Latest news with #Urbis
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rowers prefer new Olympic site, as premier digs in over Rockhampton
World Rowing has backed further investigation into a potential Olympic rowing site in Greater Brisbane, but Queensland's premier has again insisted his government will not budge from its plans to host the event on Rockhampton's Fitzroy River. This masthead has obtained an Urbis report commissioned by the Lake Kurwongbah Flatwater Centre Coalition, which laid out the case for a venue at the dam just north of Brisbane, within the City of Moreton Bay council area. 'Lake Kurwongbah presents an unparalleled opportunity for the Games' regatta venue, promising legacy, accessibility, and sustainability in one compelling package,' Urbis says. Speaking from his current base in Canada, former Rowing Queensland chairman Richard Paterson – a co-chair of LKFCC, along with prominent Brisbane businessman Steve Wilson – said the proposal was presented to both the Quirk and Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority reviews. Paterson said the venue would have the potential to attract international-standard events to Brisbane for decades. 'It will be a very fair course. Its proximity to the third-largest city in Australia is an advantage – it's in a growth corridor that's one of the fastest-growing areas in urban Australia,' he said. The report finds it would cost $21.6 million and generate an additional $55 million in economic activity for the region over 10 years, noting almost a quarter of a million people live within a 10-kilometre radius of the site. There would be grandstand seating for 1000 spectators, with a further 9000 to be seated in temporary stands during Olympic competition. 'Lake Kurwongbah's proximity to other Olympic and Paralympic facilities, such as the Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre, underscores its ability to enhance connectivity and logistical efficiency across the Games infrastructure network,' Urbis says.
The Age
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Rowers prefer new Olympic site, as premier digs in over Rockhampton
World Rowing has backed further investigation into a potential Olympic rowing site in Greater Brisbane, but Queensland's premier has again insisted his government will not budge from its plans to host the event on Rockhampton's Fitzroy River. This masthead has obtained an Urbis report commissioned by the Lake Kurwongbah Flatwater Centre Coalition, which laid out the case for a venue at the dam just north of Brisbane, within the City of Moreton Bay council area. 'Lake Kurwongbah presents an unparalleled opportunity for the Games' regatta venue, promising legacy, accessibility, and sustainability in one compelling package,' Urbis says. Speaking from his current base in Canada, former Rowing Queensland chairman Richard Paterson – a co-chair of LKFCC, along with prominent Brisbane businessman Steve Wilson – said the proposal was presented to both the Quirk and Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority reviews. Paterson said the venue would have the potential to attract international-standard events to Brisbane for decades. 'It will be a very fair course. Its proximity to the third-largest city in Australia is an advantage – it's in a growth corridor that's one of the fastest-growing areas in urban Australia,' he said. The report finds it would cost $21.6 million and generate an additional $55 million in economic activity for the region over 10 years, noting almost a quarter of a million people live within a 10-kilometre radius of the site. There would be grandstand seating for 1000 spectators, with a further 9000 to be seated in temporary stands during Olympic competition. 'Lake Kurwongbah's proximity to other Olympic and Paralympic facilities, such as the Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre, underscores its ability to enhance connectivity and logistical efficiency across the Games infrastructure network,' Urbis says.
