The Gabba's redevelopment at the heart of a wider precinct regeneration
The Queensland government has moved to initiate a wider redevelopment of the precinct adjoining The Gabba with the intent of better serving the expanding Woolloongabba population and the wider public.
On Sunday Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad outlined the vision for a new bridge connecting the sporting stadium with Cross River Rail's upcoming station in Woolloongabba. Expected to be completed during 2024, the Woolloongabba link in the wider Cross River Rail network will facilitate an overhaul of the 6.5-hectares adjoining The Gabba.
Mixed uses are earmarked for the precinct and are expected to come together within a precinct plan that will see input from stakeholders such as Brisbane City Council, Stadiums Queensland and the Department of Housing and Public Works.
The Queensland government's move on the wider precinct follows on from earlier reports during May that the stadium was in line to receive a substantial capital injection in order to bring the facility up to current standards.
What they Say
When Cross River Rail is complete, Woolloongabba will be just minutes by train to the new Albert Street station in Brisbane’s CBD and close to the growing health, science and education precinct at Boggo Road.
Plans are for the whole city block, which includes the Landcentre, old South Brisbane Dental Hospital and Goprint sites, to be completely transformed over the next decade. It has the potential to attract up to $1.5 billion of private investment and that’s a really exciting opportunity for local industry.
The Gabba has been the scene of many great sporting triumphs and we know, through Cross River Rail, it will continue to be an integral part of Queensland culture for generations to come.
Queensland Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Jackie Trad
The Gabba is ‘internationally renowned’ without a doubt, but it can be re-elevated to ‘world’s best’ if it was easier to get to - and transport connectivity is simply an expectation of modern spectators that has to be met.
Going forward, we are rolling up our sleeves in collaboration with all stakeholders to give fans a great experience – one that will rival the freshest stadiums in the nation. In possibly the best outcome of this precinct, the opportunity to leverage both the Gabba and the Station could deliver up to 300 new affordable homes designated for key and essential services workers including nurses, teachers, police and fire officers and hospitality and tourism workers.
Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Sport, Mick de Brenni
Whilst the infrastructure improvements are chiefly aimed at servicing the flow of people to and from the stadium, the overall precinct development will further add to Woolloongabba's rapid transformation.
Numerous projects have or are in the process of being delivered in the suburb which is a mere 2.4 kilometres from Brisbane's CBD. The Urban.com.au Project Database shows a variety of developments earmarked for Woolloongabba, including apartment and hotel uses, through to projects such as 52-64 Annerley Road which is dedicated to high-rise office space and aged care living.
Residential use though remains the prime driver of change within Woolloongabba. Projects such as the 22 storey Silk One launched to market earlier this year whilst others such as The Drapery and South City Square are well into construction.
The tallest and arguably the most recognisable tower earmarked for Woolloongabba has stumbled at planning though, with developer Majella withdrawing from planning their 27 storey development that would have included 262 apartments and located minutes from The Gabba.
