Queensland Government gives go ahead for Brisbane Live entertainment precinct

A long-awaited decision to move forward with the Brisbane Live entertainment precinct has been made by the Queensland Government.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced yesterday that "market sounding" to gauge the interest of private-sector investors in the entertainment precinct above Brisbane's Roma Street railyards will commence.

Public consultation on the Precincts Delivery Strategy to transform the heart of Brisbane through the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project will also begin.

ASM Global (then known as AEG Ogden) has been the main proponent of the plan to build a 17,000-seat arena at the heart of an entertainment precinct which the Queensland Government subsequently linked to the Cross River Rail project.

Announcing the next stage in the plan to "unlock underutilised land in the heart of the city", Premier Palaszczuk stated "everyone wants to see a new, world-class arena in the heart of Brisbane, and through this strategy, the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority will now launch market sounding to attract the best concepts from the private sector.

"Roma Street is one of seven sites that was investigated as a potential location through the detailed business case development."

Speaking of the opportunities the project presents, Queensland Cross River Rail Minister Kate Jones stated "the Delivery Strategy we’re announcing today will see up to 22 hectares of prime real estate in the heart of Brisbane revitalised

“Brisbane Live, a new world class arena is a great example of the new assets Brisbane could gain through this precinct strategy.

"Globally we know these types of venues next to a new underground high-capacity train station with connections to other public transport modes re-invigorate the entire area."

The new venue would be a key part of Brisbane's bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games, with reports suggesting it could be completed by 2024.

Concerns about of the costs of the venue have seen ASM Global assure the Queeland Government that it can deliver the arena for significantly less than the original cost estimate of $2 billion.

However, while ASM Global (Asia-Pacific) had been the main backer of the Brisbane Live concept, Brisbane newspaper The Courier-Mail has suggested that it "and promoter Live Nation will go head-to-head for the right to construct and manage the centre."

In addition to a significant revitalisation of the Roma Street area, Cross River Rail’s Precinct Development Strategy will also deliver a new Exhibition station at the RNA Showgrounds, providing year-round rail services for both the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and the growing RNA Showground Lifestyle precinct.

The strategy announced today includes different themes for each of the five precincts:

• Exhibition station precinct will accelerate the area’s urban renewal creating a connected health, housing, and recreation hub. 
• Roma Street station precinct will become the western gateway to the City’s premier cultural and entertainment offerings. 
• Albert Street station precinct will be the stimulus for a city heart transformation 
• Woolloongabba station precinct will become a vibrant centre for community, sport, and health 
• Boggo Road station precinct will develop further into a world-class innovation precinct, specialising in research, health, science and education jobs of the future

Images: Artist’s impression of the Brisbane Live arena which will transform the Roma Street railyards area into a world-class entertainment venue.