A university research facility will close and campuses will be reconfigured and refurbished as part of a 10-year development plan for the Queensland University of Technology.
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The main QUT campuses are of Gardens Point, which became operational in 1989, and Kelvin Grove which was established in 1990.
The university released its QUT Draft Estate Master Plan 2018-2028 in July, which vice-chancellor and president Margaret Sheil AO said would continue to guide development and management of the campuses.
The draft plan said almost 50,000 enrolled at QUT in 2017 and were supported by more than 10,000 staff.
The Gardens Point campus has 28 buildings across 7.3 hectares, Kelvin Grove has 41 buildings on the 20-hectare site and there are a further 17 buildings off campus across almost 2 hectares.
The draft planning document said the 10-year plan was needed because there have been significant changes to the university’s operating environment since the last plan was approved in 2009.
The key features of the development plan:
- Redevelopment of the riverside entry at Gardens Point to create new direct pedestrian connections
- Establish a high-amenity, shared transport spine of parking, bicycle storage and end-of-trip amenities along Lamington Drive and in adjacent buildings at Gardens Point
- Plans for the Gardens Theatre precinct at Gardens Point to be redeveloped with new buildings. This would likely occur in the longer term.
- Shift some of the health-related teaching activities to the Kelvin Grove campus to reduce the current demand on intensive laboratories at Gardens Point. There is a long-term vision to refurbish and create new laboratory spaces at Gardens Point
- A new pedestrian bridge at Kelvin Grove. The bridge would be over the ring road and enhance pedestrian amenities and have a removal of open space between blocks
- Transform the underdeveloped land fronting Herston Road between the sportsfield car park and Victoria Park into a development for teaching, research and community-related activities. This is a longer-term vision
- QUT will cease its use of the Carseldine Research Facility in 2020 when the lease expires. The site is used by the Science and Engineering Faculty and the Institute of Future Environments as a storage facility and for non-regulated plant houses. A new storage facility will be established closer to the longer-term location of the engineering and science-related research at Banyo.
QUT vice president of resources Graham Fryer said the plan needed to support the university’s adaption to change and would take a high-level, long-term view of how QUT’s estate could respond to a range of potential growth and change scenarios.
“When finalised, the plan will guide future development and management of QUT’s built environment and landscapes,” he said.
The draft plan is now available for public consultation until August 5.
