Brisbane City Council instead wants to explore futuristic "water taxis".

Dr Evans said Thursday's release of the South Brisbane Renewal plan – the Kurilpa Riverfront Renewal Plan – did not investigate ways to tackle the traffic congestion caused by an additional 11,000 residents in South Brisbane.

"We need to be thinking big," Dr Evans said.

"It is the 21st Century and we need to be planning for the 21^st Century.

"We want to see light rail.

"We are beyond buses. We are beyond the size of a city for buses only."

Dr Evans said planning principles showed that cities needed a 'light rail' component of some type once they got beyond a certain capacity.

"And West End – and much of inner-city Brisbane – is now well into that space."

The Gold Coast has recently begun using its light rail between Southport and Broadbeach, after a four year project involving the private sector, local, state and federal governments.

Parmalat Milk Factory at South Brisbane also told developers it would take four years to relocate; but only after they were confident it would not cost them money.

It will cost Parmalat "multiple hundreds of millions of dollars" to relocate, their chief executive Rod Walden said.

Dr Evans said that transport worries and lack of parkland were WECA's major objection to the plan, on her first view.

"One bus stop - and a CityCat stop for river transport - does not move the large amount of people around West End," Dr Evans said.

"West End already has increasing and problematic traffic congestion issues. We live in a peninsula and there is only so much movement around the place."

The South Brisbane Kurilpa Renewal Plan makes no mention of light rail.

It instead relies on expanding the existing Brisbane bus routes though its network of City Glider services along Montague Road.

It also may expand the 199 BUZ routes, it says.

"This network will link Kurilpa to the city centre and inner-city neighbourhoods, with premium

bus stops in key locations along Montague Road," the report says.

"CityGlider and BUZ routes typically run every 10 minutes in peak periods."

Brisbane City Council's Neighbourhood Planning committee chair, Cr Amanda Cooper said the City Glider had been a "tremendous success" since it was introduced.

"And we want to make sure that Kurilpa will be serviced by a high frequency bus service," she said.

"And we will be investigating a new river-based transport stop.

"So this could be new ways to access the river, for people to set up potentially a new taxi service on the water."

The plan shows Council – and AECOM, the draft plan's main private consultancy – looking to make more use of commuter cycling to connect to rail links at South Brisbane and Roma Street.

"A generous, well-designed pedestrian and cycle network will cater for commuter and recreational users, incorporating a continuous, riverfront pathway for picturesque travel along the river's edge," the report says.

"Widening Montague Road will open up space for dedicated cycle lanes, giving cyclists a safe, direct route through the precinct to the Kurilpa and Go Between bridges.

"Wayfinding signage will assist visitors to navigate through the precinct and connect to the neighbouring suburbs of South Brisbane, West End and travel across the Brisbane River."

The launch yesterday highlighted the three new "precincts" to be developed in the region, a new one hectare park on the Parmalat Milk Factory site on Montague Road and a second 3000 square metre new riverside park at an extended Brereton Street.

The Brereton Street riverside park is the equivalent of 60 per cent of the playing surface of Suncorp Stadium, while a one hectare park is more than three times that size, or 10,000 square metres.

WECA would prefer one large "central park" of around 10 hectares, Dr Evans said.

Kurilpa - the first five years:

1 - Close Riverside Drive and return it to public parkland with revamped boardwalks;

2 - Investigate a new cultural facility of national significance on the Queensland Government-owned land adjacent to the William Jolly Bridge;

3 - Deliver a new park on the river end of Hope Street after the Parmalat Milk Factory moves;

4 – Investigate a new riverfront amphitheatre on the river at the end of Hope Street;

5 - Deliver an urban playground under the Merivale Bridge.

On Thursday, Parmalat's chief executive Rod Walden told the launch of the draft master plan that it would cost Parmalat "multiple hundreds of millions" of dollars to relocate.

Mr Walden said Parmalat had not made any decision to relocate its plant, which provides milk to most of metropolitan Brisbane, because of the cost.

"We can't move, unless we can get value for our land," Mr Walden said.

"We haven't made the decision to move, because we are very keen to see the outcome of this plan and to give us the certainty so we can make those decisions."

That allows Parmalat to sell their land.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the government was helping to find suitable industrial land for Parmalat and other big land owners.

The government is not planning on buying out any of the landholders, Mr Seeney said.

"We would rather not, but we are not closing off that option," he said.

"But the state has access to a number of industrial sites and we are working with them to identify what they need and where we can find those sites."

"The state really does not want to be the bidder. We would rather the private sector develop the land."