Builder appointed for Neville Bonner Bridge linking South Bank and Queen’s Wharf

Up to 30 jobs will be created during the construction of a pedestrian bridge linking a ‘transformational’ project with one of Brisbane’s tourist hot spots.

PLANS have been finalised and a builder appointed for a new pedestrian bridge crossing the Brisbane River.

Construction of the Neville Bonner Bridge, linking South Bank with the Queen’s Wharf development, will create 30 full-time jobs.

Fitzgerald Constructions, which has previously worked on bridges at the Star Casino on the Gold Coast and in Melbourne, has been appointed as the preferred contractor.

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Work is expected to begin in March next year, subject to state government approval.

Artist's impression of the Neville Bonner Bridge. Picture: Destination Brisbane Consortium.

A Fitzgerald Constructions spokesman said the company was immensely proud to be building the Neville Bonner Bridge.

The bridge is named after Neville Thomas Bonner, who was the first indigenous Australian to become a member of the Australian parliament.

Narelle Anderson, the niece of Neville Bonner, said the bridge’s naming was a respectful decision.

“For our family and for any aboriginal person working hard, it’s a great honour and a great recognition for what he did,” Ms Anderson said.

“A bridge just made sense,” she said, pointing out Mr Bonner’s work to bridge the gap and frequent crossing of the floor in parliament.

Queen’s Wharf is a $3.6 billion project which, when completed in 2022, will have a casino, more than 50 restaurants, bars and cafes as well as 1.5 hectares of public space.

It is projected to attract an extra 1.4 million people to Brisbane each year when complete.

Destination Brisbane Consortium project leader Simon Crook said linking South Bank and Queen’s Wharf created a complementary offering.

“The bridge lands right in front of the wheel, which is in direct pedestrian contact with South Bank station,” Mr Crook said. “South Bank have been very proactive in this discussion.”

“We’ve come up with them what we all think is the best solution for how pedestrian flow will move through that area,” he said.

Mr Crook also said the public would receive the Neville Bonner Bridge “for free,” since it will be paid for by Destination Brisbane and then transferred to the State Government after completion.