The Aporia · Mini-Times Square? New digital billboard planned in centre of Queen Street Mall

Brisbane City Council has received an application to install a large electronic billboard on the deteriorating roof of a building at 136 Queen Street, near the intersection with Hungry Jacks. The proposal includes replacing the damaged roof and erecting a digital screen opposite the fast-food chain. Similar screens already exist in the area above KFC and Optus shops. Marcus Foth, an expert on urban informatics from QUT’s school of design, raises concerns about the impact of such technology on public spaces, emphasizing issues like light pollution, accessibility, and health considerations.

Written by AI on 2026-09-18, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Plans are progressing for another large electronic billboard in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall, reminiscent of New York's Times Square. An application submitted to the Brisbane City Council in September requests permission to install a digital screen on top of a deteriorating building at 136 Queen Street. The two-storey complex currently houses businesses like a Telstra Shop, Off Ya Tree, and Boost Juice, alongside other food and drink outlets.

The roof's deterioration is attributed to water damage, fungal decay, and termite activity, necessitating its replacement. While the structural support remains intact, the overall condition indicates it is nearing the end of its lifespan. The proposal includes erecting a large digital screen on the corner opposite Hungry Jacks and establishing a "digital room" for maintenance.

Experts raise concerns about excessive brightness, rapid animation, and high-contrast content making public spaces challenging for people with sensory sensitivities and potentially triggering seizures in those with photosensitive epilepsy. Similar electronic billboards are already installed nearby, prompting questions about the future management of digital technology in Brisbane's public spaces.

Written for “Digital Billboard In Queen Street Mall” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Digital Billboard In Queen Street Mall

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William Davis

32 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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“Excessive brightness, rapid animation and flashing or high-contrast content can make public spaces difficult for people with sensory sensitivities, and particular flashing patterns can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.”

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-18

🔮 The Times Square-ification of Queen Street Mall is set to continue, with plans progressing for another large electronic billboard.

2026-09-18 · The Sydney Morning Herald

Mini-Times Square? New digital billboard planned in centre of Queen Street Mall · assertive framing

The Times Square-ification of Queen Street Mall is set to continue, with plans progressing for another large electronic billboard. asserted

plans → set → billboard

An application to install a new roof supporting the advertising feature on a deteriorating building were lodged with Brisbane City Council in September. asserted

application → install → September

According to one expert, the proposal raised questions about the future of public spaces in Brisbane and how digital technology should be managed. uncertain

technology → accord → Brisbane

The two-storey complex at 136 Queen Street comprises a Telstra Shop, as well as Off Ya Tree tattoos and body piercings and various food and drink outlets including Boost Juice. asserted

complex → comprise → Juice

According to the application, its roof had deteriorated significantly due to water damage, fungal decay and termite activity. uncertain

roof → accord → damage

“While the central structural spine continues to provide support, the overall condition indicates that the roof framing is nearing the end of its functional lifespan,” it says. asserted

it → continue → lifespan

The application requests approval for a replacement, with an artist impression showing a large digital screen erected on the corner opposite Hungry Jacks. asserted

application → request → Jacks

The application also seeks approval for a “digital room” to maintain the sign. asserted

application → seek → sign

Similar electronic billboards are already installed above the KFC and Optus shop, both located on the same intersection. asserted

billboards → instal → intersection

Another large screen also hangs from a steel frame further up the mall outside Uptown shopping centre. asserted

screen → hang → centre

He has researched the impacts and potential of screens in shared spaces. asserted

He → research → spaces

“The proposed Queen Street Mall screen raises a broader question about public value,” he said. asserted

he → propose → value

“The problem is that the technology’s possibilities are much broader than the way it is commonly deployed. asserted

it → deploy → way

“A screen can support digital placemaking and public culture, or it can primarily function as advertising infrastructure.” asserted

it → support → infrastructure

Foth said the fact people using public space couldn’t choose to turn off a billboard or change the channel meant planners had a responsibility to think about how and where they were deployed. asserted

they → say → responsibility

“This is particularly important for an ... environment such as Queen Street Mall,” he said. asserted

he → say → Mall

“Large digital displays can add to light pollution and glare, but there are also accessibility and health considerations. asserted

displays → add → pollution

patterns → make → epilepsy

He pointed to Melbourne’s Federation Square as an example of how large public screens can support cultural programming and community engagement, rather than functioning solely as advertising infrastructure. asserted

screens → point → infrastructure

The challenge is ensuring that we don’t confuse having more screens with becoming a better digital city,” Foth said. asserted

Foth → ensure → screens

Plans for a screen above the Telstra shop were lodged with council in April, 2025. asserted

Plans → lodge → April

“The sign is in keeping with the character of the local environment and supports its role as a major retail and activity hub,” the application at the time said. asserted

application → support → time

A spokesperson for the lord mayor’s office declined to comment on the merits of the proposal, saying it would be assessed by independent planning officers. asserted

it → decline → officers

Mini-Times Square? New digital billboard planned in centre of Queen Street Mall

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