Commuter Focus for Historic Runcorn Site Reimagining

The transformation of a historic industrial site into a sprawling transit-oriented mixed-use neighbourhood is planned for Brisbane’s southern outskirts. 

Spanning more than 16ha, the proposed development—dubbed Runcorn Central—would comprise 931 new homes, 9500sq m of commercial space and 20,400sq m of new parklands.

The site is next to Runcorn train station and was originally established as a bonemill in the late 19th century before later being converted to a sawmill and a foundry. The former Franklin’s Sawmill building still stands and is deemed an item of heritage significance.

Runcorn Central Investment Holdings—an entity linked to Gold Coast and Hong Kong interests—is behind the mixed-use development proposal. It amalgamated the holdings at 12, 32 and 54A Bonemill Road at a cost of $30.05 million.

A planning report said the site represents “superfluous industrial land just 14km south-east of Brisbane’s CBD”.

“While the site has a long history of industrial use over time these operations have changed and evolved, and now continued industrial operations are no longer viable,” it said

The report declared there were “few locations in southern Brisbane that have the same development potential”.

“The application is an exercise in re-thinking and re-imagining the planning framework for the site,” it said.

“Runcorn Central is a significant landholding, positioned at a key strategic location within the southern suburbs of Brisbane, which makes it a prime contender to be considered for transit-oriented development and suburban renewal.

“Through the rezoning of the site away from its current industrial zoning, there is a significant opportunity for positive suburban renewal to the benefit of Runcorn and beyond.”

▲ A render of the proposed Runcorn Central mixed-use development.

Under the redevelopment plans, a mix of 3-to-5-storey buildings are proposed for the majority of the site with a central core of buildings up to 8 storeys.

Initial plans for a maximum building height of 15 storeys were scrapped after pre-lodgement discussions indicated it was “unlikely” to be supported by council officers.

The heritage sawmill would be adaptively reused as part of the scheme.

A submitted community benefit statement said it was estimated the proposed development would support 312 ongoing jobs and had the potential to generate upward of about $65 million in economic activity each year.

Significantly, it would also increase total housing supply within Runcorn by 18.1 per cent with the new homes including a range of units and townhouses.

“These new and diverse homes will provide people with greater choice of housing to better fit their needs and lifestyles,” the documents said. “Additional housing supply will also help improve housing affordability issues across southern Brisbane.”

Underutilised industrial and commercial sites throughout the city are being unlocked as part of a key strategy by the Brisbane City Council to create development opportunities to deliver much-needed new housing.

▲ The heritage former Franklin's Sawmill shed at the Bonemill Road site.

Sites totalling more than 70ha, including a former paint factory, metal fabricator, brickworks and baked goods manufacturer already have been identified under its Suburban Renewal Precincts process. 

Runcorn Central is one of two applications for mixed-use proposals submitted to date, the other is a 12ha former paint factory at Yeronga.

“There is untapped housing supply in some of our underutilised industrial precincts and we’ve already identified more than a dozen sites with potential,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

“This land has enormous potential to deliver mixed-use communities and potentially thousands of new homes.

“These sites are well connected to public transport, shops and workplaces, and provide exciting opportunities to be a place where people want to live, work and play.

“Each of them will be able to provide a mixture of attached homes, such as apartments, duplexes or townhouses.”

Cr Schrinner said more opportunities to transition underutilised commercial and industrial land into mixed-use housing hubs will emerge as industry changes. 

“By building more housing around existing infrastructure we can protect our low-density suburban areas of Brisbane, including character housing and greenspace,” he said.

“Areas such as Teneriffe, Howard Smith Wharves and West Village in West End show the success of suburban renewal and I’m keen to pursue similar opportunities of varying scales elsewhere.

“Brisbane is a city of in-fill development, we must go up, not out.”