Moreton Bay mayor launches campaign to save Bribie Island Bridge

An island community is throwing its weight behind a campaign to save its 60-year-old bridge, which is the only connection between the booming island city and Brisbane.

Bribie Island residents are getting behind a push to save the Bribie Island Bridge, converting it into a ‘Green Bridge’, giving pedestrians and cyclists a danger-free connection to the mainland.

Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery has launched a campaign to save the old Bribie Island Bridge, currently the only way on and off Bribie Island, by turning it into Moreton Bay’s first ‘Green Bridge’.

The proposal would see the existing 60-year-old bridge transformed into a two-lane bridge for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooters, with green space and areas to enjoy fishing off the bridge and seating to soak up the views.

The campaign has come after the Queensland Government opened community consultation to either upgrade the existing bridge and add a new two-lane bridge, with improved pedestrian and bike facilities, or construct an entirely new four-lane bridge.

President of the Sandstone Point Community Association John Gollan said it made sense for a pedestrian bridge to be separate to the new bridge, citing the massive traffic disruptions when there’s an crash on or near the bridge.

Moreton Bay Regional Council’s concept image of transforming the Bribie Island Bridge into a Green Bridge for pedestrians. Picture: Contributed

“Otherwise they’ll need to construct a great big six-lane bridge to keep pedestrians safe from vehicles, which is probably just too expensive and impractical,” Mr Gollan said.

“I’ve not heard anyone express a negative view about the prospect of a new bridge.

“In the community, there have been massive numbers of people severely inconvenienced by the old bridge when there’s an accident on it.

“They can spend hours locked in a grid on the old bridge.

“It’s a bridge, it’s part of our community but the support I hear is for a new bridge.”

Mr Gollan said it was a dangerous challenge for cyclists, pedestrians and mobility scooters to cross the bridge.

“The accidents on the bridge haven’t been caused by pedestrians or pushbikes but I do recall a number of instances where a truck will lose control and get tangled up in the railing,” Mr Gollan said.

“I recall a car on fire in the middle of the bridge and traffic halted for hours.

“That bridge is the only way off the island and with an ageing population, ambulances need access to Bribie Island.

“Counting ambulances between Caboolture and Bribie Island on Bribie Island Road is quite staggering.”

Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery believes the bridge can be transformed and greened into a space like New York’s High Line. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Mayor Flannery said the critical need for a new bridge is abundantly clear and urged locals to get online and tell the government to get on with building a new crossing for vehicles and turn the current bridge into a dedicated pedestrian space.

“Bribie Island actually welcomes 827,000 visitors every year, which is the highest visitation for any statistical area in Moreton Bay region according to Tourism Research Australia,” Mayor Flannery said.

“If we’re ambitious I believe the old Bribie bridge can become an icon in contemporary landscape architecture, but first we need to save it from demolition.

“I would love to see the old bridge remain as a foot and cycle bridge as an amenity to locals and visitors for recreation like fishing, or it could be greened with plants to resemble something like New York’s High Line.”

Councillor Brooke Savige (Division 1) said when the Bribie Island Bridge was first built in 1963, Bribie Island was home to roughly 600 residents, and it was a far cry from the community and destination that it’s become today.

“Today the Island is home to 20,612 residents who regularly commute to work and to other services across the bridge, and they all know just how painful it can be when an accident shuts down the bridge, sometimes for hours at a time.

“The largest cohort of residents on the Island are aged between 70-74 and more than half of the population is above the age of 60, which sees the Queensland Ambulance Service averaging 17 responses to the island every day.”

Councillor Brooke Savige (Div 1) said when the Bribie Island Bridge was first built in 1963, Bribie Island was home to roughly 600 residents. Picture: File

Sandstone Point Hotel Owner Rob Comiskey said a dedicated pedestrian bridge and green link from the mainland to the island would be an invaluable investment.

“Tourists who know Bribie’s beauty come back time and time again but we definitely need something like this to put us on the map ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics,” he said.

“Sandstone Point has gone from strength to strength since opening, but there is a clear need for a better link between here and the island. The current bridge is just too small and too unsafe, it’s passed its use-by date.”

The Queensland Government’s concept design will be presented for further community comment this year.

To have your say on the State Government’s plan for the Bribie Island bridge, visit the Department of Transport and Main Roads website before February 27.