7 developments about Queen's Wharf Brisbane

With the Queen's Wharf Project in the grips of the detailed design phase, South East Queensland's contractors descended on a CCF led industry meeting in Brisbane this morning for a private audience with the successful tenderer of the $3 billion development, Destination Brisbane. 

As promised in the last Queen's Wharf Industry Meeting, Alison Smith, General Manager of Corporate Affairs Queensland for Star Entertainment Group (a third of the Destination Brisbane consortium), returned to update local contractors with all that's happened in the six months since the contract was closed with the State Government. 

1. Preliminary site investigation works began in February with geotechnical drilling under the Riverside Expressway and survey and harbour work along the Brisbane River. Early stage pre-construction workswill occur throughout the riverfront area during 2016, and will involve minor drilling near William Street and Queens Wharf Road, and into the Brisbane River to help Destination Brisbane better understand the ground conditions within the precinct as they prepare for future construction activities. These investigations will extend to January 2017 and also include aquatic and riparian ecology surveys, and thorough internal heritage-building inspections. 
   
   
2. Detailed Design and planning is underway, with approval by the State Government in January of the planning document that controls the development of land in the project area. 
   
   
3. Destination Brisbane expects to submit its development applications to government in August to enable construction-related activities to start in early 2017. The Plan of Development application will include planning, environmental and other necessary design reports, high-level diagrams and detailed supporting information to obtain approval for the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development. 
   
   
4. The Construction Management Plan is being developed and will take into consideration the thousands of vehicle, pedestrian and cycle movements that occur through this busy inner city precinct. Most importantly construction cannot begin till approximately 5500 Queensland Government employees are relocated to the nearly completed 1 William Street (1WS) building.
   
   
5. Simon Crooks was appointed as the Project Director to lead the delivery of the $3B Queen's Wharf Brisbane Integrated Resort Development. With 30 years' experience in engineering, project management and consulting leadership roles, Mr Crooks will be responsible for establishing and managing the project team. 
   
   
6. Pending approval of the Development Application, Destination Brisbane will go to tender for demolition, earthmoving and eventually the project contractor for major works. Watch this space. 
   
   
7. Construction related activities should begin in January 2017. Likely activities include the removal of non-heritage buildings, then start of underground car park construction. Basement excavation covers two city blocks, and is estimated to cut 645,000 cubic metres of dirt. Alison also spoke of the project requiring the construction of a trunk sewer line, and a new road within the development from the William St intersection to Margaret St intersection. 

Made possible by the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) QLD, the meeting provided members with a great opportunity to better understand the construction elements and plans for the Queen's Wharf development.

The first question asked of Alison was "what's the next step for contracts to get involved?". Star Entertainment Group are currently amassing information for their Development Application in August, so have not yet started assessing contractors. However, you CAN submit your company's capability statement and any further correspondence to QWBenquiries@star.com.au.  

Luckily, we've created a free eBook on preparing a high impact business capability statement - and all material is direct from a QLD Government State Development workshop. Check it out below!