Map unveils 9km city walking loop that will connect Brisbane with sporting venues

One Australian CBD is about to undergo a welcome transformation which will change the way residents move around it.

Brisbane is on track to hosting the most accessible Olympic and Paralympic Games ever held, in a move that could completely transform the city and the way people get around.

Design collective LatStudios, with the support of the Office of the Queensland Government Architect, has revealed a new concept map detailing the numerous opportunities available to create extra walking tracks around the city.

Showcased for the first time at a Committee for Brisbane event on Tuesday, the map proposes a 9km path connecting the city’s major sporting venues.

The design for Brisbane’s 9km walkway loop. Picture: LatStudios

Several walkways are highlighted including a 2km track between South Bank and the Gabba and a 1.6km track between Caxton Street and the Brisbane CBD.

Ultimately, the paths connect in a loop which will be sheltered by “forests” to keep the area cool from the city’s heat.

The map is part of The Green Grid study which was shortlisted at the 2018 Australian Urban Design awards in the Leadership, Advocacy and Research category – city and regional scale.

Anna Campbell, executive officer at Queensland Walks, told news.com.au that she was happy to see the project brought forward as a solution to cooling down some of the best recreational paths in Australia.

“If we respond to heat and commit to the greening of our city streets with tree canopy and structural shading, we will make our CBD more walkable for residents and desirable for visitors,” Ms Campbell said.

“We see the Southbank Masterplan designs for Grey Street being a shining example of designing for people who walk, roll and stroll.”

Ms Campbell was one of five panellists discussing Brisbane’s accessibility in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the event titled, “Roll, stroll, ride and glide: How to make Brisbane 2032 the most accessible games yet”.

Panellists Harvey Lister, Robyn Littlewood, Damian Thompson, Anna Campbell and Michael Dobbie-Bridges at Committee for Brisbane event. Picture: Facebook/@TheCommitteefor Brisbane

She appeared alongside Health and Wellbeing Queensland CEO Robyn Littlewood, Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association chair Michael Dobbie-Bridges, LatStudios director Damian Thompson and ASM Global (Asia Pacific) CEO Harvey Lister.

All advocates said a solution to connect the major sporting venues was urgently needed, with Mr Thompson telling news.com.au the intercity loop would come with many benefits to both locals and visitors.

“A 9km loop linking Olympic venues with our city’s established destinations will provide visitors and locals with an easy way to navigate the city ‘on the surface’ using local landmarks, interactive signage, bespoke artwork, lush planting, streetscape lighting and high quality, all-access pavements,” he said.

“[It will also] showcase our incredible, unique and inspirational First Nations culture, amplify our much-lauded, year-round subtropical lifestyle, reduce urban heat through dense, connected canopy tree planting … [and] link up our new bridges, parklands and public transport nodes.”

He also added the walkway would promote safe, active and healthy lifestyle habits and extend the year-round appeal needed for projected inner-city population growth.

“What an incredible Olympic legacy this would be for generations to come,” he said.

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Artist’s impression of the revamped Gabba stadium. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile, Mr Lister said he was confident the city was on the right track for such a development and backed the Brisbane City Council and State Government’s efforts with Olympic preparations.

“We’re seeing those departments actually step up significantly … and now that all the decisions have been taken about the delivery of Olympic facilities, I think that we’ve set in place that approach from the State Government for the long haul,” he said, reported The Courier Mail.

The new concept map follows the Palaszczuk Government’s February announcement on the expansion of the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area (PDA).

The revitalisation of Woolloongabba will include an active travel corridor to South Bank and the CBD while connecting the redeveloped Gabba Stadium, Cross River Rail and the Brisbane Metro.

“The Gabba will be more than just an events stadium. We want it to be activated 24/7 so that living near it will be exciting and fun,” Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.

“It will be the main interchange between Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro. You’ll be able to get around without a car and walk or scooter to the city or South Bank.”

You shouldn’t need a car to get around the city, our vision for Brisbane includes a walking and biking corridor from Woolloongabba through to South Bank and the CBD.

— Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) February 20, 2023

While Ms Campbell welcomes the masterplan designs and efforts being made to promote walking and accessibility in the CBD, she said the budget for these projects needs to be extended to all of Brisbane.

“We need to significantly increase our budgets for walking to achieve this, and we cannot spend all walking and greening infrastructure budgets on the CBD alone,” she said.

“We must not forget that Brisbane is one of the least accessible major cities in Australia for walking and rolling based on the lack of connected footpaths, difficult kerb ramps, lack of pedestrian crossings and the maintenance required on the existing network.

“Strategy, planning and a budgetary commitment will be key to a walkable Brisbane.”

About 200 key stakeholders attended the Committee for Brisbane event which was sponsored by Griffith University.

News.com.au has approached the Committee for Brisbane and Brisbane City Council for comment.