The $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project has taken another step forward with the appointment of a demolition contractor to remove the nine story Landcentre building and old South Brisbane Dental Hospital at Woolloongabba.
Acting Treasurer Steven Miles said works on the 16,000-square metre site would begin immediately with heavy demolition start from September.
“Demolition experts DECC Pty Ltd, who have a team of 30 in Queensland, specialize in large scale demolition projects have been contracted to clear the site,” Mr Miles said.
“The Landcentre will be Brisbane’s second largest demolition project in recent years following the removal of the old 16 story Executive Building at 100 George Street as part of the Queen’s Wharf development.
“Upon completion of the $4.52m job, the Landcentre, Hospital and Goprint sites will become be the first full station site prepped and ready for Cross River Rail.
“This site will be the engine room of the project, hosting the massive tunnel boring machines which will dig the Cross River Rail’s twin 5.9km tunnels under Brisbane’s river and CBD.
“The Cross-River Rail Woolloongabba Station will be constructed 27m below ground, with 220m long platforms and will enable people to travel between Woolloongabba and the city in just a couple of minutes.
“Cross River Rail will transform Woolloongabba linking commercial, residential and retail development with access to world class public transport and the famous Gabba sports stadium.
“It will generate 7,700 jobs including 450 apprentice and training opportunities during construction, and stimulate decades of economic development opportunities right across South East Queensland.”
Mr Miles said Cross River Rail will unlock a bottleneck at the core of the transport network and allow more trains to run more often.
“Cross River Rail will enable a ‘turn-up-and-go’ transport system for the whole of South East Queensland.”
Demolition is due for completion in early 2019 with major construction activities to begin in later that year.
DECC Pty Ltd have previously removed the old Law Court Buildings in Brisbane’s CBD and cleared the Herston Quarter, Petrie Paper Mill and the Grand Centre Toowoomba Shopping Centre.
