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Low-profile Brisbane development group Trenert is making a bid to be close to centre stage of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games after announcing plans to develop a $1.2 billion mixed-use project alongside the heritage-listed Railway Hotel.
The twin-tower development, named Station Square, will overlook a redeveloped Gabba when completed ahead of the Games in 2032.
Trenert, which describes itself as a boutique property development company delivering world-class residential, commercial and mixed-use projects, has labelled Station Square as an ‘exciting new mixed-use precinct’ that is designed to ‘celebrate and showcase Brisbane’s unique heritage'.
The company plans to enlist a joint-venture partner to undertake the project, which will deliver a five-star hotel, an office tower and a retail plaza to the Olympics precinct, as well as a mix of residences comprising residential apartments and affordable housing which it plans to develop in partnership with community housing provider BlueCHP.
The site, which has lain dormant for the past eight years, was subject to a major development proposal in 2015 by its former owners – the Sydney-based apartment developer Dyldam and Brisbane’s Barakat Group. The development partners, who had acquired the site for $25 million, had planned 430 apartments for the site, as well as a refurbishment of the Railway Hotel, which at the time was known as the Chalk Hotel.
Trenert says it is ‘unashamedly ambitious’ about the scale of the proposed Station Square project, hinting that it is close confirming a ‘major corporate entity’ as its joint-venture partner.
Trenert’s managing partner Peter Priest expects the project to be completed ahead of the Brisbane Olympics in 2030.
“The Government investment in the Gabba stadium and Cross River Rail are the catalysts for the transformation of the Gabba, and this is an investment in that vision,” Priest says.
“We’re looking forward to delivering much needed housing as part of the Gabba transformation, putting homes adjacent to transport infrastructure and creating a vibrant 24-hour precinct.”
Queensland’s Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Steven Miles says Station Square will be a vital contribution to the government’s vision for the Gabba precinct.
The Gabba, which is earmarked for a $2.7 billion redevelopment, will play host to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.
“The government’s aim is to transform the Gabba precinct into a vibrant mixed-use hub, with access to world-class public transport as well as improved public spaces to encourage more visitors to the area,” Miles says.
“This sort of private sector investment is an important part of delivering on that vision.
“Urban renewal of the Gabba precinct can be an obvious Olympic legacy and this proposal has the opportunity to address a clear need for greater housing affordability in the inner city.”
Station Square will comprise 200,000sqm of gross building area, including 7,000sqm of green and open space, 50,000sqm of commercial office space, and 6,000sqm of retail and food outlets.
The proposal will include a full restoration of the Railway Hotel to include 740sqm of retail space.
The proposed hotel will comprise 320 hotel suites and 120 private residences, while the residential component will include 165 apartments and 114 affordable apartments.
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