Have Your Say On The Proposed Shafston House Apartments

Photo credit: Shafston House Apartments / shafstonhouseapartments.com.au

Act now. You can still have your say on the proposed development involving the heritage-listed Shafston House at 23 Castlebar Street, Kangaroo Point until November 30, 2021.

The Burgundy Group is fine-tuning its plans for the Shafston House at Kangaroo Point, before a formal proposal is submitted to the Brisbane City Council for approval. The Group has established a dedicated website for the proposed development and is currently seeking community feedback. Residents may fill out the form provided on the website.

The proposal involves the restoration of the house as a residential dwelling, fulfilling their promise to bring the building back to its former glory, with the other buildings on the site converted for residential purposes as well. However, other added structures will be removed whilst an allowance will be provided to allow for a riverwalk connection to be constructed in the future.

Photo credit: Shafston House Apartments / shafstonhouseapartments.com.au

“The proposed development concept is consistent with Council’s planning guidelines as set out in City Plan 2014 which identifies the entire nearly one hectare site in the High Density Residential (up to 15 storeys) Zone (HDR2) and within the Shafston Precinct of the Kangaroo Point Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan which anticipates as an acceptable outcome multiple dwelling development up to 15 storeys in height with a tower site cover of up to 45%,” the website said.

“The investigations and engagement completed to date has confirmed that multiple towers across the site would not be an appropriate outcome,” they added.

The Burgundy Group’s proposal consists of a single 15-storey residential tower, comprising 37 three- and four-bedroom apartments positioned towards the Thorn Street frontage. There will also be two luxury river terrace homes (1 – 2 storeys high) to be built on the eastern portion of the site. The formal lawn and significant view lines to Shafston House from the street, and to and from the Brisbane River, will be preserved.

About the Shafston House

Designed by Robin Dods, the single storey cottage was built in several stages between 1851 and 1904 and underwent renovations with extensions and new buildings adjacent to the house constructed until the 1930s. In 1996, a Shafston International College campus was also established on the site until it was closed in 2020.

Shafston House | 23 Castlebar St, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169, Australia

Unique, Low-density Residential Building Proposed at Kangaroo Point

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council

A development proposal has been submitted for 44 O’Connell St in Kangaroo Point, for a 15-storey residential building where each unit would have an entire floor to themselves.

Whilst the 1,186-sqm site could typically produce 75 dwellings, the developers opted for a unique, low-density design that will make it stand out from the rest of the developments in the area.

“River Arc,” the $85-million proposed development designed by Joe Adsett Architects, will only have 14 dwellings, with each 4-bedroom apartment unit occupying one floor.

There is ancillary basement car parking, as well as a 59-sqm landscaped communal open space area located within the ground-level setback oriented towards the Brisbane River.

Meanwhile, the dwellings at level 14 will have access to the landscaped roof terrace that will also feature large glazed doors that will open to an outdoor dining area, lounge area, and a pool.

The proposed residential building will include four basement levels that will contain 39 residential car spaces, 3 visitor spaces, and 18 bicycle spaces (including 4 visitor spaces).

Two-way, single-lane vehicle access will also be provided on O’Connell Street. Due to the vehicle access’ width and to prevent potential safety issues, a signalised system will manage vehicular traffic flow and pedestrians moving along the driveway.

“The proposed development, designed by Joe Adsett Architects, represents a high quality and contemporary architectural design. The design and built form has been guided by the concept of a sculptured concrete form, and a recessed glazed living environment, which maximises access to natural light and ventilation, encourages views towards the Brisbane River and recesses the living environments to the side boundaries. The concrete superstructure and recessed living environment create an eave around the perimeter of each level that will offer shade and protection to the unit below,” Mewing Planning Consultants said.

See Brisbane From A Different Perspective With GoBoat Kangaroo Point

Photo credit: GoBoat Brisbane/Facebook

Going on a boat trip on the Brisbane River is now easier than ever with GoBoat, a self-drive, electric boat that takes you on your very own river cruise, accessible from Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek in Newstead.

Read: St Mary’s: Explore a Beloved Treasure in Kangaroo Point

GoBoat lets guests go on a cruise without worrying about a boating license or a driving experience. The boats are powered by an electric motor connected to a battery bank and are electronically speed-controlled so anyone over 18, even without a boat licence, can be a skipper.

These self-driving boats are simple to operate and are safe. They are also environmentally friendly because they are constructed from fibreglass which uses recycled PET bottles instead of virgin glass, and are powered by a state-of-the-art electric motor direct from Germany.

Local guide Angela Roberts enjoyed a two-hour Sunday cruise with her family. She and her family were among the first locals to try the river cruise experience.

