Story Bridge climb operators ask to expand, serve alcohol in tethered cups

Thrillseekers who climb the Story Bridge will be served alcohol at the top, if an expansion plan is backed by council. But there’s a catch, as locals are already up in arms about other plans for the tourist attraction.

• Wild history of Story Bridge

Thrillseekers who climb the Story Bridge will be served alcohol in cups strapped to their waists under a plan to be voted on by council next week.

But customers won’t be allowed to exceed the 0.05 per cent blood alcohol limit set for motorists.

Details including whether cups would have lids to stop spills were yet to be released, but Adventure Climb operator Artemus Group said it would continue its current policy of breathalysing patrons before they were allowed to step on the bridge.

Artemus, which also owned the adjacent Howard Smith Wharves precinct, said the experience would make the attraction even more popular with visitors.

“The Story Bridge Adventure Climb is a quintessential Brisbane tourism experience and we are proud to work with the community and Council to deliver a world-class entertainment and tourism precinct,’’ Artemus CEO Luke Fraser said.

“Our plan includes the option of toasting at the top of the climb with a Felons lager or champagne.

“The safety of guests is always our top priority and we will continue to ensure guests do not exceed 0.05 blood alcohol level, as we have always done.”

Anti-bridge climb protesters at the Story Bridge in 2021. Picture: Chris Copeland

But the news has angered residents in adjacent Petrie Point Apartments who protested about similar plans four years ago, including draping huge banners from their riverfront balconies.

They feared climbers would be able to look directly into their homes.

Council was due to vote at a special meeting next Tuesday, December 10, on a clause allowing the operator to invest more money into the attraction.

This would allow it to build stairs, safety lines and other structures at the northern end. Presently, the attraction operated only from the southern end.

Approval for the northern climb was granted in 2021.

The operating agreement due to be voted on next Tuesday would permit Artemus to operate on both sides of the bridge and connect the two routes, as well as serve beverages — pending Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation approval.

Finance and City Governance Chair, Fiona Cunningham, said Brisbane was Australia’s lifestyle capital.

“People love the bridge climb experience. We’re committed to delivering vibrant precincts like Howard Smith Wharves and providing more to see and do to make Brisbane’s lifestyle even better,’’ she said.

In late 2020 then-operator XBrisbane Pty Ltd applied to council to allow bridge climbs on the Fortitude Valley end, prompting the council to reassure residents it had inquired about noise levels when evaluating the application.

At the time, the attraction’s general manager Michael Lawson said the southern climb had been running for 16 years without incident despite being close to units.

Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy accused the LNP-dominated council of being “masters at finding something new and exciting’’ to distract from bad news.

“What we see here is an amendment to the contract for the Story Bridge Adventure Climb to allow for an extension of their climbing routes, an ability to serve beverages on the bridge and a new visitor centre at the Howard Smith Wharves, all while the Story Bridge is crumbling down,’’ he said.

He noted that Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner had been begging the federal government for funding to preserve the Story Bridge, claiming the high cost of maintenance works was beyond his council’s capacity to pay.

“This LNP regime has spent almost $80 million on the bridge over five years, just to find out they need to fund a business case to repair it,’’ Mr Cassidy said.

“The LNP has overseen this council for two decades and has failed to maintain our city’s assets.’’

Council takes a cut of the ticket sales for the climb, which opened in 2005.

Since then Adventure Climb has regularly added new attractions including New Year’s Eve fireworks and full moon climbs.

It previously also applied for a “swing out’’ experience, 74m above the river, and has a “plank walk’’.

Mr Schrinner has repeatedly pointed out that similar, major bridges overseas such as San Francisco’s Golden Gate were maintained by state and/or federal governments.

The Story Bridge was originally state-owned and tolled, before council took it over.

Former Petrie Point Apartments committee chair Chris Copeland at the Story Bridge in 2021. Picture: David Clark

Mr Schrinner has also repeatedly stated that cost shifting by Queensland governments had dumped far more responsibilities on councils, despite their limited revenue-raising abilities.

The vote on the Adventure Climb expansion had to be postponed a week after a rowdy, shambolic meeting on December 3.

The meeting closed half an hour early, with business still outstanding, because so many councillors had left to attend functions that there was no quorum.

Labor and Independent Nicole Johnston earlier called multiple points of order and moved for Chair Sandy Landers, an LNP councillor, to be removed after she banned the use of the word “lie’’ and “liar’’.