Brisbane Transit Centre will be demolished in order to make way for the Cross River Rail’s new underground Roma Street Station and a massive new entertainment complex in the heart of the city.
The building – which houses the CBD’s major multi-modal transport hub – will be pulled down in late 2020, while the new station will be completed by 2025.
According to the government, the current train and bus stations will remain open and accessible during the five-year construction period during the construction of the new Roma Street station,
Queensland’s treasurer and deputy premier Jackie Trad said the Transit Centre was “well past its prime”, and indicated that part of the precinct would become the site of a new entertainment centre – Brisbane Live.
“With an 18,000 seat world-class arena as its centrepiece, the Roma Street precinct, just like the LA Live complex, will become Queensland’s premier entertainment venue hosting major live concerts and world class sporting events right in heart of the city,” Trad said.
“Planning for Brisbane Live is well underway with representatives from AEG Worldwide visiting Brisbane from their Los Angeles base this week to meet with the local powerbrokers pulling the Brisbane Live business case together.
“Leading consultancy firm Deloitte have also recently been appointed to the project along with one of the world’s leading sport and architecture firms, Populous.”
Trad said the new station would function as a “key link” between the city centre, Roma Street Parklands, Spring Hill’s schools, Caxton Street, the Petrie Barracks, Suncorp Stadium, and the cultural precinct at South Bank.
“When complete the new station is expected to be used by more than 230,000 commuters every week, the equivalent of over four capacity crowds at Suncorp Stadium.”