Future of two-year-old Brisbane Live project tied to results of Nov. 25 elections in Queensland, Australia.
An ambitious proposal for an entertainment development project in Brisbane, Australia, would be folded into the planning of a large underground rail line project under a new plan from Queensland’s Labor Party leaders.
The proposal would put the planning for Brisbane Live, an entertainment precinct featuring a 17,000-seat arena, under the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, which is overseeing the underground rail line development, in partnership with Harvey Lister, CEO of AEG Ogden, the Brisbane-based venues operator that proposed the estimated $2 billion (Australian) Brisbane Live project. The proposal linking the projects was made ahead of Queensland’s Nov. 25 legislative assembly elections and would progress if the Labor Party retains control of the legislative body.
In a press release, Jackie Trad, deputy premier and minister for transport, infrastructure and planning for Queensland, said the Labor Party government has been “working very closely with Harvey Lister to make sure we create the best entertainment and integrated transport precinct in Australia.”
The Cross River Rail project is a $5.4 billion (Australian) underground rail line planned in central Brisbane. The Liberal National Party, which is the top challenger to the Labor Party in the elections, has not committed to supporting the Cross River Rail project if it gains legislative control, so the plan to link the planning of Brisbane Live with the rail project could be snuffed out at the ballot box. However, the Liberal National Party has already expressed support for a version of the Brisbane Live project and could allow it to proceed without the Cross River Rail venture. The questions remain of how and when that would happen.
Rendering of the interior of the proposed 17,000-seat arena at Brisbane Live.
Judith Mair, senior lecturer in event management in the Tourism Discipline of the University of Queensland Business School, said Brisbane Live has clear potential benefits for the region.
“It will be a significant asset to the tourism and events portfolio for the city, and I’m sure it will attract big names in terms of events and performers, so it will bring large volumes of visitors,” Mair said. “Of course, this will have a positive economic impact in terms of increased visitor spend. The venue will also create permanent full-time employment as well as a range of part-time and casual work.”
Mair said the ambitious nature of Brisbane Live aligns with the city’s evolution and the tourism and marketing goals of the city’s leaders and advocates.
“The tourism authorities are working to change the destination image of Brisbane,” Mair said. “Over the past decade or so, the city has gone from a relatively unknown city to a recognized global destination. This sort of new venue will certainly help to raise the profile of Brisbane, particularly in relation to events, and will contribute to and complement the existing visitor attractions in Brisbane. Melbourne and Sydney, both of which are well known for their event portfolios, are Brisbane’s key Australian competitors, and so it is not surprising that Brisbane should be following an events-led approach.”
Trad said the Labor government would be developing a master plan for the area and turning to community members, business representatives and developers for input for the future of the area. Mair said a strength of the Brisbane Live project is that it represents a collaborative approach, involving a number of interested parties.
“I think that the project is very important for Brisbane, as it will bring together a range of different stakeholders into one integrated destination, something which we do not currently have,” Mair said.
In addition, Mair said, the project’s planning does not appear to be in a vacuum. Instead, it is linked to other projects and other city goals, particularly new transportation infrastructure advances. She said that approach helps Brisbane Live stand out from other similar projects.
“The state government is working to improve the public transport around the city and the Brisbane Live venue is closely connected with these infrastructure developments,” Mair said. “Rather than just being a development centered on leisure, the plan is for this to be part of a larger strategic plan for the city, which seems like a positive step in city planning.”
Mair said projects such as Brisbane Live do not necessarily mean benefits will extend to the entire city, of course.
“As is often the case, I am unsure as to how equally the benefits will be shared among the residents of Brisbane, who will be the ones dealing with increased traffic, noise and congestion,” Mair said.
AEG Ogden first submitted a Brisbane Live plan to the Queensland government approximately two years ago. In the government’s press release, Lister voiced support for the marriage of the planning for the two projects.
“As a proud Queensland company and as part of the world’s leading entertainment, sport and venue management organization, AEG, we look forward to bringing our global expertise to the table to make Brisbane Live and Cross River Rail happen in partnership,” Lister said.