PART 2: PUBLIC DOMAIN AND CONNECTIVITY OUTCOMES CITY WEST’S PUBLIC DOMAIN · 2015-12-15 · Public Domain and establishing a clear hierarchy of streets based on their character,

PART 2:PUBLIC DOMAIN ANDCONNECTIVITY OUTCOMES

CITY WEST’S PUBLIC DOMAIN

CITY WEST STREETS AND PATHS

Intent: Improve City West’s Legibility and Amenity through restoring the

Public Domain and establishing a clear hierarchy of streets based on their

character, with a notable entrance street to the City centre connected to

high amenity local streets.

(Refer to Figure 1: Public Domain: Streets and Paths)

The most effective means of improving City West’s livability and connectivityis to improve the public domain.

City West is currently divided by a number of heavily trafficked one-way streetswith little apparent character hierarchy. This network undermines legibletravel through the area for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. Barriers tomovement in City West prevent local and neighbouring residents, businessesand learning/research centres from realising opportunities available from awell-connected urban environment.

This Strategy proposes a renewed City West street and path network.The elements of this network are:• a clear character hierarchy (defined by street design, footpaths, cycle ways,

pedestrian and cycle capacity, landscaping, public transport and privatevehicle management and building form and activities);

• a main City entry ‘boulevard’, accommodating two-way traffic (privatevehicles, buses, cyclists and pedestrians) with active street frontages,places to stop and meet, continuous footpaths of a width to providefor significant pedestrian use, trees and street furniture and streetintersections to accommodate safe and convenient pedestrianmovement, minimising unfriendly traffic management infrastructure(eg splayed intersection corners, traffic islands and roundabouts);

• simplified and more direct traffic movements with fewer one-way streets; • new streets and paths to improve connectivity and overcome barriers to

movement presented by large inaccessible areas;• streets to be given greater ‘form’ with active building frontages to make

moving on foot, by bicycle or by car through the environment easier,safer and more attractive;

• important vistas from the public domain to be protected and changesin direction and important stopping places to be reinforced with notablebuildings or landmarks;

• infrastructure needed for major venues, particularly to major sportingevents, to be through extensions of and improvements to the existingpublic domain (ie useable 24 hours by the community rather than forvenue purpose only); and

• pedestrian, cycle and vehicular movements to be kept ‘at grade’ withthe public domain.

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M A K I N G C O N N E C T I O N S : T h e C i t y W e s t S t r a t e g y

A LEGIBLE PLACE IS ONE

WHERE PEOPLE EASILY

FIND THEIR WAY

A place is made legible by:• Direct and conspicuous paths• Memorable buildings at

turning points• Clear visual prompts

(eg signage)


The Proposals in this Strategy for the streets and paths are intendedto achieve the above objectives. These proposals are illustrated in Figure 1: Public Domain - Streets and Paths.

MODERATING TRAFFIC IMPACTS ON CITY WEST’S PUBLIC DOMAIN

The Task Force will propose revised traffic arrangements through City West toimprove local connectivity and public domain amenity. These proposals willbe submitted for consultation as part of local precinct planning.

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PLANNING PROPOSALS

Regional Traffic Movements

1. Encourage regional through-traffic to use Inner City Bypass-HaleStreet rather than pass through the local area.

Main Entry Boulevard

2. Establish Milton Road - Roma Street as one continuous main entrystreet to central Brisbane.

Petrie Terrace Streets

3. Establish Petrie Terrace as a local ‘Main Street’.4. Reinforce an entertainment and local service character of

Caxton Street.5. Develop Countess Street as both a ‘connective’ street and a link

between the western CBD and Normanby/Kelvin Grove.

Grey Street-McCormick Place

6. Simplify traffic movements in McCormick Place, modify the intersectionwith Grey, Upper Roma and Countess Streets and make a direct andlegible pedestrian and visual link between Grey and Caxton Streets.

