New plan unveils how South Bank Parklands could grow in the next 25 years

An Indigenous museum for Brisbane, a science centre and an extra five hectares of parkland on old industrial sites at West End are again being considered as part of a plan for South Bank Parklands to grow around West End’s Kurilpa Peninsula over the next 25 years.

These were three of the ideas in a Business South Bank promotional brochure released recently that said the popular parkland faced "enormous pressures" and was in danger of being "loved to death".

The ideas were raised again on Sunday as the 25th birthday of the South Bank Parklands was celebrated.

The parklands were now being hemmed in by encroaching buildings and overcrowded by visitors – 11 million a year – while Greater Brisbane’s population was expected to increase from 2.3 million people in 2016 to 2.6 million in 2021.

“With all the emerging changes in Brisbane and the changes in the immediate precincts, there is enormous pressure on this precious little patch,” South Bank Corporation chair Catherin Bull said.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, who planted a persimmon tree in South Bank’s fruit gardens to mark the first 25 years, said designing how the parklands would grow over the next quarter of a century was critical.

“Business South Bank recently released a vision for South Bank that did see South Bank extending to the Kurilpa Peninsula,” Ms Trad said.

“And I think there are some great ideas out there and I think it is time that we had a conversation about the future of South Bank.”

The Business South Bank proposal again showed parkland on the West End Brisbane River bend opposite North Quay where the Parmalat Milk Factory today operated, around the corner from the Gallery of Modern Art.

The Business South Bank proposal – which was yet to be considered in detail by the state government or Brisbane City Council – has three major points to be debated.

1. It planned to extend South Bank Parklands beyond the William Jolly Bridge. Five hectares of riverfront parkland could be delivered through the redevelopment of major industrial sites.

That conflicted with Brisbane City Council's Kurilpa Riverfront Renewal Program, first proposed in August 2014. That plan called for apartments on some of these industrial sites as well as parkland.

Brisbane City Council’s plan was “taken off the table” by Ms Trad in August 2015.

The "new" Business South Bank plan suggested many ideas in former premier Anna Bligh’s South Bank 2 plan in 2012. 

2. It suggested a Science Academy, Design Centre, Indigenous Cultural Centre and enhanced Queensland Theatre facilities; also similar to Brisbane City Council’s 2014 plan.

An Indigenous cultural museum had been promised for Musgrave Park in Brisbane since 1985.

Fairfax Media reported in 2011 it was still “about to go forward” using about $3.7 million from the $5 million set aside by former premier Peter Beattie.

The 2017 Business South Bank study now proposed shifting the Indigenous centre to the Kurilpa Peninsula to let Musgrave Park become more of a “festival site” at the end of South Brisbane’s Glenelg Street.

3. It suggested better use could be made of the site's proximity to three universities and TAFE facilities.

Where will South Bank Parklands be in 25 years' time?

Future growth at South Bank would go west towards nearby Musgrave Park, downstream along the river’s edge under the Kangaroo Point cliffs and upstream around West End’s Kurilpa Point, Ms Bull said.

“The Business South Bank report says South Bank-like work needs to go on along the river and around the river.

“And there needs to be much better connections back into the local communities and back into West End.”

Aaron Roberts, who was at South Bank with his partner Dimity and their children at the weekend, said families would choose “one end” or “the other” if it grew around the West End Kurilpa bend.

“If they set up there, like they have down here, then you would choose one or the other.

“But with little ones it would be a fair sort of hike between the two.”

Jack and Cynthia Burton have been regular visitors to the area with their family since 1988, before the current parkland's inception.

The Burtons still love coming to South Bank Parklands.

On Sunday they thought some parts of the parklands looked dated but were both unsure if it was being loved to death, because the lagoon and new playgrounds remained popular with families.

They believed growing South Bank "around the river" was important.

“I think it’s a good idea actually,” Cynthia Burton said.

“That might ‘feed’ all the people living in the new high-rise apartments in South Brisbane and West End.

“Even today, there is nothing else like it in Brisbane. And it is very accessible. You can get there by trains, buses and by ferries.

“I think it is still an oasis close to the city.”