Welcome to the Valley Brief, an initiative of the Valley Chamber of Commerce. The objective of this news site is to keep property and business owners of Fortitude Valley informed and aware of the current and future directions and strategies for the area in terms of the Fortitude Valley Local Plan. Brisbane City Council will be finalising the Brisbane Local Growth Management Strategy in the second half of 2007 which will direct the future of the Fortitude Valley Local Plan, so it is our opportunity now to ensure the opinions of Valley Property and Business Owners is heard through ‘one voice’. The Valley Brief is that ‘one voice’. Thank you.
It has come to our attention that the item on Centenary Square which appeared on our website on 4 November 2007 may have implied that the architects of the base building were HBO+EMTB. In fact this is not the case. Rice Daubney are the architects of the Centenary Square base building and HBO+EMTB are in fact the interior designers of the office space occupied by Arup in the building. The article should also have made reference to the fact that copyright in the graphic material featured in the article is vested in Rice Daubney.
The article in its original form was based on material provided by a media organisation representing HBO+ EMTB and that organisation acknowledges that material provided to the valleybrief.com.au was inappropriately worded and could have implied that HBO+EMTB was not only the designer of the Arup interiors but also the base building, which it was not.
We apologise to Rice Daubney for this situation which was beyond our control.
Unprecedented residential and commercial growth in the Newstead, New Farm and Fortitude Valley area is the driving force behind a recently completed $10 million power upgrade by ENERGEX. Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said the massive upgrade now provided a more reliable and robust power supply to nearly 4000 homes and businesses in the local area.
“The project involved installing new equipment at the Newstead substation and additional underground cabling to allow for increased capacity in the local power network,” Mr Wilson said. “ENERGEX has recorded a yearly increase in electricity use of around 8.1% in the city’s CBD in recent years. “Power use in surrounding suburbs such as Newstead are also growing at similar high rates with many new connections each day. And it is these upgrades, in addition to ENERGEX’s associated CityGrid project works, that have given the local community a power network designed to withstand forecast growth for decades to come,” he said.
Member for Brisbane Central, Grace Grace, thanked local residents and businesses for their patience during necessary work and said the benefits to the community were significant as demand for electricity in the area continued to grow.
Continue reading ‘$10 million power boost for inner city suburbs’
Green Square Sets a Benchmark
The Green Square project, located on the corner of St Pauls Terrace and Constance Street is the largest mixed use Corporate Office Park developed in Brisbane over the last fifteen years. Developed by Leighton Properties, Green Square has been designed to accommodate up to 40,000sqm of A-grade commercial office space, high-tech utility facilities, community facilities, a childcare centre and residential precinct, all surrounding a retail plaza for staff and visitors. The South Tower with in the development is the first commercial building in Queensland to be awarded a Five Star Green Star rating achieving Australian Excellence in environmental sustainability. This building will also be home to approximately 1,000 Brisbane City Council field and office staff from branches of City Business, Customer and Community Services and iDivision. Completed in early August, tenants will progressively move in to their new office premises. As part of managing their transition several key issues arose, including transport advice on travel routes, personal safety and promoting the benefits of being located in the vibrant Valley area.
State Cabinet has today approved proposed amendments to the Drugs Misuse Act which will strengthen Queensland’s drug laws and provide increased maximum penalties for unlawful possession, supply and trafficking for a range of dangerous drugs.
Premier Anna Bligh said the Drugs Misuse Amendment Bill 2007 will mean maximum penalties for unlawful possession, supply and trafficking of ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) and ‘death’ (PMA) will be increased from 20 to 25 years.
“Under the Bill the Schedule 2 drugs ‘ecstasy’ and ‘death’ will be reclassified as Schedule 1 drugs which carry the greater penalties,” Ms Bligh said.
“Valium and Serapax as well as all drugs previously in Schedule 2A of the laws, such as steroids, Rohypnol (known as Flunitrazepam) and ephedrine, would be added to Schedule 2, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ jail for unlawful possession, supply or trafficking.”
