Individual Project One Statement

The effects of the introduction of the Congestion Charge within the Brisbane CBD has seen the decline of traffic congestion, the transfer of business growth to the outer suburbs, and an influx of people having moved to the CBD to avoid transport costs - as a result of the charge and rising petrol prices. Consequently, the council saw the need to devise a strategic plan to establish multiple, self-contained centres throughout Brisbane to alleviate pressures on the CBD and provide outer suburbs with access to business and services and promote further growth in these areas. The CBD remains the largest of these - enveloping many of the surrounding suburbs to accommodate for this influx of people to urban areas. In order to prevent further urban sprawl, the CBD has been planned to cater for rapid growth and densification. This will include a new building typology of diversified, mixed-use blocks within the overarching planning scheme.  Interspersed within the main commerce-based zones, the CBD and Fortitude Valley, is the densified residential domain consolidated with greenspace. In order to provide for the increased population, the council has devised sustainable, self-contained systems to manifest within the CBD.  This includes a transformation of the existing infrastructure within the city, most significantly an elevated rapid transit system to provide transport connections to all areas within the CBD. Also due to the decrease in motor transport within the CBD, some roads have been reclaimed as greenspace, forming green wedges cutting through the CBD – dedicated to urban food production and social activity. Advancements in technology have allowed for such systems to be controlled by automated systems, seeing the growth of specialist jobs in IT and engineering systems. Brisbane’s advanced technological identity has enabled the city to maintain its position in the global market, establishing itself as the new conference centre for Australia. Due to its expansion and demand, Brisbane’s economy has furthermore seen the need to become efficient 24/7, meeting advanced markets around the world, where it is recognised as a major capital city on an international scale.