LNP to halt controversial Northern Transitway if it wins power

The State Opposition has sided with concerned businesses and residents, vowing to block a controversial $50 million busway on Brisbane’s northside.

THE LNP has promised to stop the controversial $53 million Northern Transitway proceeding if it win October’s state election, as local business owners fear losing their livelihood.

The Labor Government has committed $53 million to construct the 2.3km Northern Transitway, effectively a 24/7 express bus lane that limousines, taxis and cyclists will be permitted to use.

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The transitway stretches along Gympie Rd, from Sadlier St, Kedron to Hamilton Rd, Chermside, and includes the banning of all on-street parking and non-signalised right hand turns as well as the removal of four bus stops.

Business owners along the route have said they will not renew leases while real estate experts forecast dozens of apartments, houses and commercial properties will be devalued if property owners are forced to make U-turns at busy intersections to access to their homes.

An artist impression of where the clearway lanes would be positioned along the proposed the Northern Transitway. Picture: The Courier-Mail

Lane widths would also be reduced by up to half a metre from about 3.6m to 3.1m.

Opposition Transport Minister Steve Minnikin said the design had been rushed and that an impact study on businesses was required and the transitway should be part of an overarching public transport plan and not constructed in isolation.

“If this is not materially started at all, we would immediately put a complete halt to it and review it and look at it in its entirety as a congestion busting strategy,” Mr Minnikin said.

“It’s a hollow exercise and it needs to be part of an integrated traffic study and proper consultation with all key stakeholders that are affected.

“There is going to be untold misery on a whole range of small business people.”

Shadow Transport Minister Steve Minnikin says an impact study on how the Northern Transitway affects local businesses should be conducted before the project proceeds. Picture: AAP/Sarah Marshall

The State Government released the proposed plans in September with the final design due out before Christmas and construction to start early in 2020.

However strong pushback from locals and business owners have delayed the final design and ultimately the starting date for construction.

Acting Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Ryan said work on the transitway would begin this year.

He said local member Dr Anthony Lynham and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey had raised the concerns of residents and businesses about the project and they were being addressed.

“Following extensive consultation conducted by the department, Dr Lynham met with Minister Bailey last month and raised concerns on behalf of local residents and businesses about the potential loss of carparking, hours of operation, access to local streets and removal of two bus stops which were planned as part of the proposed design,” Mr Ryan said.

“Minister Bailey has since directed his department to consider this feedback and to brief him on options for the final design of the Northern Transitway.”

Acting Transport and Roads Minister Mark Ryan said the concerns of local business owners are being addressed before the final design of the Northern Transitway is released. Picture: The Courier-Mail

The banning of right-hand turns along the 2.3km route could “cruel” a childcare centre while Yvette Cottrill, who owns Consign-a-Car at Kedron, said she will have to move when her long term lease expires in 2021.

She said the section between Kitchener Rd and Rode Rd, where her business had been located for eight years, experienced heavy traffic on weekends but not during the week.

The end of on-street parking will all but kill off passing trade for her business and that of more than half a dozen car yards along the 2.3km strip.

“We’re not sure what’s happening as we haven’t heard from anyone since October,” Ms Cottrill said.

Consign-A-Car owner Yvette Cottrill says she's unlikely to renew her lease if the Northern Transitway construction involves the banning of all parking along Gympie Rd. Picture: Darren Cartwright

Mr Minnikin said if construction on the transitway had started by October then they would not scrap the project but conduct a review of its effectiveness and its impact on residents and businesses.

“If we are talking about whether there has been substantial construction then we would review it after six months because we are going to have business screaming blue murder for lack of sales,” he said.