In huge Cross River Rail news this week, demolition has begun on the CBD’s Hotel Jen, reports the State Government. 

The demolishment of the vacated property is the first of the major building removals for the project which will also include The Brisbane Transit Centre including the East and West Towers, the pedestrian bridge over Roma Street and some vehicle ramps.  The demolition phase for Brisbane’s first underground rail network will take around 12 months. 

The 18-floor Hotel Jen was originally opened as the Brisbane Travelodge in 1986. 

Cross River Rail minister Kate Jones said the demolition will start at the top of the building and work downwards, and was of one of Brisbane’s largest ever exercises. 

“Nothing says progress on a construction site like an 85-metre crane at work on a building completely engulfed in scaffolding,” Jones said.

Ms Jones said the project is crucial for avoiding bottlenecks in the future.  The project as a whole could generate up to 35,000 new jobs and $20 billion worth of new economic development.

“It allows us to run more trains more often across the whole of southeast Queensland. We expect that with Cross River Rail in place, an extra 47,000 people will choose rail instead of road by 2036,”Jones Said.

Hannah Schuhmann said this next step has the city buzzing! Not only is the removal of Hotel Jen and the Transit Centre crucial to make way for the $5.4 billion project, it will remove two of the largest eyesores in the CBD skyline.

ANZ Research have revised their property price prediction up for this year and have noted rapid recovery in the last six months, reports theadviser.com.au.

Low interest rates, confirmation around negative gearing and taxation from a federal government point of view, and easier access to credit are the main drivers of the rebound says the group.

Across the country, 8% price gains in property prices are expected this year, followed by another 4% in 2021. 

“Nationwide, we expect prices to rise solidly in 2020, but we think the pace of monthly gains will moderate, helped by rising new listings,” the research group told the publication. 

Independent property value firm, Herron Todd White show in their latest ‘National Property Clock’ that house prices in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney are at the start of the ‘recovery phase.’

HTW executive director valuation and advisory Drew Hendrey told domain.com.au that the property outlook for Brisbane this year is bright. Unit stocks are beginning to be absorbed and intestate migration to the region is being driven by retirees.  

“Brisbane will have a good year off the back of the growth in Sydney and Melbourne,” he said.

Hannah Schuhmann said now is the ideal time to buy in our great city. Infrastructure investment is strong and the recovery phase that we are in now is the step before a ‘rising market.’

The draft vision for Brisbane’s 45 hectare Victoria Park  has been released, reports brisbanedevelopment.com.

The concept plan has been derived from 5400 ideas from the public along with advice from experts.

The conversion of the 18-hole golf course is proposed to include:

• Lake Barrambin – 1.4 hectare lake with kayaking encouraged
• Cultural Hub – The stand-out attraction 
• Suspended canopy walk and treehouse 
• Nature and Water Play Gully – a series of waterholes
• Urban Farm with farmgate to sell produce
• Wetlands
• Boardwalks
• Sports facilities including sports fields, crickets nets, tennis courts and golf skills green. 

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the new facility will have a diverse range of activities for residents and visitors to enjoy. 

“This iconic park will also drive tourism by attracting national and international visitors, given its proximity to the city and public transport links.

“We are already a green space capital with more than 2100 parks, but this one is going to be one of Australia’s iconic spaces.

“Residents told us they want a natural place filled with shady trees and water features, and the vision reflects this with opportunities to increase the tree canopy from 10% to 55% and create a lake and wetlands, while protecting this greenspace for future generations,” Cr Schrinner said.

The plan will be open for public discussion until the end of April, with the transition to the new concept beginning in 2021. 

Hannah Schuhmann said the project is yet another great attraction the City will have to offer. Those living and holidaying in the CBD will be able to utilise public transport such as the Brisbane Metro to enjoy the facilities this urban sanctuary will have to offer. 

In 2019, 24.1 million visitors visited our great city, recording the strongest grown in both international and domestic passengers of the country’s major gateway airports, reports Brisbane Airport Corporation. 

The statistics come even before the opening of the new run way; which is expected to open this year and double the capacity of the airport, and the $40 million re-development of the domestic terminal which includes a new food hall and retail space scheduled to be operational by the end of the year. 

The total growth for both international and domestic passengers combined was 2.1% for the year. International travellers increased by 266,182 to 6.3 million for the year, and domestic passengers increased by 1.3% to 17.7 million.

Gert-Jan de Graaff, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) Chief Executive Officer said the major infrastructure projects that are in progress are a huge drive for our city. 

“With Brisbane Airport recording the strongest passenger growth amongst Australia’s major gateway airports, it is clear the rest of the world is taking notice of our great city and region and all it has to offer,” Mr de Graaff said.

“The growth in visitor numbers is good news for our city, with the latest International and National Visitor Surveys conducted by Tourism Research Australia showing record expenditure occurring in Brisbane by both domestic and international visitors,” said Mr de Graaff. 

Highlights of the airport growth and changes throughout the year include; Direct flights from Brisbane to Bangkok with Air Asia X three times per week, Direct weekly flights to Munda in with Solomon Airlines and, flights to Bandar Seri Begawan with Royal Brunei four times per week. 

The top three international growth markets by volume were New Zealand, China (including Hong King), and the United States. 

Hannah Schuhmann said we are on the cusp of major transformation for Brisbane, and these figures are just the beginning. The new airport runway opening this year is just in time for the major developments happening in the city including the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf integrated development, International Cruise Ship Terminal, the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail, and the Brisbane Quarter development to name but a few. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that the state government will progress with plans for the 18,000-seat Brisbane Live precinct by putting the concept to market to gauge interest from investors in the private sector, reports Brisbanedevelopment.com.au.

The original concept for arena was derived in 2007, as part of the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project and is set to transform the Roma Street railyards with a precinct some say will be comparable to the USA’s LA Live Complex. Roma Street was one of seven sites considered within the business case for the development. 

The new arena would have a retail strip on the Roma Street frontage as well as a function space; ‘Sky Lounge,’ which would operate when events weren’t on. 

The right to build and manage the new precinct is set to be a competition between ASM Global and Live Nation.

Ms Palaszczuk said the project would create 450 jobs per year on construction, increasing to 1,000 for the peak year, and deliver 600 ongoing jobs once the precinct was up and running. 

"We know that by unlocking underutilised land in the heart of the city like Roma Street, we can leverage significant private-sector investment and create jobs," she told the publication. 

Cross River Rail Minister Kate Jones said the Cross River Rail Project as a whole could generate up to 35,000 new jobs and $20 billion worth of new economic development.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the new Roma Street station will be a key transport hub. 

“Built around renewed heritage places, new public spaces, parkland, and potential major entertainment facilities, the location will become one of Brisbane’s key cultural and recreational precincts.

“There will be unique opportunities for urban development, economic stimulation and job creation,” he said. 

For artist impression images and concept video, visit https://brisbanedevelopment.com/brisbane-live-goes-to-market-as-precincts-strategy-is-released/ 

Hannah Schuhmann said this project is a huge win for the CBD and well-positioned apartments such as 212 on Margaret and 26 Felix Street – which are only a 15-20 minute walk from the $2.1 billion proposed complex.