Chelmer residents angry at disruption from Indooroopilly walkway and bikeway

A stoush has erupted over plans to build the Indooroopilly Riverwalk and Bikeway on the opposite side of the Brisbane River, with claims the project will create noise and traffic disruptions but offer ‘little benefit’ for people in the construction zone.

A NORTHSIDE-SOUTHSIDE stoush has erupted over plans to construct the Indooroopilly Riverwalk and Bikeway on the opposite side of the Brisbane River.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Brisbane City Council wants to construct much of the 800m river walk on a temporary jetty, which will be launched on the south side of the river in Chelmer.

Council plans new river walk for Indooroopilly

The move has angered local Councillor Nicole Johnston, who fears residents will have to put up with traffic and noise disruptions for a project that will have “little or no benefit” for those on the south side.

In a submission opposing the planned construction works, Cr Johnston also claimed a local park near the construction site will “essentially become unusable” while works are under way.

Map showing the new bike and pedestrian walkway at Indooroopilly

“The adverse noise and traffic implications for Chelmer residents will be appalling,” she wrote in her submission.

“The (nearby) Oxley Rd/Wharf St corridor is already extremely congested and the movement of people and machinery across from the worksite into the park will be disruptive and noisy.”

But BCC’s Public and Active Transport chairman Adrian Schrinner defended the project as a “critical link” in the bikeway project.

The park area picked to be a construction site for the river walk. Picture: Annette Dew

He claimed some construction works had to be completed on the south side because there was no suitable location on the north because of “topography”.

“Council investigated suitable locations for a temporary jetty and a location at Chelmer was selected due to its close proximity to the works, reducing potential time and cost impacts and impacts to river traffic that a more distant location would generate,” he said.

An artist’s impression of the Indooroopilly Riverwalk and Bikeway.

Cr Schrinner said construction work on the south side would be limited to the temporary jetty, which would be used to transport materials, plants and workers to the site.

“Large construction materials such as bridge beams, will be floated up the river, and will not be supplied via the temporary jetty,” he said.

“Using river transport and river-based construction methods will minimise impacts on the wider traffic network and council will work with the contractor to minimise impacts to the community.”

Site of the new Indooroopilly pedestrian river walk pictured from the Taylor Bridge Reserve, Chelmer. Picture: AAP/Josh Woning

The shared bikeway and pathway will run along the Brisbane River near Radnor St in Indooroopilly before running under the Walter Taylor Bridge.

The council is yet to determine when construction will begin.

Bianca and Emma Brookes from Chelmer in the park picked to be a construction site for the river walk. Picture: Annette Dew

Chelmer local Emma Brookes and her mother Bianca believe another site could have been considered for the construction of the bikeway.

“There’s got to be somewhere else that doesn’t have greenery where they could have (constructed) it,” Ms Brookes said.