The heart of Brisbane's cultural precinct is set to change forever with the construction of a new theatre at South Bank.
The Queensland Government has selected the winning design for the theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), which is being built to cater for an influx of patrons.
The new building, slated for the corner of Russell and Grey streets, will be able to host up to 1,500 guests and is expected to be completed by 2022.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the State Government committed $125 million of the $150 million construction cost, with local architect Blight Rayner and international designer Snohetta picked to drive the project.
"It is the largest investment in Queensland arts infrastructure since the Gallery of Modern Art," she said.
"Once this new theatre is built, QPAC will become the largest performing arts centre in Australia."
Six separate firms were shortlisted for the project in January, after the State Government received 24 expressions of interest.
The theatre is expected to allow for an extra 260 performances a year, with the potential to welcome an additional 300,000 visitors a year.
The project is expected to create up to 100 jobs over its construction.
Shadow Arts Minister, Dr Christian Rowan, said the LNP supported a new theatre but a private offering should have been taken up.
'We're disappointed that Labor didn't take up the private sector's proposal to contribute to a brand new theatre as part of the Queens Wharf development," he said.
"Under Labor's arrangements, taxpayers are forking out six times what they would have had to if the Government had supported he original concept and project.
"But having said that this will be a new theatre for Queensland, it's vitally needed for our arts sector, but Labor could have used taxpayer money in a better value manner had they supported the original proposal."
