The State Government’s “Smart Cities: Rethinking the City Centre” project presents ideas envisioning Brisbane as ‘the smart city for the smart state’ by creating an interconnected legible network of knowledge corridors. The intention of the project is to strategise significant growth precincts for consolidation. Four urban growth strategies have been introduced which have the potential to lead Brisbane’s CBD in a new direction.
- The Knowledge City: links the core of the Smart City with surrounding Universities and Knowledge precincts.
- The Connected City: a bold move to create Australia’s most pedestrian and cyclist friendly city.
- The Accessible City: an interconnected network of Light and Heavy Rail, Ferry, Bus, Cycle and Pedestrian services before it’s too late.
- The Sustainable City: four Super precincts with State and Council partnership that individually services north, central, west and south Brisbane.
A statutory response to the Brisbane City Centre Master Plan, the City Centre Neighbourhood Plan, introduces a strong planning framework to further enhance the form and character of the CBD. The development of the City Centre in its role as Queensland’s principal centre for business and administration is enhanced by an integrated mix of retailing, entertainment, education, community and cultural facilities, tourism and residences.
A ‘compact, safe, connected and vibrant’ shopping heart will be implemented within a dense, non-height-limited urban backdrop. Twenty seven ‘Strategic Redevelopment Areas’ will conform to strict design guidelines which strive to increase office and residential floor space and send car parking underground. In all, the Neighbourhood Plan produces numerous development parameters that acknowledges the importance of public domain and effectively encourages mixed use community precincts and high quality urban design outcomes.
With such rapid expansion in South East Queensland, a sustainable, economically viable and liveable Brisbane CBD is essential. These planning documents form positive visions for the City Centre and implementation strategies for the future of Brisbane.
