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[SoulVision]

$400m law precinct
Steven Wardill

December 20, 2006 11:00pm
Article from: The Courier-Mail

QUEENSLAND taxpayers will fork out more than $400 million to build a state-of-the-art law precinct on Brisbane's George St.

The precinct will be built on the remainder of the vacant site known as Queensland Place, which already is home to the new magistrate's courts.

The Supreme and District courts will move from their present locations to the massive complex, which will have up to 50 courtrooms and hearing rooms.

Premier Peter Beattie said existing buildings would not meet the courts' needs in the future.

"The new Supreme and District Court building is expected to cost more than $400 million to build," he said.

"Our higher courts need a new home that matches their importance to the administration of accessible justice to the people of Queensland."

The winning design is expected to be announced in April.

The court complex, likely to be completed by 2011 to coincide with the Queensland Supreme Court's 150th anniversary, will consist of about 63,000sq m of floor space and include detention facilities, prisoner transfer and car parking.

Chief Justice Paul de Jersey, who has long agitated for a new court, said a courthouse was a "hugely symbolic" building.

"Even further, the metropolitan court house for the state's highest courts should reflect high state esteem," he said.

[KJBrissy]

I just can't wait to see the result of the Supreme Courts site!!!!!

[SoulVision]

Same here... it better be good!

Horror site now hot property
By Elizabeth Tilley

December 21, 2006 11:00pm
Article from: The Courier-Mail

QUEENSLAND'S major developers are already running the numbers over the ABC studios site at Toowong.

Newsroom staff have moved to temporary premises at the Ten and Seven networks' newsrooms at Mount Coot-tha after findings linked the workplace to the high incidence of breast cancer among staff.

An ABC spokeswoman said it had not been decided to sell the site. But developers are not fazed by the investigation findings, and are eagerly waiting for it to be put on the market.

Real estate industry figures regard the 1.6ha site on the river at 600 Coronation Drive as one of Brisbane's prime pieces of real estate, which could fetch $35 million to $60 million.

In May, a 4000sq m site next door sold for $15 million (tantamount to $3750/sq m).

Jason Adcock of Adcock Prestige said he had had a call every second week from developers asking when the ABC site would go on the market. Mr Adcock said there were three or four developers from Queensland and interstate prepared to offer at least $40 million and had mooted ideas to make it an emporium-style development.

Deputy Mayor David Hinchliffe said the site could be redeveloped for mixed-use, medium-density purposes, but one building – the heritage-listed 1865 Middenbury building – would have to remain if it were sold for redevelopment, subject to de-contamination and safety checks.

[KJBrissy]

In Prime Site today it said that the Carlton Crest Hotel has been sold for $100 million.

[SoulVision]

Fantastic news!!! GO FILM OZ!

BrisVegas set to be Australian Hollywood
Saturday Dec 23 12:37 AEDT

Move over Hollywood, Brisbane is hot on your tail.

Experts believe the burgeoning Queensland capital is the key to rejuvenating the flailing Australian film industry.

Film and TV stalwart John Jarratt, who scared the pants off audiences with his portrayal as the killer in the spine-tingling film Wolf Creek, is one of the people behind the push to establish Brisbane as a top location for new cinema.

To make his dream a reality, Jarratt and his wife Cody this week packed up their home in Murwillumbah in northern NSW, loaded the kids into the car and made the move to Brisbane.

The Jarratts have joined forces with Brisbane businessman Jens Madsen and his wife Suzie Lightfoot to form Film Oz, a new production company that will be based in Brisbane.

They already have two films - both urban thrillers - in the pipeline, with another swag of potential blockbuster scripts waiting in the wings.

Brisbane's youthfulness, vibrancy and seemingly unstoppable growth are the biggest attractions to Film Oz, Jarratt said.

"It's got the river in front of it, it's very modern, but it also has some of the great old buildings as well," he said.

"The climate's really good ... I mean you can shoot anything in Queensland except for snow, and I don't think I've ever worked in a film where there was snow, so there you go."

Jarratt was also full of praise for the wealth of talent already in Brisbane.

"There are great crews up here already, and in Brisbane people bend over backwards to block off streets and fix up buildings, and just try to actually help you do your job," he said.

"We just feel that it's long overdue, and it's the perfect place to start a film company."

The $4.25 million film Crossing the Line will be Film Oz's first production.

It's about a man's quest for vengeance against his ex-wife and a former business partner, and filming will begin in the new year as soon as they get their budget.

Film Oz hopes it will make inroads towards revitalising the Australian film industry, which has drawn substantial criticism in the past few years for failing to achieve box office success.

"Independent filmmaking used to be vibrant in Australia until about 1985, and it sort of went downhill from then on," Jarratt said.

"We think it's because the choices have been pretty bad ... that urban angst thing, the coming of age movie, which have been done to death."

Jarratt is convinced his team has the winning formula.

"We've read more scripts than most people, we've got about 100 movies between us, and I think we know what works," he said.

"I think we can get outside of the square and make some quality films in Australia."

©AAP 2006