Continue reading ‘QLD Gets Tougher on Drug Laws’
Overview
Glasses and cutlery are madly being polished, stocks are taken off the simmer, playlists are being sorted and taxi ranks take a breath as the chime of clocks at 6pm marks the beginning of the evening in Australia’s first designated Entertainment Precinct – the Valley. Its night economy has blossomed over the past decade, while the day trade is just picking up now. With all the highs that go with an Entertainment Precinct, there are also major challenges, especially managing the influx of people who want to absorb the savoury scents and raw energy oozing from the hundreds of take-away outlets, cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs within a 500-metre radius. The key to managing issues that raise their unwanted head is for private and government stakeholders to work together and realise the great potential that the precinct has on the community and businesses, and the positive flow-on effects for the economy as a whole. There are many interested parties here for the long term who are keen to work hard to see the Valley’s ongoing success.
On the 4th November, the New York Times published a piece on Fortitude Valley. The glowing editorial reflects the beliefs of the Valley Community and heralds the importance of developing the Valley while maintaining its heart and culture. Read the whole story.
Forwin International Forges Ahead
From 2000, Forwin has grown to new heights as a property investment, development and management firm and added several Valley properties to the company portfolio. From Chinatown Carpark to the redevelopment of the TC Beirne Centre into the new fashion mecca TCB, Carrington Chambers on the corner of Wickham and Gipps Streets, 3,000sqm commercial building at 31 Duncan Street and the refurbishment of 234 Wickham Street for completion in 2008. The organisation is continuously improving and developing upon new and emerging property opportunities. The most recent acquisition for Forwin was the last vacant piece of land on Wickham Street (at Gipps Street end) in June. They are very interested to find out the results of the Fortitude Valley Urban Vision to see how they best can utilise this prized purchase.
The Road to Effective Management
In 2002, a joint initiative of the State and Local Government suggested to Valley licensees that a pro-active and locally responsive group be formed to manage the issues associated with the consumption of alcohol. The result was VAMP – the Valley Alcohol Management Partnership, established in 2002. Les Pullos, the Chair of VAMP since 2005, has seen a great deal of growth and change in that time. “When I attended the first meeting along with Queensland Police, BCC, Dept of Communitees, other licensees and stakeholders, we immediately looked at pro-active measures to address possible future issues.” By 2005, VAMP had developed a comprehensive wishlist, so when the State Government implemented the 17-point Brisbane City Safety Action Plan in March, almost all of the suggestions on the list were realised. “While venues were not happy about the 3am lockout as it changed the vibrancy of the area, they were glad to see our changes implemented,” remarks Les. “The mainstreaming of our patronage now has introduced a lot of new challenges and we are keen to implement several more of the items on our new wishlist (refer page 09). To realise the potential of the Valley Entertainment Precinct, there needs to be an expectation that there will be large crowds, and strategies have to be introduced to manage those numbers. We also need to ensure new venues add other dimensions and vibrancy to the Valley, not to simply replicate what is here already. Unfortunately, we also have to accept that drugs are changing the dynamics of the night scene, and venues cannot be held totally responsible for dealing with that serious issue. We are keen to continue working with authorities to manage all of these issues and make the Valley an even safer and enjoyable Entertainment Precinct to work and visit.”
Director, Fentmont PTY LTD
How long have you been based in the Valley?
I was born in the Valley in 1964 and have either lived or worked here ever since.
Why did you base your business in the Valley?
My father purchased the California Cafe in 1952, a few years after arriving from Cyprus. Since 1971 the family company has purchased commercial properties in the area on Brunswick Street, including Carols Corner, and a few on Ann Street. I assist in managing the family operations, and am proud of what we have achieved in nurturing start-up businesses and especially fashion designers and boutiques which have made the Ann Street strip a Brisbane icon.
What other ties do you have with the Valley?
I am on the Mall’s Advisory Committee, a member of the Valley Chamber of Commerce and part of their Valley Property Group.
How has the Valley changed in that time?
The Valley has evolved into a vibrant multicultural community that has become Brisbane’s soul, from the early part of the century’s heydays as the Brisbane hub of retailing into Brisbane’s music capital. I would like to see property owners of heritage buildings, and those who rent out their shops for below market value so that young people can still have their dream of starting a business, be rewarded with reduced land tax and rates. Otherwise with no incentive to keep rents down it will be just the mainstream operators who can afford to be here.
What is your vision for the Valley?
Within ten years the Valley will be a place where the streets will be traffic-calmed and tree-lined, high-rise buildings will blend with the old, and small and independent businesses will complement the mainstream. Businesses like architects, web designers and the tech sector will flourish, and students and workers will continue to enjoy the cosmopolitan lifestyle and live work, study and play, all in a bustling environment.