Stage one of Australia’s largest brownfield development site – the RNA Showgrounds has commenced construction.

Stage one of a visionary $2.6 billion dollar redevelopment project has now commenced. The first RNA building to be rejuvenated is a 70 year old Industrial Pavilion, famous for housing the Ekka’s showbags. Old facades will be retained to become a feature of Brisbane’s second largest convention and exhibition centre – totalling around 22,000m2 of floor space.

RNA chief executive Jonathan Tunny said additional facilities such as a large commercial kitchen, meeting and board rooms as well as new RNA offices are to be be built into the new building. Stage one has been initiated by funding provided from the Queensland Government owned QIC, which has granted a $59 million dollar loan to finance this initial stage of the 15 year redevelopment.

Also included in stage one is the much anticipated 5,050m2 Brisbane fresh food markets. Mr Tunny said the scale of the markets would be similar to the Adelaide Central Markets which specialise in a range of produce including fruit and vegetables, seafood, meats and poultry, cheeses, nuts and confectionary, plants and flours and a whole range of other fresh produce.

Since the relocation of the Roma Street Markets in 1935 to the outer suburbs, the inner city has been without a large farmers market, and therefore has created pent-up demand for a permanent fresh food hub.

Stage one of the RNA redevelopment works include:

• Industrial Pavilion to be transformed into a 22,000m2 convention and exhibition centre
• $7 million in enabling infrastructure works to improve stormwater and sewer works.
• Design and development of Fresh Food Markets
• Design and development of Grand Parade and Ekka Plaza
• Design and development of the first residential and commercial precinct
• Design and development of a hotel