David Jones' High Hopes for Brisbane

DAVID Jones has cast aside a difficult Christmas trading season and industry gloom to announce the opening of a new store in a high-growth area of Brisbane.

The upmarket chain says it expects to generate more than $40 million in sales a year from the large store at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in Brisbane's southwest corridor.

In contrast, rival Myer recently announced the closure of some of its stores and a reduction in floor space.

But analysts believe there are still opportunities for the major retailers to open profitable stores in the right areas.

David Jones chief executive Paul Zahra said the company had signed a 20-year agreement to lease 14,200 square metres of space in Indooroopilly Shopping Centre because of its location in Brisbane's growing southwest corridor.

"It has the best demographic profile in metropolitan Brisbane and is a centre we have wanted to be present in for some time as we believe its high growth, high value demography is a perfect fit for our customer offering,'' Mr Zahra said.

He said it was the sixth-highest value store in its pipeline after Highpoint in Victoria, Macquarie in NSW, Sunshine Plaza in Queensland, Whitford in WA and Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast.

The new David Jones store will be part of a $450-million development of a new fashion wing at the southeast end of the existing Indooroopilly Shopping Centre.

The company says it expects the Indooroopilly trade area to continue growing at 5.6 per cent per annum, with more than 35,000 high-income earners in its catchment.

City Index chief market analyst Peter Esho said that while major department store chains were looking to get out of some weaker performing shopping centres there were opportunities in areas with little competition but population growth.

"If you get a good position in a really good development it can be a profitable operation and David Jones is a group that is still a very profitable business despite all the bad news and despite profitability going backwards,'' Mr Esho said.

No major dominant online retailer had emerged in Australia which was fortunate for David Jones.

"The opportunity is really here for the department stores to embrace online and use it and become the dominant players in that channel,'' Mr Esho said.

Back to the Future For Brisbane Transport Planning

A 1965 plan by Wilbur Smith and Associates is strikingly similar to the government's cross-river rail plan.

It seems the more Brisbane pitches futuristic transport plans, the more it borrows from a 1965 plan put together by US traffic consultants, Wilbur Smith and Associates.

The company, headed by Mr Smith, was hired by then-lord mayor Clem Jones to produce the 1965 Brisbane Transportation Study.

Among some of its more controversial recommendations was to close down Brisbane's tram network, which in hindsight have been replaced by its network of busways since the 1990s.

It seems the more Brisbane pitches futuristic transport plans, the more it borrows from a 1965 plan put together by US traffic consultants, Wilbur Smith and Associates.

The company, headed by Mr Smith, was hired by then-lord mayor Clem Jones to produce the 1965 Brisbane Transportation Study.

Among some of its more controversial recommendations was to close down Brisbane's tram network, which in hindsight have been replaced by its network of busways since the 1990s.

The government's planned cross-river rail project includes new stations at Wooloongabba and Albert Street.

However, as plans obtained by brisbanetimes.com.au show, the Wilbur Smith study recommended several freeways and public transport projects that are firmly part of modern planning schemes.

The first is an underground rail project similar to Cross River Rail across from Woolloongabba.

The second proposal is to run an underground rail network under Queen Street, similar to a concept put forward late last year by Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

A cross section of Wilbur Smith's proposed rail system.

In December, Cr Quirk put forward plans for a $2 million study into an underground bus line under Adelaide Street, similar to Mr Smith's 1965 underground rail line.

The Queensland Council of Mayors' recent concept of a light rail package, the "Cleveland solution", also includes a new train station in Queen Street, again part of the Wilbur Smith plan.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said much of the public transport side of Mr Smith's 1965 and 1970 transportation plans for Brisbane still made sense.

In 1970, Mr Smith envisaged a rail line from the then-existing Woolloongabba train station across a bridge to Gardens Point by 2000.

"He actually designed the early version of Cross River Rail," Mr Dow said.

"In those days we still did have a rail line existing through into Woolloongabba."

In the 1970 plan, a road tunnel would have been drilled through the Kangaroo Point cliffs and a bridge constructed to where Queensland University of Technology sits today.

Mr Dow said a bridge concept would still work and it formed part of the Council of Mayors' concept for a Cleveland line solution.

"The bridge would come out with the same clearance as the Go Between Bridge, then back down to the QUT/Gardens Point area," he said.

Mr Dow said the Cross River Rail team had looked at the idea and rejected it.

"The best thing about a bridge is that it is a lot cheaper than it is to tunnel under [the river]," Mr Dow said.

"The second thing is that it can be used as a bus bridge as well and that was an advantage of that and I am sure that that was considered in the early design feasibility work for Cross River Rail.

"But they decided they would go tunnel all the way through."

Mr Dow said the main advantage of a bridge was reduced cost and the ability to carry both rail and buses.

"The bridge idea (across from Woolloongabba to QUT's Gardens Point) has always appealed to me since Wilbur Smith first proposed it in 1970," Mr Dow said.

"Because I think it could always be dual purpose and take the buses off the nightmare called the Captain Cook Bridge and the Story Bridge."

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Council of Mayors' proposal was not an alternative to the Cross River Rail project and was "simply not viable".

“In fact, it is a scenario that was assessed by our Cross River Rail team almost three years ago and rejected,” she said.

