With support from the Queensland Government, the Brisbane City Council is undertaking a master planning exercise to guide development of what is most likely Brisbane's most sought after inner city parcel of land.

The Bulimba Barracks is a unique 23 hectare riverfront parcel of land located on Apollo Road in the inner-eastern suburb of Bulimba. The site is north-facing and is immediately opposite the emerging Portside development at Hamilton Northshore.

At the time of writing, the Department of Defence retains ownership of the Bulimba Barracks (and proposes to retain approximately three hectares of the site for Navy Headquarters including a naval cadets facility), however its sale on the open market is looming. The Brisbane City Council is fast tracking finalisation of a master plan to inform potential purchasers ahead of the impending sale.

The Bulimba District Neighbourhood Plan finalised in 2012 sets out a number of overall outcomes for the site should defence operations cease. Some of the overall outcomes include:

  • sensitive integration of built form with surrounding residential areas;
  • an appropriate mix of uses, housing types and densities (including affordable housing);
  • provision of new infrastructure that meets the needs of the community; and
  • generous public parkland and Riverwalk along the entire Brisbane River frontage of the site.

Following receipt of almost 700 local community survey responses, the Brisbane City Council released the draft Bulimba Barracks Master Plan on 19 October 2015. This master plan provides more detailed planning on future development of the land, including on matters such as preferred land use mix, building height and type, heritage, flooding, parkland and the road network.

CHRONOLOGY:

DATE EVENT
2 July 2012 Bulimba District Neighbourhood Plan took effect as part of Brisbane City Plan 2000
March 2015 The Australian Government Department of Defence announce the sale of part of the Bulimba Barracks
April 2015 The Federal, State and local government elected representatives for Bulimba call on the Federal Government to allocate 10% of the proceedings from the sale of the Bulimba Barracks towards local infrastructure improvements
August 2015 The Brisbane City Council distribute a community survey seeking local community input on the redevelopment of the Bulimba Barracks
August–October 2015 Community Information Sessions and Community Planning Team meetings held to discuss concepts to inform the draft Bulimba Barracks Master Plan
19 October 2015 The draft Bulimba Barracks Master Plan is released for public consultation
1 November 2015 Public consultation on the draft Bulimba Barracks Master Plan closes
December 2015 Anticipated timing for the Bulimba Barracks Master Plan to be finalised

Generally, the draft contemplates:

  • the site being divided up into four distinct precincts named, Riverfront, Community Heart, Residential Interface and Residential Core.
  • approximately 850 dwellings (in an area just less than 85,000m2) in a variety of housing styles (including free standing homes, townhouses and apartments) within the Residential Interface and Residential Core precincts;
  • the majority of the housing space being zoned for two-three storey buildings, but with more central parts of the site earmarked for
  • medium density increasing up to five storeys;
  • approximately 8,640m2 of floor space for non residential uses (commercial/retail, mixed use and community);
  • a commercial/community Heart precinct containing small-scale shops, offices and cafes;
  • a riverfront park along the entire riverfront of the site with recommendations for a public jetty for short term mooring of motorised vessels and a shared pedestrian and cyclist River Walk;
  • repurposed heritage buildings such as the barge workshop building; and
  • three hectares allocated for sport and recreation.

Criticisms have been levelled at the failure of the draft master plan to:

  • provide solutions to deal with traffic congestion;
  • include a park and ride facility for the Apollo Road Ferry Terminal located adjacent to the site; and
  • consider the impact of the increased population on the local schooling system, including with respect to current enrolment pressures at Bulimba State School.

The Bulimba Barracks is a significant site in the local community and is also significant in terms of available riverfront land in Brisbane generally. There has been some community concern expressed at the short timeframes for consultation and finalisation of the Bulimba Barracks Master Plan, however, the Council has pointed out that the site has been the subject of considerable consultation, including in relation to the Neighbourhood Plan.

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