Boggo Road to reopen in 2013?

8 December 2010

BRGHS committee members met with Public Works officials in early November to discuss the reopening of the Boggo Road site.

We can report that there is continuing work in planning for the Boggo Road Urban Village (BRUV) site because of the new Cross River Rail project. Work is progressing with the Department of Transport and Main Roads in relation to this.

Public Works are in the final stages of negotiation to sign an agreement with a preferred developer for the development of a number of lots in the BRUV. This agreement also involves the developer undertaking further investigations regarding the future of the Boggo Road gaol.

Under the proposed agreement, the preferred developer would have a period of nine months to investigate options for the possible redevelopment of the gaol. This will be in the context of the Conservation Management Plan that is currently being reviewed together with addressing the State’s interests in any redevelopment of the gaol including that it incorporates some permanent public access and includes educational and cultural purposes that are consistent with its heritage significance.

This investigation period would include consultation with the Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Queensland Heritage Council. The Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society will also be consulted during this process. Any draft plan will then be submitted to the Brisbane City Council for approval.

Subject to the signing of the overall agreement with the preferred developer by the end of the year, the gaol investigation period would commence in early in 2011.

Therefore, reopening times are still uncertain. We had been anticipating that the gaol would reopen around March 2011, but it could now be around 2013 dependant upon the outcomes during the investigation period.

The BRGHS is of course disappointed by the limited state government investment in the Boggo Road historical site and the resultant delay in reopening, but we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the Boggo Road site. This process could deliver a very good outcome for the site, and we will be continuing our discussions with other cultural organisations to get their input into the planning process.

While the delay in reopening is not the news we wanted to hear, we are sure that Boggo Road will become a great historical site, and the BRGHS intends to be a big part of that.