Major works to transform the river’s edge along the City Botanic Gardens are now underway as part of a Brisbane City Council plan to build Brisbane’s newest riverwalk.
Deputy Mayor Krista Adams said the City Botanic Gardens Riverwalk would complete a notorious missing link between the city’s inner-north and South Bank, allowing thousands of residents and visitors to make the most of Brisbane’s river lifestyle.
“Brisbane is Australia’s River City and we are committed to protecting its lifestyle by building infrastructure for the Brisbane of tomorrow,” Cr Adams said.
“The intersection of Edward Street and Alice Street is a notorious missing link between New Farm and South Bank, with a narrow, winding path the only connector between the City Reach Boardwalk and the City Botanic Gardens.
“More than 3000 pedestrians and cyclists already use this path every day and many more will be able to make the most of our fantastic river lifestyle with the construction of the city’s newest riverwalk.”
Cr Adams said construction of the City Botanic Gardens Riverwalk would primarily be undertaken from a barge in the Brisbane River between 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday.
“Construction of the City Botanic Gardens Riverwalk requires a complex marine-based construction program, including the driving of 12 piles along the river’s edge to support the new structure,” she said.
“Once completed, the new riverwalk will extend 187 metres from the City Reach Boardwalk to the Bunya Walk and will include a bi-directional cycling and pedestrian pathway, a viewing platform and lighting.
“The riverwalk will also complement this Administration’s plans to open up access to the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay, with a new river access hub to extend off the overwater structure once completed.
“This is one of the signature projects of Council’s $100 million investment in bikeways across the city and will ensure this popular active travel route is future-proofed for generations to come.”
CEO of Bicycle Queensland, Anne Savage, welcomed the start of construction and commended Council for its investment in shared community infrastructure.
“This is a great investment in a healthy and active city where people can enjoy greenspace and parklands by walking or cycling,” Ms Savage said.
“Importantly, it will set us up for connectivity with the proposed Kangaroo Point Green Bridge, helping to deliver on the vision to make Brisbane one of the world’s best cities for walking and cycling.
“Vital investments such as this one enable residents and visitors to be fit and active, creating a brighter horizon for community health and wellbeing.”
Is there any plan to build a nice riverwalk from West End to Southbank ? Smell, noise and pollution coming from Parmalat and cement factory makes walking and cycling along the river unbearable.
From the artists impression, it looks very bulky and doesn’t match with the existing/new modern style bridges.
River city, but it’s really reaching a point where we’re covering most of the river with infrastructure.
I think its great that we are gaining more connected active transport routes through and round the city, but why are there no shade structures in any of these artists impressions?
Surely, in such a sunny city, relief from the blazing sun is vital to ensure that these new developments are safe and comfortable to use, year round?
Some creative design could also make these monolithic grey structures far more attractive too.
I think it’s a great idea, at the moment cyclists, runners and people walking all bottle-neck at the end and try to squeeze into the ramp up to the Gardens entrance, this will eliminate the issue.
Disasters happen at points where bicycles and pedestrians cross paths (as one permanently injured on a bikeway knows). Please consider safety issues and establish pedestrian crossing points where bicycles are forced to slow to minimize risk to both parties. This may include speed bumps just prior to designated crossing points, reduced speed limits on these shared paths, speed cameras – or at least notification signs of cyclist speed. Even better would be physical separation of these paths (as bicyclists have been calling for for years), or physical barriers that separate these lanes. The Brisbane City Council needs to gather statistics on the many injuries – and even some deaths – that have occurred on bike/pedestrian paths in Brisbane. Families with young children use these paths. Simple prevention is better than losing lives or the many thousands of dollars spent on hospitalization and rehabilitation for each person impacted.
This is all great and a welcome addition, but where is the riverwalk connecting Dockside and Mowbray park? It’s shocking how inaccessible that side of the river is compared to the New Farm side.