Extending the Public Domain

7. Prepare a Local Plan to extend the public domain and associated builtform in the Barracks-Normanby-Roma Street Rail Yards Precinct.

8. Evaluate the social, economic and environmental values of a directpedestrian and cycle link between Queensland Cultural Centreprecinct and Northbank.

9. Provide pedestrian and cycle (and investigate local traffic) links fromPetrie Terrace to the Parkland.

Milton Road to Roma Street: potentially a

continuous entry street to the city.

Petrie Terrace, with numerous 19th century

buildings fronting the street, has the potential to

be one of Brisbane’s great streets.

The Goodwill Bridge: an example of improved

connectivity providing new social, economic

and learning options.

Emergency services response capabilities are

essential to City West and Brisbane.


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CITY WEST GREEN BELT

Intent: Provide an accessible ‘Green Belt’ through City West by optimising use

of existing parks and connecting them with green links from Victoria Park to

McCormick Place, the River and to the southern bank.

(Refer to Figure 2: Public Domain - Green Belt)

City West contains significant green spaces (ie parks). These green spacesare remnants of the original ‘green belt’ planned for the early city. Over time,the green belt has been eroded and fragmented by transport infrastructureand public institutions. This Strategy proposes linking existing green spacesinto a network to form a City West green belt.

The principal elements of this green space network are:• direct pedestrian and cycle connections linking existing green spaces

and creating an interlinked network from Victoria Park to South Brisbane;• additional local open space where possible;• to resolve the optimal long-term role and use of Victoria Park and

surrounding open space within this context; and• no net loss of green space nor cultural heritage values.

A publicly accessible and useable green space network (‘green belt’)from Royal Brisbane Hospital to South Brisbane, with an important extensionto Botanic Gardens via Albert Street, and linked to Breakfast Creek andNewstead, would be a major economic and social asset to the City.


Victoria Park - a major open space asset on the

city’s doorstep. The park could have an expanded

recreational role for residents and visitors.

Central Park, New York (above)

and Centennial Parklands, Sydney (below):

examples of central city public recreation

and green spaces.

© JeffG

reenberg / NYC

& Com

panyInc.


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A ‘green belt’ linking major parks and open spaces in City West, will:• provide a major recreational asset for local people and visitors;• provide an opportunity to transform the image and perception of central

Brisbane, particularly its western edge;• support renewed economic prosperity in City West; and• encourage greater use of and ease of access to the area and its facilities.

This Green Belt is enhanced by the new land bridge at Victoria Park andthe Roma Street Parkland.

The Proposals in this Strategy dealing with the Green Belt are intended toachieve the above objectives. These proposals are illustrated in Figure 2 PublicDomain - Green Belt. Feasibility and appropriate locations of future green linksshown in Figure 2 will be evaluated as part of a Green Belt Strategy.

PLANNING PROPOSALS

Creating the Green Belt

10. Protect and link remaining green space in City West as a community-accessible recreational green belt.

Victoria Park

11. Prepare options for the long-term community use of Victoria Parkand surrounding open space to be considered by Council,State Government and the community.

Streets can provide green links.

SOCIAL CONNECTIVITYIntent: Provide a high quality well connected public domain that is

convenient, safe, and attractive and encourages social and economic

interaction and exchange.

The public domain is social space. A quality public domain fosters plannedand unplanned meetings and social exchange.

Improving the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the public domain willdirectly improve opportunities for increased social connectivity. It will improveaccess to services, employment, education and recreation for residents,workers, students or visitors. A high quality public domain will assist instimulating the local and City economies.

Local planning will need to address the social character of the public domainas well as the human services requirements of residents.

Housing availability for a range of users is an important issue in the broaderCity West area. Improving the public domain and other investments mayaccelerate displacement of lower income people. The Strategy will need tobe supported by a housing strategy to provide for the needs of particularhouseholds to ensure a mixed population.