News.com.au
20-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
1100 units in limbo: The projects at risk of not going ahead
More than a quarter of Brisbane's apartment projects are at risk of not getting off the ground, as new figures reveal more than 1100 units are stuck in limbo. The research conducted by Urbis for the Property Council of Australia reveals apartment completions are falling well short of targets, with 27 per cent of future supply at risk of not being completed by 2028. Exclusive research by PRD reveals there are currently 22 apartment projects either abandoned or deferred in Brisbane, putting some 1100 units in limbo — plus hundreds more that remain incomplete well past their construction due dates. Under the South-East Queensland Regional Plan, Brisbane is required to build about 7,977 apartments annually from 2021 to 2031. But, according to the research, only about a quarter of this target — around 2000 — has been delivered each year since 2019. Urbis director Paul Riga said tracking of forward apartment completions suggested 2026 to 2028 would 'at most' deliver around half of the target — with some projects at risk of not proceeding at all. Auction drama marks jaw-dropping sale of Aus' 'best build' 'With competition for labour expected on the back of significant infrastructure investment, action needs to be taken now to ensure dwelling development activity increases beyond 2028,' Mr Riga said. Property Council Queensland executive director Jess Caire said apartment completions were projected to increase to around 4000 units in 2025, however, that was still well short of the targets and the bulk of new supply beyond 2025 was difficult to predict. 'The data tells a stark reality and there is no sugar coating the scale of the challenge in front of us — building over 7000 apartments a year would be a quantum leap forward in comparison to what we have been able to achieve in recent years,' Ms Caire said. 'The good news is we know we can build the number of apartments we need because we have done it before.' Ms Caire said 9527 and 9128 units respectively were built in 2016 and 2017, but industry headwinds had increased significantly, with high construction costs, declining productivity, acute labour shortages, and tax settings, which had become increasingly regressive. 'To remedy this, we need to be bold and pull every available policy and taxation lever to boost supply because every year we miss our targets the greater the challenge becomes,' she said. BRISBANE APARTMENT PROJECTS ABANDONED OR DEFERRED IN 2025 Project Suburb Number of units 1. ZEPHYR HEIGHTS APARTMENTS UPPER MOUNT GRAVATT 55 2. 28 MACGREGOR STREET APARTMENTS UPPER MOUNT GRAVATT 197 3. 143 BEATRICE TERRACE UNITS ASCOT 5 4. 35 HORSINGTON STREET UNITS MORNINGSIDE 7 5. 14-16 PARKHILL STREET APARTMENTS CHERMSIDE 9 6. 16-20 CHARLOTTE STREET UNITS CHERMSIDE 55 7. LATITUDE ALBION 48 8. MCGOLDRICK RESIDENCES WYNNUM WEST 11 9. 45A & 47 CLARENCE ROAD APARTMENTS INDOOROOPILLY 26 10. 30-34 WARDLE STREET UNITS MOUNT GRAVATT 27 11. 448 HAMILTON ROAD UNITS CHERMSIDE 11 12. 9 STANLEY TERRACE UNITS TARINGA 4 13. 61 JOSLING STREET UNITS TOOWONG 4 14. BODHI APARTMENTS UPPER MOUNT GRAVATT 68 15. 76 COMMERCIAL RD MIXED USE TENERIFFE 54 16. 151 CAVENDISH RD MIXED USE COORPAROO 37 17. TOOWONG CENTRAL MIXED USE TOOWONG 145 18. EAST VILLAGE PRECINCT 2D STAGES 1 & 2 CANNON HILL 137 19. 52 STATION ROAD MIXED USE INDOOROOPILLY 15 20. 61 DOULTON STREET MIXED USE CALAMVALE 10 21. 351 BEAMS ROAD MIXED USE TAIGUM 23 22. TRICARE RELOCATABLE HOME PARK ROCHEDALE 169 Source: PRD Research 'Since 2016, Queensland's foreign tax settings have cost the state 33,000 new homes. That is 33,000 rooves that could have been over the head of Queenslanders. 'We are in a race to build 1 million new homes by 2044 — a race that would be hard enough to win without a self-imposed handicap, which is effectively what our foreign tax regime amounts to.' Mr Riga said difficulties in finding builders, combined with high construction costs and labour shortages, was stopping many projects from going ahead. He said collaboration between builders and developers in the past year had helped see some projects through to completion. Purdy Developments founder Craig Purdy said more developers were adopting full integrated, in-house models for designing, building, and selling residential product. 'You've got control then, but there's risk too,' Mr Purdy said. 'Builders are all struggling, and they've all left the tier 2 space.' Mr Purdy said a 'box' in inner Brisbane now cost about $2m and three to four years to build. 'It's eye-watering how long it takes to do prestige product now,' he said. 'Sites are so expensive now. Then you've got the construction costs and finding a builder. It seems people are prepared to pay for it though — that's the irony.'
