Archive for the 'Urban Renewal' Category

re: Centenary Square correction

Published
by
Valley Chamber
on July 21, 2008
in Press Releases and Urban Renewal
. 0 Comments

centenary-square.pngIt 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.

$10 million power boost for inner city suburbs

Published
by
Valley Chamber
on November 19, 2007
in Town Planning and Urban Renewal
. Closed

light-bulb1.pngUnprecedented 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’

Development

Published
by
Valley Chamber
on November 19, 2007
in Architecture, Community, New Development and Urban Renewal
. 0 Comments

development.jpg

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.

Valley p.m.

Published
by
Valley Chamber
on November 16, 2007
in Community, Entertainment Precinct and Urban Renewal
. 0 Comments

pm-overview.jpgOverview

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.

Business

Published
by
Valley Chamber
on November 14, 2007
in Architecture, New Development and Urban Renewal
. 0 Comments

business-forwin.jpgForwin 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.

MASSIVE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION OF VALLEY POLICE STATION

Published
by
Valley Chamber
on May 15, 2007
in Community, Urban Renewal and VEMP
. 0 Comments

Premier Peter Beattie has announced a massive expansion and renovation project for a Fortitude Valley icon building, the heritage-listed police station on the corner of Brookes and Wickham Street. Mr Beattie said the heritage-listed station will be subject to a Brisbane City Council Development Application and an EPA Heritage Council Submission.

Plans will be shortly be available to the public for feedback before work starts on the site. “The Valley Police Station is a Brisbane icon however police numbers have increased dramatically since it first opened more than 70 years ago,” Mr Beattie said. “While it’s a beautiful old building, it no longer meets the operational demands of modern day policing and does not have the room to accommodate future growth in policing numbers.”

Mr Beattie said Fortitude Valley is one of the busiest entertainment precincts in Queensland. “On any given weekend up to 60,000 people visit the area to enjoy its markets, restaurants and night life,” Mr Beattie said. “This has necessitated an increase in police numbers in the area, to respond to issues and maintain public safety.”

Minister for Public Works, Robert Schwarten said the project would be managed by Public Works in two stages:
• Stage I - construction of a two-storey building next to the existing heritage-listed station, connected by walkway links on each level;
• Stage II - a major internal refurbishment of the existing station.
Continue reading ‘MASSIVE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION OF VALLEY POLICE STATION’

A BRIGHT FUTURE PREDICTED

Published
by
Valley Chamber
on April 25, 2007
in Local Plan and Urban Renewal
. 0 Comments

brightstar.pngFORTITUDE Valley is set to lead the way in innovative urban planning following a positive meeting between Brisbane City Council and key stakeholders.

Council’s Urban Renewal Brisbane has met with representatives of the Valley Chamber of Commerce (VCOC) Property Owner Committee and the wider community to discuss directions and future strategies for the area.

Urban Renewal representatives left the meeting indicating that further consultation will be undertaken to garner additional feedback to enable the development of a strategic plan to strengthen both the day and night economies of the Valley.

The Valley Chamber of Commerce has been actively involved in the collaborative process with Council to improve the day economy of the area through input into the detailed planning needed to manage long-term future growth of the Valley.
Continue reading ‘A BRIGHT FUTURE PREDICTED’