State gov ignored crumbling Story Bridge in its budget

The Transport Minister insists the crumbling Story Bridge is a council asset despite Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s mission to secure funding for a major upgrade.

The state government has ignored the crumbling Story Bridge in this week’s budget, with the transport minister insisting it is a council asset despite Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s mission to secure funding for a major upgrade.

But council insisted it was “very, very early’’ days and was still hopeful of a 80:20 federal split, in line with traditional Bruce Hwy funding arrangements.

“This is a Brisbane City Council asset, which it is responsible for managing and maintaining,’’ Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said.

“Council has not formally requested any funding from the state government.”

A Story Bridge Restoration Committee report last month revealed that a major upgrade, needed to keep the bridge going beyond its 2040 design life, could cost hundreds of millions.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner at the launch of the Story Bridge Restoration Committee report last month. Picture: David Clark

Council said it was a long-term project, despite allocating about $6m for emergency repairs in its budget last week, which would be undertaken in stages over 15 to 20 years.

The restoration project business case was also funded in last week’s budget and council would actively seek funding only once the business case was completed next year.

Mr Schrinner has pointed out several times in recent weeks that a similar bridge in Tasmania attracted a 80:20 federal/state funding split.

“We’ve ruled out tolls. The state government has ruled out tolls,’’ Transport Chair Cr Andrew Wines said.

“In fact, the only level of government that hasn’t ruled out supporting a toll on the Story Bridge is the Labor federal government.

“Despite the concocted claims by the embattled (Labor council leader Jared) Cassidy, there’s no urgency to begin the bridge restoration project.

“Once we’ve completed the business case next year we’ll seek funding for the long-term restoration project, which will be completed in stages over 15 to 20 years.’’

Mr Wines also said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had “poured $600 million into a Tasmanian bridge that carries less than one-fifth the traffic’’.

Mr Cassidy claimed the lack of state funding meant a toll was inevitable.

“Premier David Crisafulli’s failure to invest in the Story Bridge restoration will leave the Lord Mayor with no choice but to toll,’’ he said.

“Last week, I wrote a letter to Queensland Premier David Crisafulli urging him to include support for the Story Bridge restoration in this year’s Queensland budget. He has failed to do so.

Council insists the Story Bridge restoration is not urgent and it will seek funding once a business case is completed next year. Picture: Dan Peled/NewsWire

“The only thing the Queensland premier has done to help Adrian Schrinner with the restoration is rush through amendments to legislation which make it easier to slap a toll on the Story Bridge.’’

Greens councillor Trina Massey dismissed the $18m for the bridge announced in last week’s budget as “a rush job for basic maintenance, a business case and maybe reopening one footpath in six months’’.

“That’s not a real fix. It’s damage control after 20 years of neglect,” she said.

“While council scrambles, the LNP State Government hasn’t lifted a finger.

“There’s not a single line item for the Story Bridge in the state budget — no funding, no urgency, no plan.’’

Originally published as State gov ignored crumbling Story Bridge in its budget