Green bridge plan is ‘tearing our community apart’

West End locals say Council’s three green bridge options are pitting residents against each other as the debate turns toxic.

West End locals say Council’s plan to build a green bridge from their suburb to St Lucia is pitting residents against each other.

Ryan St resident Tizianza Jones said as well as noise, light pollution and other issues, she was disturbed to see how the three proposed landing sites had “divided and conquered’’ her suburb.

“We need to come together to fight this but instead people are only fighting against the option near them, it’s turning people against each other,’’ she said.

A public forum has meanwhile been organised in King George on February 27 ahead of the looming closure of Council’s consultation period.

St Lucia locals have called on Council to release detailed traffic reports for the river link and say it risks ending up being an underused waste of tens of millions of dollars.

Council has budgeted about $300 million to build a green bridge at Toowong and one at St Lucia, which it says would service an area that is fast growing.

It estimated the St Lucia link would generate 4000 trips per day by 2031 if it chose Option A, from Guyatt Park in St Lucia to Orleigh Park in West End. That would rise to 4600 a day by 2041.

It estimated 1600 users per day by 2031 if Option B (Munro St in St Lucia to Ryans St in West End) was built, rising to 1900 users.

And Council forecast Option C (Keith St in St Lucia to Boundary St in West End) would generate 2400 trips a day by 2031, increasing to 2800 trips.

Option A, Guyatt Park in St Lucia to Orleigh Park in West End.

Bob Cage, who lives on the corner of Munro and Macquarie streets, said locals wanted Council to release the traffic studies on which those projections were based.

He claimed the projections presumed no green bridge at Toowong, less than 2km away.

“There’s already a green bridge, the Eleanor Schonell, less than 2km from Munro St, plus the Guyatt Park CityCat terminal, and the Toowong green bridge would also be less than 2km from Munro St,’’ he said.

“What they’re talking about (Munro St) would cost $150 million, and probably end up being much more.

“That would pay for a lot of CityHoppers and CityCats.’’

Option B, Munro St in St Lucia to Ryan St in West End.

But Public and Active Transport Chairman, Ryan Murphy, said West End, St Lucia and the University of Queensland were growing communities with an increasing number of active travellers who would “greatly benefit from a new green bridge connecting St Lucia to West End’’.

“Munro St to Ryan St is one of three carefully-considered potential alignment and landing options which are currently out for community consultation,’’ Cr Murphy said.

“These short-listed options have been informed by a range of technical investigations and studies including traffic and transport modelling, environmental studies and site investigation.

“We understand that each alignment and landing option has its pros and cons and that’s why feedback from the community and local residents is vital to ensure the best outcome is achieved.

Option C, Keith St in St Lucia to Boundary St, West End.

“We encourage everyone to submit their feedback to Council before consultation closes on March 31.’’

The public consultation period was extended after complaints that the original closing date did not give locals enough time to respond because of the Christmas holidays.

Queensland’s two Greens MPs, Amy McMahon (South Brisbane) and Michael Berkman (Maiwar), who represent residents on each end of the proposed bridge, and West End-based Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri, have organised a public forum on February 27 in King George Square, from 4pm.

The three politicians, residents’ associations, transport experts and other stakeholders will speak, with a Q&A, small group discussions and open mic segment.

“In addition to identifying which of council’s proposed locations for each bridge have the most community support, we’re also asking what the specific benefits and goals of the projects are, and whether we definitely need both bridges,’’ Mr Berkman said.

Artist's impression of how the West End to St Lucia green bridge could look.

“We’re hosting this forum in the middle of the CBD to ensure residents from both sides of the river can access the discussion, and to encourage people from right across Brisbane to participate in this important conversation about major city-shaping infrastructure.’’

Mr Cage said it would be more cost effective for Council to build a ferry terminal at Boundary St and reopen the old ferry stop near the University of Queensland pool.

“Bridges are fixed and don’t respond to changes in transport patterns,’’ he said.

“But ferries are flexible and if they were free people would use them, and it would cost a lot less.

“It seems like Campbell Newman wanted tunnels, Graham Quirk wanted the Mt Coot-tha zipline and now this Lord Mayor wants five green bridges.’’

Council had to slam the brakes on its fifth bridge, planned for Bellbowrie to Wacol, after massive opposition from people in the Bellbowrie area.

But it has fast tracked plans for green bridges at Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek.

Artist's impression of how the bridge could look.

Local Councillor, James Mackay, opposed the Guyatt Park option when he was the St Lucia Community Association president and has previously said on Facebook that he supports Option C, at Keith St.

A survey of residents by Tennyson ward Councillor Nicole Johnston found they wanted a fifth bridge at Fig Tree Pocket.

Mr Cage said that as well as doubts about Council’s trip estimates, Munro St residents were angry at the potential loss of about six to eight scarce street parks if Option B went ahead.

He said that stretch of the river was very scenic and heavily used by rowers, CityCats, kayakers, jetskiers and the Lone Pine tourist boat.

“A bridge would ruin the character of the neighbourhoods on both sides of the river, there is potential for riverbank erosion as it is so steep on the Munro St side and mature trees on two blocks of Council land on Munro street would have to be cleared,’’ he said.

“There would also be safety issues for cyclists, pedestrians, and residents, light pollution, a potential increase in crime and increased noise.’’

The Eleanor Schonell green bridge from Dutton Park to St Lucia is heavily used by buses, pedestrians and cyclists. Picture: Bruce Long

Council’s expected daily trip numbers for each bridge alignment option were estimated using the Brisbane Strategic Transport Model (BSTM), the standard model for transport modelling in the Brisbane region, which was developed by the State Government.

Numbers were based on the combined volumes for walking, cycling, walk to public transport, recreational and e-scooter trips.

They were initial estimates and would be refined as part of the preliminary business case.

The St Lucia Community Association said it opposed a similar bridge concept at Guyatt Park previously put forward as part of the UQ Master Plan. It was later withdrawn after widespread protests.

The Friends of Guyatt Park group is hosting a meeting to discuss the green bridge alignments on February 20, from 6pm, in Guyatt Park near the rotunda.

More details on the three options here