“The staff were friendly, helpful and informative during the safety talk and offered to take lots of pictures for us. The boats were lots of fun, and a great way to see the city sites along the Brisbane River,” shared Ms Roberts.

Each boat has a maximum capacity of eight persons, making it perfect for a day out with family or friends. There’s a round picnic table in the middle of the boat and guests are allowed to bring their own food and drinks. Each of the boats also comes with a stylish canopy and all the safety gear guests could ever need.

“The picnic table is placed centrally in our GoBoats to encourage joyful moments with good food, drink and conversations, while the shores slowly drift by. The silent engines ensure a calm atmosphere, with the stage set for an undisturbed experience,” the company stated.

The concept began in 2014 whilst GoBoat Australia CEO Nick Tyrrell was on a vacation in Europe.

“With the highest standards of safety, as well as a commitment to environmental sustainability, you can relax knowing you’re in good hands (and you’re treading lightly on the environment) as you cruise the waterways of the Gold Coast in your electric picnic boat,” GoBoat Australia noted in its website.Whilst it was just launched in Brisbane, GoBoat first made its way to Australia in 2017 with a location in Canberra, expanding to Melbourne in 2019 and then Sanctuary Cove and the Gold Coast in 2020.

For bookings and more information about GoBoat Brisbane, visit https://goboat.com.au/brisbane/.

Kangaroo Point Unit Market Underscores Strength of Brisbane Property Market

Kangaroo Point might be one of Brisbane’s oldest suburbs but its urbanisation has brought on changes that have pushed its property market growth ever upward. In a suburb where both stately heritage houses and modern, high-rise apartment units co-exist impressively, the median prices on the property market have grown by almost 17% and 9% for units and houses, respectively.

Housing Market

For the period covering July 2020 to June 2021, 25 houses were sold in Kangaroo Point. Houses here are traditionally tightly held and while they may change hands, not a lot of properties go on the market. Still, data from Property Market Updates show that the suburb’s housing market grew by 9.09 percent for this time period, with an average median house price of $725,000. Most of the houses stayed 51 days on the market.

Lamb-House-Kangaroo-Point — Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

One of the most talked-about house sales happened in May 2021 for the over 118-year-old heritage-listed property called the Lamb House, bought for more than $12,000,000. Its new owners plan to renovate and faithfully restore the federation-style riverside mansion and spend another $15,000,000 over the span of three years so it could become a family home. The new owners also plan to open the Lamb House for the public for tours and exhibits from time to time, when the refurbishments are done.

However, the highest-selling house for the period ending June 2021 was also on Leopard St, a stone’s throw away from Lamb House, at $15,000.000.

Unit Market

Unlike other markets in Brisbane, where units lag behind house sales, Kangaroo Point is firmly a unit market, achieving a 16.97 percent growth, with a whopping 337 apartments sold for the same period. The impressive sales volume has pushed the unit median price to $579,000 with the most expensive apartment selling for $5,000,000.

Supplies of units in this river peninsula have been steady and in demand, amidst several construction projects because of the Kangaroo Point Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan that rezoned the area near Story Bridge for high-density residential and community developments. Main Street has also been approved as a mixed-use zone to encourage new business.

More than 60 percent of Kangaroo Point residents are renters.

Kangaroo-Point-unit-market — Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

About Kangaroo Point

Once an industrial hub, Kangaroo Point is now known as an inner-city lifestyle and recreational hub bounded by the Brisbane River as a narrow peninsula. This suburb has the popular Kangaroo Point Cliffs for families or groups to enjoy a perfect river spot picnic whilst the outdoorsy and adventurous types love its bike and running trails, kayaking tours, and cliffside activities.

As a high-density residential suburb, Kangaroo Point is home to a lot of young professionals in their 20s to 30s, along with growing families drawn to the area due to its proximity to some of the best schools in Brisbane, like St Joseph’s Primary School on Leopard St, or the universities in nearby St Lucia or South Bank.

Kangaroo-Point-apartment-units — Photo Credit: Google Map

Accessible through the Story Bridge and the M3 Riverside expressway, traffic may sometimes be a problem in this, especially when the games are in season at The Gabba, which is just a few minutes off Main St.

As development has rapidly changed Kangaroo Point, the construction of new buildings, both for residential and commercial use, is still expected to continue in the coming years. Locals are also eager for the new Kangaroo Point Green Bridge that will connect the CBD and the eastern suburbs.

