with construction lease until 2020 • Proposed staging in DA: – Stage 1: All public realm works, Building 2 (event space) and Buildings A, B, C and E (heritage buildings) – Stage 2: Building 1 (hotel) Lessons learned

• Great planning takes time and collaboration • Clear and simple design parameters • Weighting of evaluation criteria • You will never think of everything • Parallel statutory planning with procurement and place making • Ongoing community engagement • Champions are vital Thank you