Brisbane’s LNP Council is set to announce today that private sector contractors will be invited to submit proposals for a “re-imagining” of King George Square as a destination for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A Significant Contracting Plan for over $10 million tabled for today’s Council meeting show expressions of interest will open this Friday for a commercial operator to operate the entire Brisbane City Hall Precinct and for a “physical reconfiguration” of the Northeastern section of the Square including the restaurant, cafe and the deck above.
Council will also consider options including a restaurant refurbishment only, and proposals that require both private and public investment.
Council expects any lease offered to a commercial operator will be in excess of 20 years.
The current iteration of King George Square has been a significant point of difference between the LNP Administration and Labor Opposition since 2016.
A 2009 redevelopment of King George Square involved removal of water foundations, grass and trees which proved controversial for the public given the Square re-opened on an especially hot October’s day.
The redesign was inspired by European plazas but was criticised as not being suitable for Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate.
Under scrutiny, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman conceded that Council didn’t get it right and subsequently installed some trees in planter boxes.
Brisbane’s LNP Council have since defended the design claiming the Square is a thoroughfare making it unsuitable for grass and a water fountain, claiming a renovation would cost “tens of millions of dollars”.
Brisbane Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy slammed the move, saying that it was wrong to seek ideas from private businesses before residents and ratepayers of Brisbane, and the amount of commercialisation was already “out of control”.
“The LNP Council’s plan for King George Square describes the opportunity for revenue-sharing, commercial agreements and private-sector agreements but doesn’t mention community.”
“I constantly see people rush through King George Square without stopping to enjoy it, and in summer they avoid it all together because of the heat. It should be a place where people can gather.”
“Brisbane 2032 should be a catalyst for a better city, not an excuse to build up public space for short-term commercial gain.”
“The real legacy from a King George Square redevelopment should be a space that welcomes all on an ordinary weekday afternoon, not just during major events.”
