4.2.1 The Causes of Decay in Brisbane
When looking at the case of Brisbane, a different situation from Detroit is observed in regard to what led to a city with such potential experiencing decay. Brisbane suffered from two main tragic events that sent it on the downward spiral of decay. The first of these was unique in that it was a natural event beyond human control.
Thompson (2002) gives an account of the catastrophic floods and drought fluctuations experienced in the 1800s destroying a large amount of housing along the river (see Plate 9). The period of 1800 – 1900 can be seen as having been Brisbane’s worst century due to the extreme climate conditions it faced.
Plate 8: Brisbane in 1800’s
Source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/06/0f/e8/060fe849514095b36b2a5ad4681750a4.jpg
While recovering from the first floods, the city later went through an intense drought between 1828 and 1829 (ibid). However, in the years that followed, it once again experienced a series of great floods, one of which destroyed every single bridge that crossed the river as well as property along the banks of the river.
Plate 9: 1893 Brisbane Flood
Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/1893_Brisbane_flood_Queen_St.jpg
These natural disasters are what led to the second cause of decay which is the issue of competition with other cities in Australia. While Brisbane may have been an upcoming city with great potential and a growing population, the floods it experienced sent the city backwards in terms of development. In comparison to other cities in Australia such as Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane fell behind. The city began to experience a decrease in its population as a number of young people began to leave the city in search of better employment opportunities in Melbourne, Sydney and even overseas in Europe (Brisbane City Council, 2012). As in the case of Detroit, the reduced population meant a drop in the investment in property, leading to Brisbane’s inner-city coming to a point where it was struggling with economic stagnation, urban decay and crime (URB, 2012).
4.2.2 The Renewal of Brisbane
Given the state that Brisbane had found itself in, in 1991 a program that has come to be described as one that has breathed and continues to breathe life into the derelict, forgotten parts of Brisbane was launched (Brisbane City, 2013). Urban Renewal Brisbane (URB) was established with the mandate of revitalising the numerous derelict industrial areas that had emerged in Brisbane’s inner-city area (URB, 2012). Some twenty years later, Brisbane had been transformed and it has continued to change into one of the most liveable cities in the world.
The transformation of Brisbane was initially focused on areas within a 5 kilometre radius of Brisbane city’s centre along the river. URB aimed to create an urban environment that embodied sustainable and liveable urban design from the overarching urban structure down to neighbourhood level and local place-making. This was achieved through the following principles:-
▪ Focusing new development at accessible locations near transit stations and major centres;
▪ Managing the transition of declining industrial land to high density and mixed-use urban communities;
▪ Establishing new centres to service rapidly growing inner city neighbourhoods;
▪ Preparing built form guidelines to ensure new development integrates with the established characters;
▪ Master Planning development sites that serve as catalysts for regeneration in local areas;
▪ Delivering a range of new public spaces such as plazas, laneways and street upgrades as well as funding critical infrastructure to support new inner city communities; and
▪ Planning for sustainable new transport connections through the inner city
Source: URB (2012).
The URB program has seen the City of Brisbane winning various awards due to the way it was able to transform Brisbane in the 20 years since the program started. This transformation has taken place in various ways through different projects that have managed to change the urban environment to suite the current needs. The projects have included the conversion of wool stores into modern apartments, the conversion of a derelict powerhouse into a world-class performing arts centre and the upgrading of open spaces to meet the needs of today’s generation (URB, 2012). The images below reflect some of the changes that have taken place in Brisbane’s inner-city neighbourhoods as a result of the URB.
Plate 10 and Plate 11: The Sugar Refinery and Cutters Landing before and after Renewal when it had been transformed into Residential Apartments
Source: URB (2012; 32).
Plate 12 and Plate 13: The Catalina Wharves and the Redevelopment into Luxury Residential Apartments and Houses
Source: URB (2012; 45)
BEFORE REGENERATION
AFTER REGENERATION
The Brisbane case provides an example of how in some instances, decay can be triggered by a natural disaster as in the case of the Brisbane floods. However, some of the key points that can be noted from the way in which the city of Brisbane responded to decay is the manner in which their reaction involved a variety of stakeholders through public partnerships as well as the way in which the initiative aimed at ensuring adaptive design, acknowledging the idea of cities being dynamic and constantly evolving with the needs of the population also changing. Along with this was the protection of the city’s heritage and character through the protection of various old buildings so as to preserve them and give the transformed city a unique identity of its own. As part of the CBD, Albert Park is and an area that carries rich heritage value and currently serves a diverse range of people. As such it is important that any interventions ensure that the history of the area is not eroded and that extensive stakeholder engagement processes are carried out.