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Queensland's top landscape projects revealed at leading awards ceremony
Queensland's architects celebrated the best new landscapes across the state in an awards show on Thursday night, where 6 projects won awards of excellence for their work across the field. The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Queensland Awards had more than fifty projects nominated for awards at Blackbird Brisbane, in an event that covered accomplishments in fields such as parks, infrastructure and climate positive design. One of the night's most successful companies was design firm Urbis, which won three awards of excellence and two landscape architecture awards. Their work on the Northshore Brisbane Street renewal program received an award of excellence for the infrastructure category, and the company shared an award with South Bank Corporation for the Future South Bank Master Plan. Glen Power, Director of Urbis, said the team was proud of their work over the past year, and appreciated the recognition within the field. 'It's obviously an honour to be nominated amongst all the other incredible submissions,' he said. 'It's more of a celebration than it is a competition.' Urbis also scored an award of excellence for the parks and open space category, with their work on the Archerfield Wetlands District Park. Mr Power said his team was especially proud of creating spaces within the park both for community members and the redevelopment of the Oxley Creek corridor. 'We're proud to create an environment for flora and fauna that'll … continually keep giving back to the community,' he said. Meanwhile, the master plan for Washpool Creek Catchment by Tract received an award of excellence for landscape planning, along with an award for climate positive design, a regional achievement award and a ShadeSmart award. Judges said the project's plans for transforming the catchment over the next three decades represented a strong vision for the area, and credited their work in mapping out the technical stormwater engineering. Other awarded projects included the Archerfield Wetlands Land Management project from the Brisbane Sustainability Agency. The project was given an award of excellence for land management, while the University of Queensland Ampitheatre from Hassell took home one for the health and education landscape category. The jury described Hassell's work on the project as thoughtful response to post-pandemic attitudes, 'reinviting students outdoors and reinvigorating campus life through a landscape that is culturally aware, ecologically attuned, and beautifully resolved.' Overall, 18 landscape architecture awards were also given out on the night, along with several regional achievement awards, ShadeSmart awards and one award for climate positive design. Finally, Caloundra Community and Creative Hub from Jacobs and Sunshine Coast Council won the people's choice award that evening. AILA Queensland Jury Chair, David Hatherly, said judges saw 'a strong commitment' across the board to designing with climate and community in mind, when creating public spaces across Queensland. 'Landscape architecture is playing a critical role in connecting policy, infrastructure and biodiversity with how people connect with and experience their everyday environments,' he said. 'The profession's leadership is helping guide our cities, towns and regions towards more inclusive, sustainable futures.' Many of the night's winners will now be heading to the National Landscape Architecture Awards, to be hosted in Hobart in October.
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Luxury western suburbs retreat hits major setback
Plans for a luxury day spa and wellness retreat on the Dalkeith riverfront have stalled, with developers asking for four more years just to make a start on the ambitious $25 million Tawarri Hot Springs project. It took a long and sometimes bitter battle with the City of Nedlands and State Government intervention to get the hot springs facility approved in 2023, but a two-year deadline to begin construction expires next week without substantial work commencing. The developers blamed soaring construction costs for the delay and the reason for requesting more time to start. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'Labour shortages (and) supply chain issues have increased development cost and undermined the delivery of the Tawarri Hot Springs,' read a letter from Urbis planning consultant Tim Dawkins. 'Price increases have affected nearly every aspect of the construction.' Mr Dawkins said the cost to build the facility in 2025 had nearly doubled to $45 million from the $25m price tag estimated two years ago. Claremont Hotel proprietor and FJM Property principal Barry Jones is spearheading the wellness retreat dream, which former premier Mark McGowan called a 'strategic tourism attraction' for WA when he endorsed the idea in 2023. The Tawarri dream attracted significant backlash from Dalkeith and Nedlands locals, including another former Premier Richard Court, throughout the approval process. Nedlands Mayor Fiona Argyle told the WA Planning Commission that building it 'robs all West Australians of a magnificent foreshore.' An artist's impressions of the proposed Tawarri Hot Springs wellness centre and spa. Credit: Plus Architecture The luxury spa development would be built on a 5508sqm lot along the Esplanade in place of the Tawarri Function Centre, which has been closed for seven years. Plans show a range of indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, treatment rooms, a rooftop terrace and a licensed restaurant and cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Developers forecast that it would attract 142,000 patrons a year, including 14 per cent from overseas. Public consultation on the request for a time extension closed on Wednesday ahead of the WA Planning Commission decision.
