Brisbane Mayor refuses to rule out major new toll road through northern suburbs

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has dodged a call from his Labor opponent Pat Condren to guarantee a major new toll road through the suburbs was not a possibility.

the North West Transport Corridor cuts through the Chermside Hills Reserve. Photo: AAP/Richard Walker.

The Brisbane City Council has refused to rule out a new toll road on the north side.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner dodged a call from his Labor opponent Pat Condren to say such a road was not a possibility, but the council’s Infrastructure Chair David McLachlan said the council had “not discussed” a toll road.

Mr Condren said north siders had been clear they did not want a “four-lane mega-highway” through their community.

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“Nor do they want the Mayor’s pet project, his bendy bus Metro, adding a route on top of what is already traffic chaos. It will only make matters worse,” he said.

“Peak transport bodies like RACQ and Transurban are on the record saying that more toll roads in Brisbane is not the solution.”

Mr Condren claimed the Federal Government had given the council $10 million for a feasibility study for a four-lane lane toll road from Legacy Way to Bald Hills

When the study was announced it June the council said it was to find subterranean solutions for traffic congestion and Cr Andrew Wines (LNP – Enoggera) said: “It’s not about building the north west corridor and surface options are not being considered, it’s all subterranean.”

But in February The Council of Mayors (SEQ), of which Brisbane City Council is a part, proposed a $6.5 billion highway and rail line on the North West Transport Corridor linking Bald Hills to Stafford Rd and Alderley rail station.

The row comes after the council launched the north west transport network study.

Cr McLachlan said the council had to start planning for the infrastructure needs of the north west to reduce traffic snarls.

“We want to hear from residents about what they would like to see to improve transport, including public transport, cycling infrastructure and pedestrian links,” he said.