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Culture Documents
QUT Carseldine Regional Report
QUT Carseldine Regional Report
QUT Carseldine Regional Report
REGIONAL REPORT
Page 1 of 4
Attachment One – QUT Carseldine Campus
Regional Report – Forum 32
Presented by Linda Carroli
Proposition
Brisbane forum members have recently become aware that the QUT Carseldine Campus will not be
used for teaching beyond January 2009.
There has been preliminary and informal consultation with various groups and individuals about
embracing the opportunity presented by the vacated space so as to respond to needs outlined in this
document. Some of opportunities canvassed include:
• Establishment of new and emerging business hub emphasising social enterprise and
flexible space and facilities for small businesses
• Streaming of the some of the activities state government’s proposed Design Centre to
develop heightened awareness of environment, design, urban and architectural issues
and ideas
• Accommodation for non-profit organisations and social enterprises
Issues
The issues that Brisbane forum members have identified are outlined below:
5. A need for and existence of innovative, diverse and new enterprises along the northern
corridor of Greater Brisbane
• The Northern Corridor has been identified as an area warranting and requiring social
and economic development. This has been expressed by Brisbane North
Development Forum and is explicit in the SEQ Regional Plan.
• The state government prioritises diverse regional economies as well as knowledge
rich and innovative enterprise development
• Support for innovative home-based small to medium enterprises
• Proximity to the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, Aspley
office
• Opportunity to bolster local business particularly financial, legal and other business
to business services
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• The Forum is developing a regional proposal on governance in the Not for Profit
Sector indicating a need to strengthen this sector region-wide and has commenced
research for a report and proposal on Social Enterprise
Other Considerations
• The campus is the only significant social infrastructure in this area. It provides sporting
facilities, walking tracks, bushland, library and other amenities to the community not
provided by government.
• The state government is planning to develop a Design Centre in the inner city within an
established creative precinct. In Brisbane, the state government’s provision of cultural
infrastructure and funding tends to be focused on the inner city ring. The campus
houses professional standard theatre and gallery that could be used to deliver some of
the program activity of the Design Centre, particularly those concerned with
environmental, urban design, architecture and sustainability issues.
• Major road works are planned for the northern corridor. Outside of the SEQ Regional
Plan, these include no proposals for mitigating negative impacts such as urban sprawl,
increased pollution and environmental degradation, eroded social capital and
inaccessible local business areas.
• The use of the campus to provide office accommodation for not for profit organisations
only works for those organisations that are not bound to service provision in particular
localities
• Proximity to and connectivity to the developing Chermside business activity centre
• Accessibility to transport. The campus is connected via bus and train services to outer
areas (into Moreton Bay Regional Shire, Caboolture and then the Sunshine Coast) and
by bus routes that connect to the CBD via Gympie Road (from Carseldine train station)
and Kelvin Grove Road (from Aspley Hypermarket) and by train to the CBD and other
transport nodes. The Hornibrook Bus Line also connects this area to Redcliffe.
• Consistency with many of the state government’s priorities for 2008
• Consistency with the SEQ Regional Plan
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Limitations
• The University is not in a position to offer spaces for free and spaces must be rented
• The Campus can only be occupied temporarily while the University considers future
options for the facility
• The land is reserved for educational purposes and must be used for such purposes
unless an interim change of use is approved by government
Support
These broad ideas have received informal expressions of support and interest from:
• Brisbane Social Enterprise Hub
• Speak Out
• Edgeware
• Blak Business Smart Business
• SANDBAG
• Foresters ANA
• Brisbane City Council staff have expressed a willingness to investigate possibilities
• QUT has indicated a preparedness to listen to proposals and ideas
Additionally
• Contact has been made with members of federal, state and local government to inform
them of the proposal
• Submissions have been made, through feedback and community consultation
processes on policy and planning, about the proposal and highlighting the opportunity
the vacated campus presents. This includes feedback to Smart State review
consultations and feedback on the Design Centre plans.
The Brisbane forum members believe that government, community and QUT are able to collaborate
in considering and planning for the future of QUT’s Carseldine campus, which presents a unique
opportunity for innovative approaches to urban, social and economic development in a suburban
area. The development of the Kelvin Grove Urban Village is an exemplar of university and
government collaboration.
Questions
This matter is relevant to several government departments:
• Department of Education and The Arts
• Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
• Department of Communities