Hamilton Northshore still does not have a transport network six years after building began

A BRISBANE development the size of up to five suburbs built without a transport plan has been described as a ‘farce’.

Northshore Hamilton, a priority development area planned to house 15,000 people, still does not have a transport network plan.

A DEVELOPMENT the size of up to five suburbs built without a transport plan has been described as a “farce” and a “fail” by a public transport lobbyist.

Northshore Hamilton, on prime riverfront land in Brisbane’s inner north, was first established as a priority development area (PDA) in 2009 and is planned to one day house 15,000 people.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said its public transport network was a “fail”.

He said the Doomben train line should have been extended into Northshore Hamilton but instead was now a “lost opportunity”.

“We’ve got to do our urban planning a lot better than we do at the moment and this is a good example of it. It’s a lost opportunity,” he said.

“Translink’s come up with a bus, that’s their response. It’s a bit of a farce.”

Mr Dow expected the trial 304 bus service from the area to Doomben Train Station to fail because it was not frequent enough, while the Doomben line only ran six days a week.

LNP state MP for Clayfield Tim Nicholls said congestion was worsening and parking disappearing while the Government had shown residents “very little” planning for transport options.

LNP councillor David McLachlan (Hamilton) said his ward was home to about 35,000 people and Northshore Hamilton would add another 15,000 — the equivalent of about five suburbs.

“It’s been our concern right from ... first establishing the (priority development area) that there wasn’t a competent transport plan put forward,” he said.

A Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said the lead agency, Economic Development Queensland, was undertaking detailed transport network planning as part of a review of the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area Development Scheme.

She said traffic planning studies had been under way since July 2015.

What public transport options would you like to see at Northshore Hamilton? Leave a comment below