20-year plan to turn floodprone Kedron Brook into green precinct

Public consultation has begun on an $85 million, 20-year Brisbane City Council plan to turn a floodprone northside creek into a green lifestyle precinct. HOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY

Public consultation has begun on an $85 million, 20-year Brisbane City Council plan to turn floodprone Kedron Brook into a green lifestyle zone across four precincts.

The online and in-person consultation ends on June 29, with further opportunities for comment after feedback from the first stage was analysed.

Council said the masterplan aimed to revitalise creekside areas with landscaping, improve water flow and flood resilience and create more spaces for relaxation and recreation.

It was one of several other major green masterplans previously announced across the city including at Oxley Creek and the Wynnum, Manly and Lota foreshores.

The plans also included the much-vaunted Victoria Park/Barrambin transformation which wouldnow have to be redrawn after the former golf course site was earmarked for the 2032 Olympics main stadium.

Council will upgrade Kedron Brook in four stages over 20 years.

One construction source said it was “an open industry secret’’ that land on the Victoria Park ridgetop, near the function centre and putt putt course, would be sold for mediumrise unit development to offset the cost of the stadium.

The Kedron Brook public consultation comes after residents living along the northside waterway, as well as those in Rocklea and other floodprone areas, were hit late last year with massive flood insurance hikes.

They blamed insurers for using an apocalyptic one-in-2000 year flood scenario, released by council, as an excuse to jack up premiums.

The hikes ironically came after extensive council mitigation along Kedron Brook had greatly improved flood resilience in recent years.

The updated flood map showing different flood risk levels (light to dark blue) along the Kedron Brook catchment. Image: Brisbane City Council

Kedron Brook’s huge catchment, stretching 29km from Ferny Grove to Nudgee, routinely flooded parts of the 14 suburbs along its winding route.

Council said the current phase of its masterplan would gather ideas and feedback from the public, which would “inform’’ a draft master plan.

It would be released for further consultation from mid-2025 to early 2026.

The final vision and plan were expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.

Kedron Brook in flood. Council’s 20-year masterplan aims to improve flood resilience.

“Brisbane’s natural environment is one of the things that sets us apart from other cities,’’ Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

“Our river and creeks are places for both wildlife and people and this will no doubt be part of the unique Brisbane experience for people visiting before, during and after the 2032 Games.

“Delivering major transformations of public parks alongside the delivery of an Olympic and Paralympic Games requires vision and imagination from the outset.

“We have an ambitious plan to transform hundreds of hectares of under-utilised spaces into incredible lifestyle destinations.’’

FILL IN THE ONLINE SURVEY

Public drop-in sessions will be held on: May 10 from 8–10am, Grinstead Park, Alderley; May 14 from 3–5pm, Shaw Estate Park, Wavell Heights; May 15 from 3–5pm, Teralba Park, Everton Park; May 17 from 8–10am, Kalinga Park, Clayfield; May 24 from 8–10am, Hickey Park, Stafford; May 25 from 9am–3pm, Sustainable BNE Festival, Roma Street Parkland.