Council study reveals massive spending needed within a decade on Brisbane’s northside

A Council study has revealed major spending is needed on heavy rail and a busway or road tunnel in Brisbane’s northside to avoid drastic consequences on the road in the next decade.

A Council study has revealed massive spending of up to $14 billion is needed on road tunnels, rail or busways within a decade to stop traffic on Brisbane’s northside grinding to a halt.

The study warned of “network failure” in the North West Transport Corridor (NWTC) — stretching from Gympie Rd, Carseldine, to Shand St, Alderley — without significant intervention.

It found northern Brisbane’s annual congestion and public transport crowding cost more than $300 million a year, which would rise to $538.5 million by 2031.

The study recommended a large chunk of any new infrastructure be underground because of community concerns about remnant bush and wildlife, including habitat found only in Chermside Hills Reserve.

Artist's impression of how a revamped transport network could look.

Civic Cabinet Chair for Infrastructure, Andrew Wines, whose Enoggera Ward covers part of the area, said the costs were so huge all levels of government had to work together on transport solutions.

“This study demonstrates that doing nothing isn’t an option,” he said.

The $10 million, two-year study was commissioned by the Federal Government and used Council experts.

The NWTC has been reserved by the State Government since the 1980s, but not formally gazetted (protected from other development).

It is home to rare or threatened species including the powerful owl and koalas.

Community consultation in late 2019 and 2020 showed deep concern among locals about the environmental impact of surface road, rail or bus options.

The Council study investigated several underground alternatives, including a motorway and heavy rail option, as well as complementary above-ground bus and active transport solutions.

Parts of the corridor are environmentally sensitive.

A further detailed investigation was conducted into building a six-lane tunnel from Bald Hills to Kedron by 2031, which would connect into Airport Link.

The 11.75 km tunnel would cost between $9.5 billion and $14.1 billion.

The study also assessed building a complementary dedicated Bus Rapid Transport system along Gympie Rd from the Northern Busway at Kedron to Aspley, at a cost of between $758 million and $1.1 billion.

A longer-term option of extending the underground motorway with an 11km tunnel from McDowall to Toowong by 2041 was also considered.

This tunnel was costed at between $7.8 billion and $11.5 billion.

Mr Wines said the study had been sent to the federal and state governments and Infrastructure Australia.

State Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey, dismissed the study as a “feeble fantasy for a $14 billion toll road’’.

“There’s no funding, no consultation with other levels of government and no idea how to fix congestion,’’ Mr Bailey said.

Cars will no longer be able to park in the green area, on Gympie Rd, when the Northern Transitway busway opens.

“Only a month ago, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner was saying the Council was broke and had to cut a lot of projects citywide — now, they have a plan to spend $25 billion on new tollways and motorways.

“Before the 2020 election Adrian Schrinner ducked questions about a northside toll road, but now his secret plan has been revealed.’’

Mr Bailey said Council recently cut the North Brisbane Bikeway, cut upgrades to Mowbray Park and refused to pay a “fair share’’ for the Cooper Plains level crossing removal because of lack of money.

He said his government had no input into the study, which was funded by the former Morrison Federal Government despite the state owning the corridor.

“The immediate focus should be on upgrading services on Gympie Rd,’’ he said.

“We are already doing this through the $72 million Northern Transitway project, which we are fully funding.

The (Council) study entirely ignores that project.

Councillor Andrew Wines.

“Clearly what has been put forward in this study is far beyond the means of local government.

“This study shows the economic cost of north Brisbane’s congestion will be a staggering $1.5 million a day within a decade, which is totally unacceptable.”

The study also looked more widely at the transport needs from Toowong/Indooroopilly to Bald Hills and Carseldine and considered the strong urban growth in the Moreton Bay region.

The NWTC has been the subject of numerous transport studies since it was identified in the 1980s.

Properties within the NWTC are mostly owned by the State Government or Council.

“Although adding significantly to the construction cost a motorway, largely in-tunnel (through Chermside Hills Reserve) provides the best opportunity to protect and enhance the NWTC for its value as an ecological asset for future generations,’’ the report concluded.

It said there were about 21 threatened plant species in or near the corridor including endangered eucalypt woodland and open forest communities.

“This vegetation community has significant conservation value and is only found in the

Chermside Hills Reserve area,’’ the study said.

“The ecosystem cannot be offset in another location.’’

Originally published as Council study reveals massive spending needed within a decade on Brisbane’s northside