Brisbane City Council Approves $1 Billion Industry and Business Park.

The 93-hectare project, called Metroplex at Westgate, will be delivered by a company linked to award-winning Queensland-based developer Pradella. Pradella says Metroplex at Westgate will be the most significant new

Pradella says Metroplex at Westgate will be the most significant new mixed use commercial hub in south-east Queensland, and a vital piece of infrastructure for Brisbane’s western corridor, which is expected to accommodate 350,000 residents and 200,000 new workers by 2026. Construction on the first stage of the development is expected to start in 2012, with the first lots to be made available for lease and purchase in 2013. The entire project will be developed in stages over the next 10 years.

Comprising 250,000sqm of industry floorspace and a 6000sqm retail and business precinct, Metroplex at Westgate will be almost double the size of its sister project Metroplex Gateway in Murrarie, also developed by Pradella and which is home to more than 100 major tenants including Adidas Australia, Fisher & Paykel Australia, Footlocker Asia Pacific, Johnson & Johnson, LG Electronics and Toshiba. Pradella representative Peter Macgregor says the Westgate development will be closely modelled on the Metroplex Gateway masterplan, but will be improved with green credentials and additional services and facilities.

He said the Westgate development is expected to attract a similar mix and calibre of tenants looking for a variety of lot sizes and types and a strategic location with good visibility, adjoining major road networks. “We identified the development potential of the Sananada Barracks site years before it was made available for sale in 2005 by the Federal Government – it is the largest single holding in the region and there’s a workforce catchment of about 900,000 within a 20-minute drive,” Mr Macgregor said. “The site is well positioned just 15km from the Brisbane CBD and 20km from Ipswich, with the Centenary Highway, Ipswich Motorway, Progress Road and two train stations at its doorstep. “Prospective tenants will be able to choose from a total of 51 lots when the development is completed, ranging in size from from 500sqm to 5 hectares, which can be purchased or leased for light industry work and office space, so there’s scope to accommodate a whole range of businesses at Metroplex at Westgate.” Mr Macgregor says another major drawcard for the development will be an on site retail and leisure hub, which will promote work-life balance. “At the centre of the development will be the Etro precinct, which will boast an array of shops, restaurants and facilities such as childcare, fitness clubs, a medical centre and pharmacy and a civic square for gatherings and performances,” Mr Macgregor said.

“Having direct access to a range of services and amenities will not only make it easier to conduct business but will also help employers to attract and retain quality employees.” In addition to delivering an ‘A’ grade commercial hub, Pradella will invest resources to improve infrastructure and the environment in the surrounding region. More than five kilometres of new road networks will be constructed to service Metroplex at Westgate, along with 22 hectares of parklands and open spaces. “Part of our development program will be the construction of the ‘missing link’ between Progress Road and Kelliher Road, as well as internal routes which will connect Metroplex to Boundary Road, which will eventually be widened to four lanes,” Mr Macgregor said.

“Additional links to public transport will be provided, including a bus service to Wacol and Richlands train stations and a cycle network which will connect to the Centenary Highway and through to the CBD. “We are dedicated to ensuring Metroplex at Westgate becomes a leader in sustainable commercial development, and to this end, there will be a series of parks and up to 15 hectares of environmental protection areas to preserve native species. “Buildings will be designed to achieve a high energy efficiency rating, and a large scale water reclamation system will be employed to reduce water consumption by up to 70 per cent. “The heritage of the site will also be remembered through a dedicated serviceman’s memorial created in conjunction with the National Serviceman’s Association.”