Howard Smith Wharves is the last major river front site for redevelopment in Brisbane CBD; located in Petrie Bight under the Storey Bridge, it is a prominent and historic site. The City Centre Master Plan identified the significance of the area in enhancing the prestige and liveability of the ‘River City’ over the next twenty years. The site is also overlooked by residential communities on both sides of the river and forms part of the well used riverside walk-way.In order to gain the necessary material change of use and secure a development partner for the site, it was necessary to undertake a complex series of workshops with the local community to establish acceptable principles and parameters for the site. The Hornery Institute was retained to design and deliver a long term community engagement strategy for the project.
THI advocated an approach based on inclusive participatory design processes and involving the formation of a community reference group with representatives from the local resident and business communities. This reference group was involved in a series of workshops to charette possible outcomes; extensive public consultation was also undertaken at key milestones.
Subsequently the Institute has been involved in the development of a destinational plan and the evolution of a place brand for the new riverside precinct.