Row over toll road through Brisbane suburbs as north west transport network study is launched

A Labor council candidate says a transport study is just cover for Brisbane City Council plans for a major toll road through several northern suburbs. But his LNP opponent says he is just being “mischievous”.

Brisbane City Council wants ideas from the public to improve transport on Brisbane’s north side. Picture: Chris McCormack.

Claims that a Brisbane City Council transport survey is part of a push to build a massive new toll road through the northern suburbs have been rejected by the LNP.

Labor’s candidate for the McDowall ward, Liam Culverhouse, said the LNP council was trying to play a game of “smoke and mirrors” with residents.

Mr Culverhouse said it was concealing a link between their federally funded “north west transport network” business case study and their intent to use the North West Transport Corridor.

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Last week the council launched a consultation process on Brisbane’s north west transport network which included public information sessions and an online survey.

The study area includes Toowong to the south, Bald Hills and Bracken Ridge to the north and Chermside and Wooloowin to the east.

Councillor Tracy Davis (LNP, McDowall) said she did not know how Mr Culverhouse came to his view.

“I think Mr Culverhouse, sadly, is trying to be a little mischievous and political when this is about a range of options that people can put forward in order to be considered for the development of a business case,” Cr Davis said.

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“They’ll be able to talk about the things that are working and things that need improvement.

“It’s not just about roads, it is about public transport, cycling and pedestrians.

“The corridor Mr Culverhouse is speaking about is a State Government corridor that has been gazetted since 1962 and nothing’s happened with it.”

The council’s 2019/20 Budget revealed the Federal Government had committed $10 million to the development of a business case to reduce congestion in the north west.

The North West Transport Corridor shown in red

When plans for the study were announced in June Cr Andrew Wines (LNP – Enoggera) said it was not about building the north west corridor and surface options were not being considered.

Mr Culverhouse said a toll road through the corridor would be “devastating” for the community.

“It’s going to cut our suburb in half,” he said.

He said a tunnel would cost $10-15 billion and thought there was better value investing in existing roads, such as Maudrell Tce, the Beckett Rd roundabout, Rode Rd and Hamilton Rd, and in public transport to take cars off roads.

He also feared it would move congestion to Stafford Rd and Gympie Rd at Bald Hills, where such a road would meet the Gympie Arterial Rd.

Feedback will be accepted until 11.59pm on February 7.

You can do it onlineor write to Transport Planning and Operations, Brisbane City Council, GPO Box 1434, Brisbane.

There will be several consultation sessions:

■ Chermside - Wednesday, December 4, 3-6pm, Chermside Library

■ Mitchelton - Thursday, December 5, 5-8pm, Brookside Shopping Centre, Osborne Rd

■ Ashgrove - Saturday, December 7, 9am-noon, Ashgrove Library

■ Grange - Wednesday, December 11, 3-6pm, Grange Library

■ Everton Park - Thursday, December 12, 3-6pm, Everton Park Library

■ Toowong - Saturday, December 14, 9am-noon, Mt Coot-tha Library

■ Stafford - Monday, January 20, 9am-noon, Stafford City shopping centre, Stafford Rd

■ Toowong - Tuesday, January 21, 9am-noon, Toowong Village, Sherwood Rd

■ Aspley - Wednesday, January 22, 9am-noon, Aspley Hypermarket, Albany Creek Rd

■ Taigum - Friday, January 24, 9am-noon, Taigum Square Shopping Centre, Beams Rd

■ Carseldine - Thursday, January 30, 5-8pm, Carseldine Central, Beams Rd