Frequently asked questions
Development
Yes. Herston Quarter will be redeveloped into a world-class health and wellbeing precinct. Australian Unity’s vision for the mixed-use site will include a new public health facility, a new private hospital, retirement, aged care and student accommodation, commercial, retail and lifestyle development, plus open public spaces, and amenity for users of the precinct and the local community.
In March 2017, the construction site was established at the former Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) site and heritage precinct.
A range of site preparation works for Stage 1 are almost complete. Works to isolate services from the RCH buildings has been completed. Works to separate other services through the heritage precinct from the rest of the Herston Health Precinct are underway.
On 7 August 2017, Stage 2 structural demolition works began with the removal of the former RCH buildings which will continue through until the end of the year.
Construction of the specialist rehabilitation and ambulatory care centre, a new public health facility for Metro North, and Northern Car Park is planned to commence from early 2018.
The site will be the location for a new specialist public health facility, the site of a future private hospital, and proposed future residential development.
Demolition of the former RCH buildings is underway and will continue until the end of 2017.
Importantly, to ensure that the legacy and memories that the former hospital site holds for many Queensland families are respected and its significance acknowledged, a memorial to honour the children who passed away at the RCH during its 135-year history will be established at the heritage-protected green heart at Herston in late 2018.
Impact
The area around the former RCH is a construction site and thoroughfare access is no longer possible.
A temporary pedestrian protection gantry was installed along the lower end of Bramston Terrace, adjacent to the former Royal Children’s Hospital in August 2017. A proposal for a temporary covered walkway along part of Herston Road is being considered.
Designs to improve pedestrian safety on Back Road have been finalised and a continuous pedestrian walkway, including safety bollards and a new section of footpath, is expected to be installed by the end of September 2017.
As part of the project implementation and development approvals, Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) will require the developer, Australian Unity, to prepare a construction management plan. This plan typically defines the arrangements and procedures to be put in place to minimise adverse impacts on local amenity including traffic, dust, noise and vibration. This is especially important given its proximity to residential homes and an operational hospital.
Traffic
Traffic and transport has been a key consideration for Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) during the preparation of the proposed development scheme. To help understand the impacts of the development including potential upgrades to the local network, EDQ has undertaken traffic modelling and analysis which has and will continue to inform the plan preparation.
Economic Development Queensland will require the developer, Australian Unity, to prepare a traffic management plan for the construction period of each development stage. Construction vehicles will be managed as follows:
- During the demolition of the former RCH buildings, trucks will enter and exit the site (left in and left out) using the original RCH driveways off Herston Rd. Traffic controllers will be used when required.
- Bramston Terrace from Herston Road will be the primary entry point for construction vehicles to the site office.
- As the development progresses, construction work will commence in the northern part of Herston Quarter in 2018 and will require traffic to access the development from Butterfield Street.
- Construction vehicles will access the site along Butterfield Street turning into the site at the roundabout.
- No construction traffic will be allowed access to Garrick Terrace.
The Inner City Bypass upgrade is being delivered by Brisbane City Council (BCC). Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) and BCC have discussed the impacts of this work on traffic modelling for the Herston Quarter Priority Development Area (PDA) and will continue to liaise during the development assessment process.
EDQ, Metro North, BCC and the project contractors, regularly liaise regarding the coordination of traffic management during construction and delivery of Herston Quarter and the ICB upgrade.
It is recognised that these roundabouts are two key entry points and intersections within the Herston Quarter Priority Development Area and will require further assessment to understand any relevant upgrades, including final treatments to manage traffic impacts from the development. This assessment will be undertaken by Economic Development Queensland prior to and during development assessment.
As the redevelopment of Herston Quarter progresses, it is anticipated that the volume of traffic along Central Drive will increase. The proposed development scheme indicates that Central Drive provides for primary pedestrian connections, cycle network and primary internal vehicular roads. Central Drive also currently provides for an emergency services vehicles only entrance to the RBWH.
The infrastructure plan in the proposed development scheme broadly identifies locations where upgrades are likely to be required. Economic Development Queensland are also undertaking further traffic modelling and analysis to inform the final development scheme and provide the basis for future development in the Herston Quarter Priority Development Area.
Car parking and transport
Throughout the development process, Metro North, EDQ, Translink and Brisbane City Council will continue to discuss public transport access and needs for the precinct going forward including during construction.
Yes. The Bramston Terrace car park will remain open throughout 2017.
