Time for an inquiry!
16 December 2011 - 8:45am — debritz
The chairman of the independent Queensland Heritage Council has admitted that the QHC did not inspect the Regent Theatre before denying heritage status to the Showcase cinema and its surrounds, but relied on faulty advice from a government department.
Brisbane Times has the latest on the story here.
It is clearly now time for an immediate suspension of work on the site, an inquiry into the approval process and how the QHC operates, and a new ministerial directive insisting that as much as possible of the existing original Regent fabric - including the Elizabeth Street facade - be saved and re-used in a REAL theatre on this historic site.
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Which party is willing to lead Queensland by saving The Regent?
Now this is the true test of which party is committed to the people and their culture... RESTORE THE PEOPLE'S FAITH - RESTORE THE REGENT! And if the developer's have the right to sue the Government for intervening... then the Government can simply gift them the old courthouse site instead! Where there is a will there is a way. Whilst the Regent's original 1920s theatre box walls still stand, The Regent can and should be saved... Now if only there was a politician who actually had courage, insight and integrity... Hmmm!
so the government should have an inquiry
into itself?
Sound like a situation where dishonesty will continue to thrive. How about you get a royal comission.
in light of all the heritage travestys of late...
This isnt such a bad idea. Under this Labor government we have lost Festival Hall, the 1870s Treasury row (on Elizabeth St), they have handed over the William Cairncross building (in Albert st) to development (which dates from the 1860s ---> the oldest building in the cbd), the Albert/Greater Union cinemas were demolished for the QIC/ATO building.
The old forum was demolished for Borders, and the Old State Library is set to be turned into a highrise hotel. Further, they tried to obliterate the Northbank of the River by putting it into the hands of Brookfield Multiplex, and when that plan was obliterated they re-negged on stopping the anhilation of the Regent and permitted demolition, lock stock and barrell whilst appointing a professor in property development as the chair of the Queensland "heritage" council. WTF?!?!
All of the above happened within a 5 year period under this government. It will only stop once ALL the old buildings are GONE. Gone forever. And Brisbane will indeed be, the NEW world city. Albiet, soulless.
the regent should be saved
this place was just begging to be restored. how shortsighted
Keep the theatre!
This certainly does sound better than the planned conference rooms...
I can’t believe that we
I can’t believe that we have all been duped into surrendering this last Brisbane Icon to Brookfield Multiplex and ISPT, because of its supposed "lack of originality". Now we find out that the plaster work was in fact original!
From the stairway to no-where
From the Heritage Council to rubble.
Welcome to Brisbane
STOP THE DEMOLITION!!!
We have all been fooled. This is worse than the midnight demolitions of the 1970's! Now all the government and developers need to do is create bogus heritage assessments and fake heritage management plans. What a disgrace! The Labour government and BMX have returned Queensland to the dark ages... STOP THE DEMOLITION NOW!!!
THE DEMOLITION IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
I JUST SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES. THOSE BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Charter? what charter?
That Burra Charter is a farce! It needs to be torn up and a realistic modern-day set of guidlines made in its place. It is commonplace to replace damaged original fabric with perfect replicas made in the same material in many overseas heritage sites which have been saved from the ravages of time, war and neglect. Using the BC to condemn the Regent to demolition is an utter disgrace. So what if there was a mix of original and newer plasterwork? It is all a sensible reuse of the 1929-78 decor.
Having a QHC staffed by real estate agents, pseudo-developers, mathematicians and other non-specialists in the field of heritage architecture could only happen in Qld. Another incredible farce... QHR should be run by AIA Qld Divn with heritage specialists only on the committee. And the chairman should not override the committee decisions.
Stop this stupid tower and rebuild a new live theatre on the site to properly link up with the gothic foyer etc. It is not too late! The site should be placed under a "significant site" control order by the govt.
the burra charter....
is a document created by lawyers to achieve the best results for property owners but not for heritage conservation. Its inclusion in the ministerial directive was an unfortunate oversight, probably initiated with the best intentions but sadly skewed to the detriment of the Regent Theatre.