City West and surrounding areas have a significantly high proportion of youngadults (twice the Brisbane average). This reflects both the demographiccharacter of inner-city suburbs and the employment and educationalopportunities in the area.

Given City West’s location and character, a housing strategy will target thehousing needs of:• workers and students at health, research, tertiary education and medical

centres;• workers in CBD service industries; and• lower income households.

During local planning the Task Force will work with Housing Queenslandto identify opportunities for housing mix in City West.

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PLANNING PROPOSALS

Social Connections

12. Promote social connectivity through City West when improvingand extending the public domain.

13. Local planning is to provide for a range of housing for a rangeof households in City West.

A well-planned public domain creates

opportunities for formal and informal exchange,

vital to healthy communities.


ECONOMIC PROSPERITY Intent: To make City West an integrated part of a prosperous ‘global’ city,

where residents and visitors alike can live, learn, work, mingle, meet and

exchange ideas in an attractive and creative environment.

(Refer to Figure 3: Economic Opportunities)

The Strategy seeks to foster a high level of economic prosperity and improvedlocal services in City West.

A prosperous economic future for City West, its businesses and residentsrequires ‘creative city’ planning principles that recognise the importance of:• the economic role of the public domain.• the importance of social and business connections.• fostering an attractive, safe, livable, vibrant, connected and functional

place.

The central Brisbane location and mix of businesses and strategic assetsare the economic strengths of City West.

The key sectors of economic activity that offer the greatest opportunityfor growth in City West are:• health;• education;• recreation/leisure/entertainment;• retailing; and• personal and business services.

This Strategy proposes a series of actions to improve business and social linksto and within City West through developing a connected public domain.A local environment with improved connectivity will foster economic vitality.

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The Police Barracks (left) and Victoria Barracks

(below): important heritage items that can play a

vital role in City West’s and Brisbane’s future.

LOCAL ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

Local economic prosperity will be fostered through:• encouraging a full range of business services in City West to accommodate

the needs of the area’s residents;• supporting new ‘artisan’ personal and business services that encourage

social and economic interaction and exchange (eg specialty retailing,hospitality, accommodation, personal services and business services)to support Brisbane’s economic growth; and

• supporting new businesses that build on the competitive advantagesof City West.

This Strategy proposes to reinforce thecharacter of City West localitiesthrough:• an integrated public domain and

built form that reflects theirexisting character;

• encouraging economic uses andactivities to achieve greatereconomic vitality and improvedlocal services; and

• enhancing the economic andsocial value of central Brisbane’smajor research, health andeducational institutions by providing supporting uses, residentialaccommodation, and by improving connections among them.

During local planning, economic development opportunities will be identifiedfor City West localities to:• harness the economic potential of City West’s large range of educational

research, knowledge, and leisure facilities; and• support Brisbane City Council’s Economic Development Strategy and

Queensland Government’s ‘Smart State’ policies.

Roma Street Rail Yards Locality will provide important links between PetrieTerrace, Spring Hill, Normanby and the western CBD. Development will extendthe public domain to overcome existing physical barriers. The area is open toa range of uses according to market demand and public investment decisions.

Petrie Terrace-Barracks Locality (including Upper Roma Street) has theeconomic potential for local business and services; housing; tourist(including backpacker related) accommodation and services. Caxton Streethas an entertainment and local business focus with potential for youth leisureand recreation services.

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Development over rail infrastructure in City West

(such as the Roma Street Rail Yards, above, and at

Normanby, below) will overcome significant

physical barriers in City West and provide social

and economic benefits.


Normanby Precinct has few large sites available for development (apart fromthe area over the railway). A plan for the local area will need to considerpotential for development over railway lines and near the inner city bypassaccess ramps. Development in this area offers the best possibilities toovercome existing significant barriers to pedestrian and cycle movement.The area has great potential due to its accessibility to the city, QUT,Victoria Park, and RBH. Subject to public domain improvements, the areaover the exhibition line could suit student accommodation, generalresidential, education uses as well as local services associated with theproposed Normanby bus station.


