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Premier opens roads and infrastructure

Parks and landscaping bring the new village atmosphere to life.

The infrastructure was officially opened to the public on 24 November.

The $38 million infrastructure works at the Kelvin Grove Urban Village was officially opened by the Premier of Queensland Peter Beattie, Minister for Public Works and Housing Robert Schwarten, and QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake on 24 November.

The infrastructure works included extensive remediation to prepare the land for development, drainage works, underground services, the creation of new roads, parks and foothpaths, and the regrading and upgrade of existing roads.

Premier Beattie said the infrastructure works have significantly improved public access and amenity in the area.

“This is the beginning of an exciting new era not only for the nearby residents, but for the wider community who will be able to access the housing, university facilities, theatres, shops, cafes and restaurants that will make up the Village.

“Now that the infrastructure is complete, the people of Brisbane can walk, cycle and drive through the Village to see for themselves how this exciting new development is taking shape.

Kelvin Grove Urban Village recognised for design excellence

The Kelvin Grove Urban Village has won the 2003 Planning Institute of Australia (Queensland Division) Award for Excellence in Environmental Planning.

The award was presented to the Department of Housing, QUT, Hassell Group, Connell Wagner and the Department of Public Works in recognition of the project’s continuing high standards in planning and design.

The Urban Village has set new benchmarks for more sustainable inner-urban development, and the Planning Institute of Australia recognised its continued high level of innovation and creativity, environmental quality, community benefit and technical competence.

The Village has already received several accolades in recognition of its innovation and creativity, including the 2002 National Royal Australian Planning Institute (RAPI) Award for Urban Planning Achievement, the State RAPI Award for Excellence for Urban Planning Achievement and the State RAPI Certificate of Merit for Urban Design. It was also recognised by the Urban Design Institute of Australian (UDIA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Champion project for sustainability.

New development opportunities

Three new prime development sites are now available for sale by expression of interest to interested developers.

The packages of land have all been earmarked for specific purposes – student accommodation, managed seniors accommodation, and a tavern with a boutique hotel or service apartments above.

Lot 9 will be managed seniors accommodation. It is a 2,968 square metre site with approval for 6,233 square metres over nine stories.

Lot 17 is intended as a tavern and serviced apartment or boutique hotel. It is a 2,574 square metre parcel with approval for 7,979 square metres over seven stories.

Lots 22 and 23 are prime sites for student accommodation and are positioned adjacent to QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus. Lot 22 is 2,117 square metres with a plot ratio of 2.5, and a gross floor area of 5,293 square metres over six stories. Lot 23 is 1,994 square metres, with a plot ratio of 2.5, and a gross floor area of 4,985 over six stories, giving a combined gross floor area of 10,278 square metres.

For further information on the development opportunities at the Kelvin Grove Urban Village, visit the website on www.kgurbanvillage.qld.gov.au

Indigo unveils Lot 14 – The Village Centre

Indigo has released preliminary designs for its Village Centre development on Lot 14, at the heart of the Kelvin Grove Urban Village, which incorporates residential, retail and commercial facilities including a supermarket.

The Village Centre residential stage will comprise 170 apartments in six residential towers ranging from four to eight stories high. The apartments will be available in one, two and three bedroom configurations, and all towers will surround a tropical parkland with resort style pool, spa and BBQ facilities for residents.

With a supermarket, retail shops and café strip lining the pedestrian friendly footpaths, the Village Centre will become a unique way of life only 5km from Brisbane’s CBD.

For more information, visit www.villagecentre.com.au

Successful developer announced for Lots 11 and 12

Badcock Wright Joint Venture Pty Ltd has been selected as the developer of residential sites Lots 11 and 12, which were released to the market for sale by invitation to submit offers. The Badcock Wright design will provide a first class development within the Village, with construction likely to commence in 2004.

The proposed development on Lot 11 is for five townhouses, while Lot 12 will comprise a mixture of units and townhouses serviced by a gym, pool and internal common courtyard.

Badcock Wright is a joint venture between the Wright Investment Group Pty Ltd, R & L Badcock Builders Pty Ltd, and the Indigo property development group.

Under construction

The new La Boite theatre-in-the-round will open in February 2004.

QUT’s Creative Industries Precinct and the newly relocated La Boite Theatre are on target for completion by the end of the year, with both facilities open in January 2004. The precinct will be a centre of creative experimentation and commercial development in fields such as media, design, music and visual arts.

The new La Boite is a 400-seat theatre-in-the-round and will attract more than 50,000 people a year to the precinct. It is an integral component of the vibrant community created by the Precinct.

Useful links

Kelvin Grove Urban Village website
www.kgurbanvillage.com.au

Department of Housing
www.housing.qld.gov.au

QUT Creative Industries Precinct
http://www.ciprecinct.com.au/

The Village Centre (Indigo Projects)
www.villagecentre.com.au