“KP is one of the most underrated localities close to the city. Pubs, CBD, Southbank all within walk distance, KP Cliffs are stunning. Great for the young up and coming professional or young families.”
Disco, Homely

“Great if you like waterfront apartment living. Surrounded by water and parkland the city is a 5-minute ferry ride or 5 minutes over the bridge by car. Close enough to the city without the hustle and bustle. I have lived in the area for over ten years and have no plans to leave.”
JKS, Homely

“Great access to the City of Brisbane and its River. We could live there and spend a week there at least once a year. The development of the area is all very well done and it has the Story Bridge Hotel, the city, and Southbank nearby.”
FredFellini, Homely

St Vincent’s Hospital in Kangaroo Point Up for a 20-Year Transformation

St Vincent’s Hospital in Kangaroo Point has submitted plans for a wellness campus, a redevelopment which will be undertaken in six stages for the next 20 years.

Gaskell Planning Consultants is overseeing the plans on behalf of St Vincent Healthcare Limited whilst Bickerton Masters has been tapped to design the complex.

St Vincent’s development (DA A005844698) will accommodate spaces for residential and commercial uses, including a new aged care accommodation. There will be three towers, between 14 to 18-storeys tall for the residential precinct. It will also have an education precinct for its research and healthcare facilities.

Photo Credit: Artist Impression from Bickerton Masters/BCC

Public green spaces will be incorporated in the plans, including an accessway to the river walk. The buildings will be designed to interconnect via landscaped podiums. The development is aimed at innovating the healthcare offering of St Vincent Healthcare Limited to support Brisbane’s ageing population.

The old building will be gradually knocked down during the stages of the development, whilst the existing aged care facility will be temporarily relocated to the Maycrest site, which has been earmarked for Stage 2.

Lincoln Hopper, the chief executive of St Vincent’s made it clear that the construction phases will consider the relocations carefully as they do not plan to shut down operations. Mr Hopper expects that work on the property will start in a matter of years.

Formerly know as the Mt Olivet Hospital, the private facility built around the mid-1950s to cater to the elderly has been underdeveloped. As the needs of the patients change, the operators believe that redevelopment would help them provide a range of complex health requirements.

St Mary’s: Explore a Beloved Treasure in Kangaroo Point

Past the park on the cliffs of Kangaroo Point, overlooking the Brisbane Botanic Gardens and the CBD, is St Mary’s Anglican Church. Reminiscent of an old English village church, this impressive neo-gothic stone structure dates back to the late 1800s and is considered one of Brisbane treasures.

St Mary’s is Brisbane’s second oldest church and remains one of the most popular wedding venues in the city. A Kangaroo Point landmark, this church was built by Alfred Grant and designed by architect Richard George Suter in 1873 to replace a timber church erected three decades before.

Intimate, peaceful, and quiet despite the city’s traffic below the cliffs, both church members and visitors come to this sanctuary to reflect and relish in a serene surrounding, which is quite a rarity in Kangaroo Point.

Historical Claims to Fame

In 1876, a pipe organ built by H.C. Lincoln from the early 1800s, was transported from London to St. Mary’s, the organ’s main custodian. Believed to be the oldest pipe organ in Queensland, this instrument was damaged and repaired in a number of instances and has had a major rebuilt in the 1960s. At present, the instrument is in need of major refurbishments to further preserve its historical significance.

Photo Credit: Organ Historical Trust of Australia

St Mary’s was entered into the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 as an important place of religious worship, especially for the naval community surrounding the area. In 1903, the HMQS Gayundah conducted its first ship-to-shore radio trials inside the church.

St Mary’s church grounds are filled with Navy memorials. In the 1950s, a Warrior’s Chapel was dedicated to the fallen heroes, including those who served the HMAS Voyager.

On the ceiling of the sanctuary are paintings by English Godfrey Rivers. Down the walls are three panels with his work. Mr Rivers is best known to Australians for his masterpiece, Under the Jaracanda, in 1903, which is on display at GOMA.

Lilian Cooper, the first female doctor in Queensland, was a frequent worshipper at St Mary’s along with her lifetime partner, Josephine Bedford. One of the church’s stained-glass windows is a memorial to the doctor’s legacy. They were the original residents of the St Mary’s rectory next to the church.

Photo Credit: Queensland Heritage Register

Visiting St Mary’s

Prior to the pandemic, guided and self-access tours took place at St Mary’s at least once a week. Currently, the site is open to the public for gardening sessions between 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m on Fridays. Choir rehearsals also take place on Thursday evening and slots are open for anyone who might want to join the group.

Follow St Mary’s on Facebook for updates on services and church activities.

Voluntary Assisted Dying Now Legal in QLD Despite Resistance from Catholic Hospitals

Catholic hospitals in Queensland, including St Vincent’s Health, which has facilities in Kangaroo Point and Chermside in Brisbane, have made their position clear against voluntary assisted dying (VAD), which has been legalised in Queensland and will be implemented on 1 January 2023.

