Update: Brisbane’s game-changing infrastructure investment

Adding to this extraordinary infrastructure investment is a powerful combination of substantial employment, population growth, and a critically low apartment supply. These are the perfect conditions to maximise the ‘effortless advantage’ in residential property investment and deliver strong value-uplift.

Here we look at how Brisbane’s key infrastructure projects are advancing, with several heading closer to the finish line.

Cross River Rail – $5.4 Billion

Cross River Rail is a 10.2km rail line between Dutton Park and Bowen Hills that includes a 5.9km twin tunnel under the Brisbane River and the CBD. The project consists of four new underground stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street, and Roma Street, and the redevelopment of two existing overground stations at Dutton Park and Exhibition.

This critical project will improve Brisbane’s connectivity and quality of life for residents, support economic growth, and activate development across the region.

Construction of Cross River Rail is advancing towards a 2024 completion, after which extensive safety testing and commissioning will occur. Public services are expected to commence in 2025.

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Queen’s Wharf Precinct – $3.6 Billion

This historic 26-ha integrated resort development will include four luxury hotels, more than 50 new bars and restaurants, and 2,000 residential apartments. The 500m foreshore consists of a newly created Mangrove Walk and an updated Bicentennial bikeway, which opened in October 2019. 

The public space integrated into the design is equivalent to 12 football fields, with a 6-star Green Star Communities rating. Should all go to plan, the Queens Wharf precinct is scheduled to commence a staged opening in the second half of 2023.

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Brisbane Live – $2 Billion

Brisbane Live is a $2 billion arena-centred entertainment precinct at Roma Street, Brisbane, with a Madison Square Garden-style 17,000-seat entertainment arena as its centrepiece, along with outdoor amphitheatres, cinemas, restaurants, bars, hotels, and residences.

The project is being developed in conjunction with Cross River Rail. 

Waterfront Brisbane – $2.5 Billion

Dexus’s Eagle Street Pier precinct redevelopment will create a world-class tourism and leisure destination, with two new mixed-use towers along with 7,900sqm of open space, upgraded wharf facilities, and an enhanced riverwalk.

This landmark project is estimated to provide a $5.7 billion boost to Queensland’s gross state product over the next 40 years, including $230 million in value add to Queensland’s construction and professional services sectors.

The first stage of construction has officially kicked off, with a slated 2027 completion.

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Victoria Park Redevelopment – $1 Billion

Touted to be one of Australia’s most iconic parks, the Victoria Park redevelopment will result in a 45-hectare sanctuary. The draft masterplan includes a 1.4 ha water activity lake, wetlands with boardwalks and trails, an all-abilities high ropes course, mountain bike trails, a children’s water park, a skate park, tennis courts, sports fields, golf skills green and cricket nets.

Also included will be a Cultural Hub with installations, indigenous art, a sculpture park, and a large community garden and urban farm.

More than 51,000 people shared their thought on the Draft Masterplan, the final of which will be released in 2023.

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Brisbane Metro – $1.2 Billion

Brisbane Metro will provide a 21km service that connects 18 stations along dedicated busways, creating a more integrated transport network of Metro, bus and train services.

The high-frequency public transport system will cut travel times, reduce CBD bus congestion and improve services to the suburbs. By fixing critical bottlenecks in the inner-city, and introducing new, high-capacity electric metro vehicles, it will provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution to Brisbane’s bus congestion issues.

Brisbane Metro services are expected to commence from late 2024 (subject to approvals)

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Green Bridges Program

Brisbane City Council’s Green Bridges Program will deliver a new connection between Kangaroo Point and the Brisbane Central Business District (CBD), a new crossing at Breakfast Creek, and new links from Toowong to West End and St Lucia to West End.

In total, Council will invest up to $550 million to progress the Green Bridges Program making it the largest-ever investment in active transport infrastructure in the city’s history. The Australian Government is providing a funding contribution to the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge through the South East Queensland (SEQ) City Deal.

Construction of the Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek Green Bridges is underway and expected to be completed in 2024. Planning for the Toowong to West End and St Lucia to West End Green Bridges was paused in 2022 to prioritise flood recovery activities across Brisbane.

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Transport Infrastructure Upgrades

In addition to these exciting transformative projects, the Queensland Government will spend a further estimated $14 billion on statewide infrastructure for transport upgrade projects.

This includes:

• Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail ($10bn)
• Second M1 / Commera-connector ($2.4bn)
• Valley Metro renewal ($500m)
• Brisbane’s new Cruise Ship Terminal ($158m)

Retail, Education and Health Infrastructure

Queensland’s health precinct will see Herston Quarter established ($1.1bn), while the education sector will see Griffith University leave its Mount Gravatt campus and establish a brand new vertical facility in Roma Street ($1bn). Retail will also receive a boost, with Brisbane Auto Mall ($300m) and a Performing Arts Centre ($150m).

Brisbane and the Effortless Advantage Effect

These once-in-a-generation projects will completely redefine Brisbane’s visitor and living experience, cementing it as one of the world’s most liveable and dynamic cities.

Adding to this is a powerful combination of substantial employment, population growth, and a critically low apartment supply.

These are the perfect conditions to take advantage of what we call the ‘effortless advantage’ in residential property investment.

In simple terms, this refers to the proven “value” increase that properties naturally experience in areas with public and private investment in improving local infrastructure and amenities.

 

Identifying these areas and subsequently capitalising on such opportunities is called “effortless” because property owners in these locations are the greatest beneficiaries of the flow-on value uplift created by this investment.

Mosaic’s Research and Strategy team works closely with our Acquisitions team to ensure future project opportunities meet strict criteria developed in alignment with our key philosophies, the most critical of which is location.

We take our promise of “Enduring Value” incredibly seriously, selecting prime locations throughout South East Queensland close to employment hubs, public transport, shops, services, amenities, and game-changing infrastructure projects.

If you’re thinking about investing in property, then Brisbane is the city that you need to seriously consider, and fast.