New inner-city green bridge a step closer

Should ratepayers hand over $20 million for a new inner-city park? If you live in Brisbane’s westside, the answer seems to be yes.

A GREEN bridge connecting West End to Toowong is edging closer after a councillor this morning said the LNP administration would be willing to buy part of the old ABC site.

Cr Krista Adams said council had not approached the owner of the huge Toowong site — developer Sunland, which recently lost a Planning & Environment Court challenge to its plans to build three landmark highrise towers on the riverfront property.

Cr Adams also said there was no budget council had in mind for an acquisition, but said part of the land would be perfect for a bridge landing on the Toowong side.

Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, at the old ABC Toowong site

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“We will definitely not be purchasing the entire site, but we are interested in the opportunity to land a bridge at that site,’’ she said.

Greens MP for the Indooroopilly-based state seat of Maiwar, Michael Berkman, who has been lobbying for all three levels of government to buy back the entire property, said it was an encouraging step forward.

“This is a big breakthrough. Council has finally committed to consider buying back a part of the ABC site. It’s long overdue, but very exciting,’’ he said.

“Adrian Schrinner says he wants to create new green transport links and green spaces, well here’s the perfect opportunity to put his money where his mouth is and buy back this land.

“Council is so used to looking out for big developers they’ve forgotten who they work for.

“It’s time to bring the whole site back into public hands.

“The ABC site could be the west side’s version of New Farm Park, and a new green bridge could be Brisbane’s version of the High Line in New York.’’

Mr Berkman’s office today released a community survey which found overwhelming support to buy back the entire site and potentially turn it into a major new regional park.

Other suggestions raised in the survey were for a community garden, a pool to replace the Toowong Baths or a skate park.

More than 2500 people responded to the survey.

Nearly 90 per cent of respondents wanted the rare riverfront land back in public hands and 90 per cent also wanted a new walking and cycling bridge connecting Toowong to West End.

“Since 2010, Brisbane City Council has spent almost $110 million on buying private land for road widening to save commuters a minute or two in congestion on Wynnum Rd and Kingsford Smith Drive,’’ Mr Berkman said.

“A walking and cycling bridge here would do far more to tackle congestion, by getting people out of their cars and using other modes of transport.’’

“We were aiming for 1000 responses, but ended up with more than double that at almost 2500.

Artist's sketch of how the old ABC site could look, based on ideas from a survey, if redeveloped as a park.

“More than 100 local residents came to our community forum to share their ideas, and my office has received emails every week about the idea since we first started talking about it.

“What this huge result tells us is that residents feel really passionately about that block of land, because they can see its potential, and they don’t want it used for more apartment blocks.

“The community will do whatever it takes to make this happen.’’

ParkIT chairwoman Elizabeth Handley, whose group has been lobbying for several years to turn the site into a park, said 5800 extra beds had been added to Toowong within just 200m of the old ABC site in recent years.

She said the massive unit boom had greatly increased the need for open space, but in recent decades many of the parks and green areas which existed nearby had succumbed to development.

They included the bowls club on Glen Rd and the Toowong Baths, while Moreland Park was now bisected by Land St and part of Toowong Memorial Park had been handed to the Wests rugby union club.

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“Some people might say $20 million (the reputed sale price of the land) is a lot for pay for a park, but not when you compare it with the huge increase in rates all this development in St Lucia, Toowong and Milton has delivered,’’ she said.

“High-density does not work unless you have the green space and lifestyle elements that are needed to make it work.

“Once this (ABC site) is gone for development, we will never get another opportunity like it again.’’

Mr Berkman said the huge site could accommodate multiple attractions including a community garden, community facility, a new public pool to replace the one lost nearby, and an Aboriginal cultural centre.

Former LNP MP for Ryan Jane Prentice came out just before the federal election to support a buy back.

LNP councillors have given the idea guarded support, with Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner saying the site would be a good landing point for one of his five proposed green bridges.