Construction of a new 1100 space car park at the northern end of the campus will begin in early 2018. The Bramston Terrace car park will not be demolished until the new car park is complete and operational (approximately 2019).
No. Construction workers will park within dedicated spaces in the construction site and should not impact on the availability of parking for staff and visitors to the precinct.
No. The parking allowance under the development scheme will be consistent with provisions made under the Brisbane City Council planning scheme.
Yes. At the completion of development, Herston Quarter will have three new commercial and public car parking stations:
- a new Northern Car Park (approx. 1100 spaces); and
- two car parking stations as part of the new public health facility and the new private hospital respectively (approx. 450 spaces each).
The new aged care and retirement living development will consist of approx. 347 car parks, including spaces for the exclusive use of residents and their visitors.
The new Northern Car Park is scheduled to be operational in 2019. This will effectively replace the existing 600 space Bramston Terrace car park which will remain operational until the Northern Car Park is opened.
The proposed residential development on the corner of Herston Road and Bramston Terrace will provide spaces for the exclusive use of residents and their visitors.
The existing Butterfield Street (1,400 spaces) and Herston Road (700 spaces) car parking stations will continue to operate.
The proposed development scheme includes provisions that requires all parts of the development, including the car parking station, to address any ongoing impacts such as air, light and noise pollution to protect community safety.
Heritage
Yes. The heritage buildings will be protected and revitalised with a range of planned uses such as cafes, restaurants and student accommodation. It is acknowledged that some changes to the heritage buildings may need to occur to improve the aesthetic appeal, provide access and functionality to these buildings and meet up-to-date building standards.
Site works anticipated in the heritage precinct near the Lady Lamington buildings are expected to have some impacts on tree vegetation. A cultural heritage report and arborist survey were undertaken to inform design plans in relation to services relocation works in the area. These reports recommended the removal of a small number of trees in order to carry out the services work and to protect the foundations of the heritage buildings. While the majority of existing trees will be retained, replanting of ground stock trees (1:1) is planned as part of the revitalisation of the heritage precinct
Community consultation
Metro North is working closely with Australian Unity to ensure the community is kept informed about Herston Quarter. To receive regular updates on the redevelopment, including site activity updates, subscribe to receive Australian Unity’s monthly enewsletter. For more information about the redevelopment, visit www.herstonquarter.com.au.
Community consultation has been ongoing since the commencement of the Herston Quarter Redevelopment Project, including regular stakeholder briefings, newsletters and a regularly updated website. These activities were undertaken by Queensland Treasury prior to Metro North and Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) involvement in the project. This consultation also included a series of community workshops held in November 2015 that were publicly advertised.
Brisbane City Council was consulted during the procurement process conducted by Queensland Treasury and also during the preparation of the proposed development scheme for the Herston Quarter PDA. They will continue to be consulted in future stages of the project including the development assessment process
Helipads and flooding
No. The current flight path to the helipad on top of Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) should not be affected by development in the Herston Quarter Priority Development Area (PDA). Depending on weather conditions, flights predominantly follow an east-west path over the RBWH outside the PDA. There is also an existing exclusion zone over the Heritage Precinct to avoid the Lady Lamington buildings. Use of the helipad on top of the Gilchrist Avenue car park is extremely limited and generally only used when the RBWH helipad is out of commission, or during extreme events.
Flooding was considered by Economic Development Queensland during plan preparation. The proposed development scheme includes provisions to manage flood hazard including consideration of evacuation routes for sensitive and difficult to evacuate uses, including aged care. These provisions will also need to be considered during the development assessment process.
Infrastructure and amenity
The infrastructure plan in the proposed development scheme broadly identifies locations where infrastructure upgrades are likely to be required. Economic Development Queensland is also undertaking more detailed analysis of infrastructure requirements concurrent with the development scheme process, including analysis of required upgrades such as water, sewer and storm water network.
The proposed residential development will bring life and vibrancy to Herston Quarter and may also include health, research and knowledge related facilities. The proposed development scheme recognises that there may be a mix of uses within the tower, including health, research and knowledge related facilities.
The residential development will also provide living options for the several thousand people who work in the Herston Health Precinct.
The proposed residential development adjacent to the Herston busway station supports both State Government and Brisbane City Council policy to focus land uses that generate high pedestrian traffic near public transport.
The proposed development scheme includes provisions to address loss of privacy and amenity, including building separations and orientation of buildings away from habitable rooms.
Contact us
Phone: 1300 189 660 Email: herstonquarter @australianunity.com.au
Australian unity website: www.herstonquarter.com.au