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South Bank
South Bank of the Brisbane River
Brisbane, Australia
Submitted by: kim kaos
A tightly controlled, artificial tourism environment, complete with fake beach and cement creek, and 'move-on' laws to prevent young people from gathering.
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Why It Works
South Bank is approximately two kilometres long, spanning the south bank of the Brisbane River, opposite the city centre. It is a corporate managed park built on the site of a promised public park. Instead, a tightly controlled artificial tourism environment was created complete with fake beach & cement creek. Security guards use QLD 'move-on' laws to prevent young people from gathering.
The site was cleared of its low-cost housing and industrial structures in the late '80’s to make way for Expo '88. The so-called public space that now occupies this site excludes diversity, and has spawned a number of high-rise, high-priced security housing developments to cater to the gentrifying principles of the city council.
What Makes South Bank a Great Place?
Because the council vigorously promotes the place, it is always congested on weekends, to the detriment of local communities who, in addition, lack such facilities of their own.
The site is so overused that grass is often worn down. Rather than being 'unsafe' it is exclusive. Security guards move on the so-called 'undesirables,' like groups of youths and indigenous peoples, in favour of nuclear families and tourists.
There are far too few picnic tables and barbeques for the number of people that are encouraged to use the park, making it more likely that families are forced to use the overpriced coffee shops. I think this is partly a tactic of council and the corporation that manages the site to 'socially engineer' the types of people able to use the facilities.
As a tourist drawcard, the site excludes locals. People rarely interact because they are not members of the local community. The entire enterprise attempts to imitate a vibrant community, complete with hired buskers and markets, but the costs and social class encouraged to use the site discourages locals. Local indigenous peoples (of which there are many in the area) rarely use the site.
History & Background
The same council recently sold and cleared much valued public bushland after 20 years of protesting by the local community because they 'have South Bank.'
Contact Info:
South Bank Business Association: 61-7-3867-2051
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User Comments:
> Add your own comment about South Bank
> Add your own commentabout South Bank
There are restaurants and shops spotted throughout as well as themed facilities with free access. The pool is quite large with smaller side areas for quiet relaxation and for children. The pool has white sand throughout that is very much like a beach on the Gold or Sunshine Coasts to the north and south of the city, and is always well patronized in a city with a beautiful climate like Brisbane's.
The concrete creek is really well designed with boulders throughout and looks like a mountain stream with cascading water that winds its way through the children's playground. The playground is large and robust to allow for a myriad of play opportunities, areas for mixing with other children and areas to step back and do your own thing.
There are promenades and grassed areas that are open and well used, and small quiet areas to get away from the crowds. The grass is worn due to the high level of patronage this parkland receives. It could be more robust, but that would take from the Queenslander relaxed feeling that it has.
There is no exclusiveness to this park, it is open to all, and the only proviso is the need to respect others. It is a place where people choose to meet before entering the city or using the many facilities available within the park.
It is not a local’s park and was never intended as such, though if a park with this many facilities were in my neighbourhood I would be very happy. In saying this, this is the inner city and there is the large and beautiful Botanic Gardens surrounded by the Brisbane River directly opposite and accessible by ferry of by foot bridge.
There is another large green park for local use within 2 city blocks to the west. I do not live in the Brisbane but just over the border in New South Wales. However, I grew up and my children were born in Brisbane. When in Brisbane, we use the park to meet and relax with friends and family who still live there. I have asked my work colleges what they think of the park and they only reiterate what I have said above. (I work in a strategic planning section of a high regional local council).
I remember the fight over the loss of the beautiful old houses and docks that were removed for Expo 88. Instead of parkland open to the people of Brisbane and its visitors, it could have been all high cost housing. Even though the City of Brisbane has a river flowing through it this is one of the few areas where the river and its frontage is embraced, the result is a parkland open to all especially children and families. A space not unlike many of the spaces I see in the Hall of Fame.
The beach provides a valuable spot for swimming, next to the river as clearly the tidal flows in the Brisbane River don’t allow river swimming. On my visits I have noticed families with children picnicking mid week during the evenings and saw this as a good sign.
I would want to see a post occupancy evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the design and uses of the spaces before leveling substantial criticism. Certainly on my brief visits I have seen it busy and active and I am pretty sure that it’s not all tourists - day or otherwise (depending on definition of tourist). If the location is popular and busy then it becomes an argument to increase the spaces further along the river.
Brisbane's city council faces a difficult dilemma. Southbank Corporation, which is a quasi-government for-profit group, provides an economically sustainable model for the park. It has generated profit while providing a public space. It has also as mentioned revitalized what was once an industrial land. The price of upholding this image however is the exclusion of certain groups. Southbank is not a 'public' space, at least not in the truest sense of the word.
LET ME GET THINGS STRAIGHT:
Why it DOES work:
This is a massive parkland in the heart of the city, next door to Museums, theaters and the state library. Weekend markets attract huge crowds of both locals and tourists who meander through completely car-free area that provides wonderful shopping, entertainment, and relaxation by the very large pool.
ACCESS AND LINKAGES
Southbank is in the heart of the city. It is connected to parkland across the river by bicycle/pedestrian only bridge, and ferry services. There is also an excellent bicycle path, and a train station nearby. Public transport access to this area is fabulous. The bicycle path is connected all the way along the river through the city for many kilometres of blissful car-free cycling.
COMFORT & IMAGE
Spectacularly comfortable. It is free to anyone to come, lie on the grass overlooking the river or swim in the large pool. Never noticed any overzealous security guards.
USES AND ACTIVITIES
Many areas for people to relax and enjoy quiet picnics overlooking the river and with the city skyline. Jungle gyms, free swimming pool, an open air theater and other free facilities ensure something for everyone.
SOCIABILITY
Wonderful area for both locals and tourists alike to relax. One place where children can truly run around and play freely in a city environment, without fear of cars.
History and Background
Expo '88 marked a change for Brisbane from a sleepy town to vibrant, happy city. Southbank that followed on the site, was a visionary and massive new public space project of a scale rarely seen in other city centres.