The new VAD law allows terminal and aged care patients to end their lives at faith-based hospitals if they cannot be moved to another facility.

In a statement to The Catholic Leader, St Vincent’s Health Australia Chief Executive Toby Hall said that the law is “a radical and dangerous undermining of patient safety,” that forces Catholic hospital providers to open their facilities for VAD, which goes against the “values and beliefs” of the medical workers.

Mr Hall said that the Australian Medical Association in Queensland hasn’t backed the bill because of the “lack of protection for faith-based hospital providers.” The decision to legalise VAD has been “deeply unsettling and shocking” since 20 percent of Catholic hospitals provide beds for patients from aged care facilities.

The Parliament voted 61-30 to legalise VAD, the centrepiece of the Labor party’s state election campaign, despite some objections from the allies of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Whilst Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia passed similar VAD laws, Queensland is the only state that included measures for faith-run facilities.

Officials of St Vincent’s Health and Mater have appealed to the MPs during the deliberation of the bill, stating that palliative care was the best course for helping terminally ill patients. However, supporters of the bill said that this service is not accessible to most patients, especially in the regional areas.

Accessibility to VAD will ease the burden for some families. Proponents of the law also created an oversight board that will review requests from patients and assessments from health officials or workers.

Doctors may also refuse to object to the VAD request whilst there is a provision for faith-based organisations to opt-out. Deputy Premier Steven Miles said that the law will respect both the rights of faith-based hospitals and the patients seeking VAD.

“These laws are fundamentally about compassion,” Mr Miles said.

“But they are also about giving back control to people who have had their autonomy stripped from them by illness.

“It comes after decades of advocacy by passionate citizens, themselves carrying the trauma of having watched relatives die in pain or facing a traumatic death themselves.”

Patients who request VAD must meet the five criteria:

have an eligible condition
have decision-making capacity in relation to voluntary assisted dying
be acting voluntarily and without coercion
be aged at least 18 years
fulfill residency requirements

Watch: Animation Of The Construction Of Kangaroo Point Green Bridge

Photo credit: www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Have you ever wondered how green bridges are built? Now that construction will soon be underway to deliver a fast-tracked Kangaroo Point Green Bridge, a new video has emerged, revealing how hundreds of local workers will piece together the longest bridge of its kind in Australia.

Read: Gardens Point Boat Harbour Moorings To Be Removed For Kangaroo Point’s New Green Bridge

The video, shared by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner shows an animation of building the bridge, right from completing the elevated plaza structure and creating a temporary bridge for construction access, down to installing the main span as well as the canopy and balustrade.

“Once complete, the bridge will stretch 182-metres across the river and 95-metres above, not only providing better and safer active travel connections but a remarkable landmark ahead of the #Brisbane2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The green bridge at Kangaroo Point, which will connect the suburb to the CBD, is one of the five new green bridges planned for Brisbane.

“The Kangaroo Point Green Bridge is set to become an iconic destination and new riverside space for Brisbane residents for generations to come. In addition to the new river crossing,

the final design of the city-shaping project features several food and beverage outlets on the bridge and its City landing,” Cr Schrinner said.

Artist’s impression of exterior view of the above-water restaurant and the café at the City landing (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

Connect Brisbane will establish a marine construction zone to provide a safe working environment for the construction of the bridge. From early 2022, marine barges will facilitate construction activities in the river.

Many of the bridge elements will be preassembled off-site and transported by water for installation, helping to reduce impacts on the local community. A tower crane will also operate from a temporary platform in the river, close to the City side, to assist with the construction of the bridge.

The speed limit in the river is likely to be lowered during construction, with specific requirements to be confirmed later in 2021.

Project timeline

Kangaroo Point Green Bridge construction areas map (Photo credit: www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/)

Based on Council’s timeline, Stage 1 or the start of initial works will include site establishment and service relocations.

Initial works include pre-site establishment works and investigations including dilapidation surveys, locating services, noise monitoring and the establishment of an off-site fabrication yard; and relocation of park infrastructure and utilities.

Council will also embark on the establishment of work sites; diversion of pedestrian and cycle pathways, with safe access maintained through the construction areas; and some vegetation removal in accordance with required approvals.

In 2022, BCC will work on Stage 2, which includes works in the river to construct the bridge deck, viewing areas, mast, pylons and cable stays before proceeding with Stage 3 or the final fit out of bridge and landing points, including paving and landscaping.

Construction will start in late 2021, with expected completion by late 2023, subject to approvals.

