Altandi Station park ‘n’ ride: TMR unveils design for parking upgrade

TMR has released plans to upgrade a notorious commuter carpark on Brisbane’s southside at a station which forms a key node in the public transport network. SEE THE DESIGN HERE.

The wheels have finally been set in motion to upgrade a “nightmare” Park ‘n’ Ride facility at a key train station on Brisbane’s southside after years of community discontent bubbling away.

This week, the Department of Transport and Main Roads released a design for a proposed upgrade to parking at Altandi Railway Station in Sunnybank which would see approximately 50 extra spaces built, taking the station’s capacity to about 140 spaces.

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The design, which is open for community consultation until October 9, includes a second car park being constructed on a vacant parcel of land on Gundooee St, the opposite side of the station to the existing car park off Mains Rd.

The improvements would also see the construction of a new covered walkway linking the station and Mains Rd, a new Kiss ‘n’ Ride facility, additional lighting and CCTV cameras, and upgrades to the existing car park and bicycle parking facilities.

Design by TMR for a proposed upgrade to parking facilities at Altandi Railway Station. Picture: Supplied

Sunnybank local Helen Bray, who lives on Tarrawonga St, which backs on to the new proposed car park, said while she would miss the “tranquil” green space, she could live with the new addition and would much prefer it to a “multistorey” monstrosity.

Another local, Lyn, who asked we not use her last name, said the existing carpark is a “nightmare” and sharing the parking more equally between both sides of the station would be a “good idea”.

Tarrawonga St Sunnybank resident Helen Bray said she would be sad to see her "tranquil" green space go but would prefer a car park to more intrusive development. Picture: Alex Treacy

She said commuters had been given a temporary reprieve due to COVID-19 thinning out public transports users but that when the virus is contained it will be back to the bad old days of “bottlenecks”.

Altandi has long been a favourite of southside commuters due to the Gold Coast express service (inbound and outbound) stopping at the station, as well as 13 separate bus routes within walking distance.

The vacant block of land at Gundooee St, Sunnybank, which would make way for 50 additional car parking spaces at Altandi Railway Station under a design just released by TMR. Picture: Alex Treacy

According to TMR data, in the FY 2018 – 19, 354,513 passengers tapped on or off at Altandi, just shy of 1000 per day.

A TMR representative said the project was yet to be costed.

“This will be decided once the concept option is refined close to the completion of the business case,” they said.

TMR has released a design for public consultation of a proposed upgrade to parking facilities at Altandi Railway Station. Picture: Alex Treacy

The State Government has not as yet budgeted any funds toward the project.

Toohey MP Peter Russo said although the project will not be complete in the short term it is a positive step in the right direction.

“We’re operating more weekly train services than ever before, we’re building the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail and we’re wrapping it up with even more parks,” he said.

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