Thanks, but no thanks: residents cool on green bridge

One of Brisbane’s five proposed green bridges has limited support among locals, the latest Council community survey shows.

An artist's impression of where the proposed Bellbowrie green bridge might go. But not many westsiders want the bridge, regardless of the alignment.

It sounded like a great idea, but Brisbane City Council’s latest community consultation has found limited support for Council’s proposed Bellbowrie to Wacol green bridge.

Public and Active Transport Chair Cr Ryan Murphy said more in-depth, targeted consultation showed westsiders were cool on the idea.

A consultation report released by the council showed most people did not like the proposed alignment, from Weekes Rd at Bellbowrie to Grindle Rd, Wacol.

“We commissioned more consultation after initial feedback showed residents were lukewarm about the green bridge in its current form,” Cr Murphy said.

“Cr Greg Adermann (Pullenvale) and Cr Sarah Hutton (Jamboree) did a fantastic job engaging with their residents face-to-face, online and through letters and social media to gauge their views on the proposed green bridge.

“During the consultation, from May 22 to June 1, 2172 residents had their say with the proposed bridge receiving mixed feedback, similar to the first round of consultation.

“While there was some support for a bridge that caters for general traffic, only a minority of respondents indicated they would support a car bridge as an alternative for a green bridge.

“Council will now consider the results of the second consultation on the Bellbowrie bridge.”

Cr Adermann said traffic congestion in Brisbane’s western suburbs remained an issue, and the proposed green bridge was intended to connect Bellbowrie and Moggill to public transport options on the eastern side of the river.

“The first round of consultation reflected only 20 per cent of the community supported the green bridge and would use it regularly, which is why I was keen to go back to the community for a second conversation,” Cr Adermann said.

“It was reinforced that a green bridge would help tackle traffic congestion by getting people out of cars and into buses or onto bicycles.

“But they told me in no uncertain terms that any bridge needed to include vehicles, so I’m not surprised at the findings from my side of the river in the latest consultation.”

Cr Hutton said being a councillor was about representing the views of the community and ensuring they get to have their say on projects that would affect their every day lives.

“The major concern our community has is that the bridge might be used for general traffic and would disrupt the quieter suburbs on the eastern side of the bridge,” Cr Hutton said.

“A bridge like this has a flow on effect on communities of both sides of the river, so we need to get the balance right.”.

Green bridges are planned for Kangaroo Point, Breakfast Creek, Toowong to West End, from St Lucia to West End and Bellbowrie.

The Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek green bridges have received overwhelming support and are being fast-tracked as economic recovery projects, to generate local jobs and immediate community benefits.