Gardens Point Boat Harbour Moorings To Be Removed For Kangaroo Point’s New Green Bridge

Photo credit: Nobu m/Google Maps

Around 30 boat moorings will have to be removed from the Gardens Point Boat Harbour to facilitate the construction of Kangaroo Point Green Bridge in late 2021.

Read: Kangaroo Point Residents Petition to Bring Back the Ferries at Dockside

Starting 31 March 2022, all existing users of the moorings are required to vacate the site to minimise private vessel movements in close proximity to construction activities. Council is no longer issuing mooring consents to new vessels not currently moored at the Gardens Point Boat Harbour, including for overnight or short-term visits.

Highlights

The existing moorings at the Gardens Point Boat Harbour will be removed to facilitate the construction of the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge
All existing users should vacate the site by March 2022

Harbour facilities, including moorings of various sizes, oars locker, toilet/shower facilities, and laundry will remain available to existing mooring users only. Whilst this will end a long tradition of houseboats and visitors on the Gardens Point Boat Harbour, the moorings had to be removed for the safe construction of the green bridge.

Ryan Murphy, Councillor for Chandler ward and chair of the public and active transport committee explained that the moorings were originally designed for short-term moorings for visitors to Brisbane. The Council also assured they will continue to work closely with existing users of the moorings to understand their individual circumstances and manage the impacts of the change in access.

The Gardens Point Boat Harbour, located adjacent to the City Botanic Gardens in the CBD, is one of the two boat mooring facilities on the Brisbane River offered by the Council for residents, visitors and commercial operators. The other one in Breakfast Creek has 42 moorings.

About the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge

Artist’s impression of the Main St and Deakin St connection to the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge (Photo credit: www.brisbane.qld.gov.au)

Kangaroo Point Green Bridge, estimated to cost around $190 million, is one of the five new green bridges planned across Brisbane. It will have a navigational clearance height of 12.7 metres, which is the same as the Captain Cook Bridge.

“This bridge height is required in order to provide an accessible gradient that meets the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and removes the need for excessive ramping at each landing point,” stated the Council.

“A higher bridge would result in steeper grades towards the Alice Street landing in the Brisbane CBD, which would not meet DDA requirements,” Council added.

Read: Raymond Park Upgrades As Brisbane Prepares To Be Olympic-ready

BCC is preparing for the construction stage following an extensive procurement process in June 2021. Depending on weather and construction conditions, the bridge is expected to be completed by late 2023.

Kangaroo Point Residents Petition to Bring Back the Ferries at Dockside

It has been a year since the suspension of the CityHopper services in Brisbane, and Kangaroo Point locals have renewed calls for the resumption of the ferries at the Dockside.

In a statement, members of the Bring Back Our Ferries Community Group said that they have asked Brisbane City Council “for an interim solution” to let the new KittyCat services use the Dockside wharf so Kangaroo Point locals could still have access to the ferry network.

However, residents were informed that the modern vessels are not compatible with the height of the old wharf thus the KittyCat ferries would not be able to dock at the Kangaroo Point terminal. The locals said they were not consulted about the Dockside’s closure.

Highlights

The Dockside in Kangaroo Point has been suspended since July 2020 as the CityHopper services were replaced with modern KittyCat vessels.
Bring Back Our Ferries Community Group wants Brisbane City Council to resume services.
Council has undertaken a Ferry Network community engagement for feedback on the improvement of the ferry network.

In the meantime, Council provided residents with Shuttle 27, free shuttle service on Main Street and Scott Street. Council also said that there are plans to refurbish and upgrade three inner-city terminals, including Dockside, within a three-year time frame.

But the group does not agree with the three-year wait as small modifications to the Dockside, done in a short period and with little cost, could make the terminal suitable for the modern ferries.

The group launched a petition to bring back the ferries. Nearly 400 have signed the petition so far.

“Dockside was a very heavily used stop and the only one I can walk to because of mobility issues,” said Jane Layton, who started the petition. “We have seen no works happening at the Dockside Ferry stop & have been given no timeline for the completion of these works.”

Photo Credit: Cr Vicki Howard/Brisbane City Council

They presented the petition to Councillor Ryan Murphy last 26 July 2021 during the Community Meeting on Public Transport.

Meanwhile, Council has opened a Ferry Network community engagement in July. Additional drop-in sessions will also open in September at the Brisbane Square Library, Bulimba Library, East Brisbane Croquet Club, Northshore Hamilton Ferry Terminal, New Farm Library, Toowong Library, Regatta Ferry Terminal, and Kurilpa Hall for locals to share their opinions and suggestions about the ferry services. Visit the Council’s site for more details.