Only two of city’s top-ranked traffic black spots qualify for upgrades

Only two of eight road safety projects put forward by Brisbane City Council for funding have been accepted.

LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner accused the state Labor government of ignoring the problem, but the transport department said the six projects would not have delivered sufficient benefit.

The Queensland government has a role in deciding which submissions qualify for federal funding under the Black Spot Program.

Only two of the eight black spot projects put forward by Brisbane City Council for funding will proceed.Credit: Dan Peled

Schrinner said 53 accidents occurred at the six intersections – in Bowen Hills, Morningside, Salisbury, and three in Fortitude Valley – between 2018 and 2023.

He said by rejecting the proposed upgrades, the Queensland government had left Brisbane to receive just 6 per cent of the federal funding allocated to projects in the state. Logan City Council, by comparison, would receive 34 per cent of the Queensland funding.

“Brisbane is one of Australia’s fastest growing cities, and we want to reduce congestion and improve safety, but the State Government’s decision to overlook Brisbane is incredibly disappointing,” Schrinner said.

A spokesman for the state Department of Transport and Main Roads said councils were invited to make submissions for Black Spot Program funding to the Black Spot Program Technical Committee, for consideration by the Black Spot Program Consultative Panel.

In the most recent funding round, councils sought $47.3 million in funding from a pool of $17.4 million.

“Through the program prioritisation process, only two of the eight Brisbane City Council nominations met the benefit cost ratio cut off,” the spokesman said.

“These were the Melton Road and Nellie Street intersection at Nundah, and the Wynnum Road and Southgate Avenue intersection at Cannon Hill.”

The council’s infrastructure committee chair, Andrew Wines, said it was the first time Brisbane had been rejected.

“The people of Brisbane are clearly not a priority for the state and federal governments and have had their road-safety funding cut and spent elsewhere in the lead up to both state and federal elections,” Wines argued.

But Transport Minister Bart Mellish said the council was trying to politicise an independent process.

“These grants are assessed by an independent, merit-based process, and it is disappointing that the LNP is attacking these public officials for doing their job,” Mellish said.

“As we have seen with the Story Bridge, Brisbane City Council seem intent on outsourcing their responsibility for infrastructure and road maintenance to state and federal governments, despite revenue of more than $3 billion annually.”

Council will receive $1.7 million in federal funding for the two successful projects.

The unfunded projects were intersections at Breakfast Creek Road and Edmondstone Road in Bowen Hills, Wynnum Road and Beverley Street in Morningside, Kessels Road and Orange Grove Road in Salsbury, and three in Fortitude Valley: James Street, Doggett Street and Robertson Street; St Pauls Terrace, Gipps Street and Kennigo Street; and St Pauls Terrace, Quarry Street, Warren Street, and Gotha Street.

The state election will be held on October 26.