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Australia Day 'Most important' for Nation

AN overwhelming majority of Australians have nominated Australia Day as the most significant day on the national calendar.

Almost nine in 10 people plan to celebrate the national holiday commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 in some way, a survey by the National Australia Day Council shows.

It found 93 per cent of people named Australia Day as a day of importance - more than any other national celebration.

More than five million Australians plan to attend public events on January 26 including breakfasts, concerts, fireworks and celebrations of indigenous culture.

Council chief executive Warren Pearson said today the survey found many people felt celebrating Australia Day fulfilled a need to be part of a national community.

"Whether it be through attending major events, taking part in a local community celebration or simply getting your friends and family together, Australia Day plays a significant role in our sense of belonging, unity and identity," he said in a statement.

Australia Day 'Most important' for Nation

Australia Day 'Most important' for Nation

AN overwhelming majority of Australians have nominated Australia Day as the most significant day on the national calendar.

Almost nine in 10 people plan to celebrate the national holiday commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 in some way, a survey by the National Australia Day Council shows.

It found 93 per cent of people named Australia Day as a day of importance - more than any other national celebration.

More than five million Australians plan to attend public events on January 26 including breakfasts, concerts, fireworks and celebrations of indigenous culture.

Council chief executive Warren Pearson said today the survey found many people felt celebrating Australia Day fulfilled a need to be part of a national community.

"Whether it be through attending major events, taking part in a local community celebration or simply getting your friends and family together, Australia Day plays a significant role in our sense of belonging, unity and identity," he said in a statement.

Australia Day 'Most important' for Nation

Qantas Announces Miranda Kerr as New Qantas Ambassador

Qantas has announced Australian model, author and international superstar Miranda Kerr as a new Qantas Ambassador.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said he was delighted to welcome Miranda to the Qantas team.

"Miranda Kerr is one of the most photographed and recognisable people in the world," he said.

"Apart from her work commitments as an international model and businesswoman, Miranda will now represent Australia's premium airline."

"Miranda will make an outstanding contribution to the airline, the brand and its global reputation for premium service and excellence."

Ms Kerr said she was honoured to be chosen as a Qantas Ambassador.

"I grew up with Qantas which is such an iconic Australian brand. I'm proud of my Australian heritage and I'm so excited that I will now be able to represent Australia's premium airline around the world

"I travel frequently and from the moment I step onboard a Qantas flight I feel at home. I always enjoy the wonderful service, fabulous food and stylish cabins."

Miranda will tonight attend the Qantas Spirit of Australia cocktail event in Los Angeles. The party will celebrate Australian talent on the world stage and will be attended by actors, artists, designers, chefs and sports stars that represent the best of modern Australia wherever they go.

Miranda joins current Qantas ambassadors John Travolta, Cathy Freeman, Mark Webber, Greg Norman, Mark Schwarzer and John Eales.

Qantas Announces Miranda Kerr as New Qantas Ambassador

Domestic Holidays Pick Up Over Summer

Domestic travel is likely to pick up this year despite the strong Australian dollar, with two in three Aussies planning a local trip over summer.

According to research compiled by a leading travel and lifestyle web site, the appeal of a cheaper international trip is fading with up to 68 percent of respondents planning a holiday around Australia sometime within December, January or February.

Booking data also saw a “significant” surge on summer trips to Sydney, Perth and Adelaide compared to the same period last year.

“The relatively late arrival of hot weather across much of the country has no doubt played its part in inspiring people to make the most of the warmer weather and feel more confident about booking a trip,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“It’s also quite possible that after the stress of the lead-up to Christmas – and spending time with the in-laws, people are re-thinking their need for a holiday!”

Fast approaching Australia Day is also sparking more Aussie travel, with data revealing that bookings for the period between 26 to 28 January up 251 percent on last year.

Popular destinations for the public holiday include Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

Domestic Holidays Pick Up Over Summer

Queensland Hotels Bounce Back

A year ago Queensland was hit a double blow from devastating floods and cyclone Yasi.

Twelve months on and tourism in the sunshine state is bouncing back according to local operators.

Australian Bureau of Statistics results show a consistent growth in tourist numbers indicating a positive future for accommodation providers with an increased occupancy rate and average length of stay.

Much of this success comes from Tourism Queensland’s $12 million Nothing Beats Queensland campaign that was released immediately after the summer’s disasters.

Metro Hotels who have three properties in Queensland, have reported a rise in occupancy rates of up to 10 per cent in Gladstone, 12 per cent Brisbane and Ipswich.

The Metro Hotel on Wickham Terrace Brisbane and the Metro Hotel Ipswich International both suffered as a result of last January’s floods. “Luckily, both of these properties are on high ground so they were not directly damaged by the flood waters,” explains Metro Hotels Chief Operating Officer, George Bedwani.

The Metro Hotel and Apartments Gladstone also suffered because of the floods and cyclone Yasi. “Access to Gladstone from the southern and northern parts of the Queensland was completely cut off for a number of days,” said Mr Bedwani. “Gladstone is a mining hub and these natural disasters put a very large dent in their business and ours.”

According to Mr Bedwani, the future is looking positive for Queensland hotels. ”Queensland and Queenslanders are very resilient and the way everyone has pulled together to things up and running again is simply remarkable,” he said.

Queensland Hotels Bounce Back