Construction Crisis Pushes Back Queen’s Wharf Opening

The opening of The Star’s Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane has again been pushed back.

The landmark riverside development was slated to open at Christmas; however, it is now scheduled to open the doors in April next year, The Star’s Group chief executive and managing director Robbie Cooke said.

“The revised opening date follows careful consideration of current progress by our builder,” Cooke said in a statement to the ASX.

“Queen’s Wharf has not been immune from the types of pressures that other major infrastructure projects across Australia have encountered. 

“We are disappointed, but this transformational development for Brisbane has been eight years in the making already, and it will be well worth the wait.

“Queen’s Wharf will be a game-changer for a city that continues to attract the eyes of the world as we charge towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The multi-billion-dollar Queen’s Wharf development, on either side of William Street in Brisbane’s CBD, is the largest development undertaken in Queensland and the largest casino resort in Australia.

This is far from the first time the opening date has been revised—in July, 2022 The Star advised that the cost of materials, the pandemic and substantial rain had delayed the project by six months and added 10 per cent to its cost.

In February of this year, chief operating officer Kelvin Dodt said it would open by year’s end.

However, it was not all bad news for the Destination Brisbane Consortium, the privately owned and operated joint venture between The Star and its partners Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium.

▲ A render of Queen’s Wharf from William Street looking south.

In the statement it said it had “received the keys” to several dining, entertainment and gaming areas on Levels 5 and 6 of the resort, representing the first handover of control for an area within the construction precinct, from building contractor Multiplex. 

“This milestone provides The Star, as the operator, the opportunity to commence bump-in of the respective areas. The handover occurred on June 2, 2023.”

On the same day, the third and final Sky Deck bridge section was moved into place, ahead of the Sky Deck lift and connection to take place in the coming weeks.

“The completed Sky Deck will connect all four towers of the Queen’s Wharf development and signify a further milestone in the project’s progression,” the statement said. 

“The Sky Deck will showcase a 250m open-air rooftop runway of bars and restaurants, provide panoramic views from 100m above the Brisbane River and have capacity for up to 1500 people.”