PLANNING PROPOSALS

Local Economic Development Planning

14. Consider economic development opportunities as part of localplanning.

Local Business Development

15. Promote and facilitate local economic activities that take advantageof existing and proposed investment in venues, attractions, healthservices and educational services in and near City West.

STRATEGICECONOMIC SECTORSIntent: City West will build on its existing competitive advantages through

supporting the key economic sectors that determine City West’s ‘place’ in

the metropolitan and regional economies, and which contribute to a

prosperous and livable Brisbane.

(Refer to Figure 3: Economic Opportunities)

The Strategy is to build on the competitive strengths of City West to furtherdevelop its contribution to a prosperous Brisbane. It aims to:• improve functional and physical links through the area; and• encourage new development opportunities within City West.

RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The Strategy aims to maximise economic benefits for the area’s key researchand learning centres including: QUT Kelvin Grove campus, University ofQueensland’s Graduate School of Medicine, Queensland Institute of MedicalResearch, Royal Brisbane Hospital). City West is also close to other knowledgeand research institutions (Conservatorium of Music, Queensland Museum,State Library, and Queensland Art Gallery). It also has major secondaryschools in close proximity to these tertiary centres (the Grammar Schools,Kelvin Grove High School and St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace).

Providing greater connections to and from the area’s research and educationsector will:• ensure that City West capitalises on existing assets to become a precinct

for integrated education and research in medicine, human sciences andcreative industries;

• enhance City West’s capacity to sell educational services;• assist Brisbane to take advantage of new and emerging

opportunities in the health, education, training and related fields(eg international education); and

• provide a research and learning environment that attracts, nurtures andretains highly skilled individuals to learn, live and work in City West.

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Providing better connections and a quality public

domain will enhance Queensland’s key research

and education resources in and around City West,

such as the Queensland Institute of Medical

Research and Royal Brisbane Hospital (above).

The University of Queensland’s School of Medicine

at Herston (below): part of a regional Research,

Education and Training Precinct.


TOURISM AND VISITORS

The Strategy seeks to maximise economic benefits from existing and proposedvenues and attractions, including Suncorp Stadium, Roma Street Parkland,Cultural Precinct, South Bank, CBD, Brisbane River, Ballymore, and theShowground.

The proposed City West Green Belt provides a further opportunity for City Westto provide significant recreation, leisure and entertainment services forresidents and visitors to Brisbane.

The Strategy seeks to build on the Caxton Street entertainment centre toprovide a critical mass of entertainment facilities on which to base furtherdevelopment catering for youth entertainment. Existing backpackeraccommodation facilities on Upper Roma Street and hotels in the western CBDoffer the potential for further development to tap into this growing market.

Providing greater connections to and from the area’s many leisure andentertainment attractions will:• capitalise on existing assets by developing City West into a widely

recognised recreation, leisure and entertainment destination for localresidents, for the wider metropolitan Brisbane population and for visitors;

• support the growing market for backpacker (and other young adult)accommodation in South East Queensland; and

• increase the number of people visiting, staying and spending in City West(and Brisbane), adding to the vitality of the area through greater socialand economic interaction and exchange.


PLANNING PROPOSALS

Medical Research, Education, Training, Creative Industries and

Student Accommodation

16. Develop and promote Brisbane’s City West as a regional Research,Education and Training Precinct in the fields of Medical and HumanSciences and Creative Industries.

Tourism and Visitors

17. Promote parts of City West as leisure and entertainment destinationswith an emphasis on meeting the recreation, leisure, entertainmentand accommodation needs of young adults.

Quality informal recreation, a good environment

and excellence in music and arts are marks of a

creative city.


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Documents

PART 2: PUBLIC DOMAIN AND CONNECTIVITY OUTCOMES CITY WEST’S PUBLIC DOMAIN · 2015-12-15 · Public Domain and establishing a clear hierarchy of streets based on their character,