Brisbane’s new Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner outlined his vision for a cleaner, greener and more active city – including five new green bridges – after his colleagues endorsed him to take over from long-serving Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.
Cr Schrinner will become Brisbane’s 17th Lord Mayor – and one of the youngest ever – when he is officially appointed at a special Council meeting next Monday, 8 April.
He said his Lord Mayoralty would be driven by a focus on building the critical infrastructure our city needs and protecting our unique lifestyle and green space.
“Brisbane is the best city in Australia to live and work, and we have a responsibility to keep building on the great work that’s taken place under Graham Quirk’s leadership,” he said.
“That’s why I am announcing a plan for five new green bridges to help reduce traffic congestion and dramatically improve Brisbane’s cross-river connectivity.
“This will be a major program costing at least $550 million aimed at tackling traffic congestion, improving public and active transport and creating a healthier, more active city.
“I’m also going to be a Lord Mayor who champions extra parks for Brisbane, and works to increase our green space. I plan to spearhead the biggest investment in parks and green space our city has ever seen.
“To me, this ‘clean, green agenda’ is a natural extension of the work I have done over the last three years leading the Brisbane Metro project and rolling out new bike paths and cycling infrastructure across the city.
“Making it even easier for people to get around our city by public transport, cycling or on foot, is going to be a key theme of my time as Lord Mayor.”
The new bridges include the already announced Kangaroo Point to CBD river crossing, as well as Toowong to West End, St Lucia to West End, Breakfast Creek and Bellbowrie.
Council will contribute at least two-thirds of the cost of these bridges and will allocate initial funding in the next Council Budget in June. It would also seek contributions from the State and Federal Governments, he said.
Cr Schrinner said he was “deeply humbled” to be elected by his colleagues to take over the role of Lord Mayor when Cr Quirk retires.
“I love this city. I was born here, I grew-up here and now I’m raising my own family here. Brisbane is in my blood,” Cr Schrinner said.
“My goal as Lord Mayor will be simple – to make sure the Brisbane of tomorrow is even better than the Brisbane of today.”
He paid tribute to Cr Quirk for his leadership of the city and 34 years’ service to Brisbane, including eight as Lord Mayor.
“I could not have had a better mentor, teacher and friend to prepare me for the important job of Lord Mayor. I’ve learned so much from him over eight years serving by his side, and I thank him for being so generous with his time and his wisdom over those years.
“I congratulate Cr Krista Adams on her election as Deputy Mayor. I know that, together with our experienced team, we will continue the tradition of stable and reliable leadership that Brisbane people deserve and have come to expect from us.”
Details of the five new green bridges
- Kangaroo Point Green Bridge – Pedestrian/cycle bridge. Council is currently undertaking a business case.
- Toowong to West End Green Bridge – potential pedestrian/cycle/public transport bridge.
- St Lucia to West End Green Bridge – potential pedestrian/cycle/public transport bridge
- Breakfast Creek Green Bridge – Pedestrian/cycle bridge connecting Kingsford Smith Drive Riverwalk into the existing Riverwalk network.
- Bellbowrie Green Bridge – potential pedestrian/cycle/public transport bridge, with emergency access.
These new green bridges will be complemented by next year’s conversion of Victoria Bridge to a green bridge for the Brisbane Metro with additional space for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Neville Bonner Bridge will be built by Star to connect Queen’s Wharf Brisbane to South Bank for pedestrians.
Hope the new St Lucia – West End bridge means a new bus route, the 66 is painful.
Getting from UQ to Central / Roma would definitely help students who don’t live near UQ like me haha.
West End doesn’t need more public transport. Congested as it is.
I am wondering what’s green bridge means. only for footpath and bikes? I guess so.
What happened to connecting the Bulimba peninsula to Teneriffe – love the broad concept but this gap needs addressing
Great another green bridge, just what we need. I am 4 km from my work (BELLBOWRIE- SUMNER PARK) but am forced to make a 20km trip past 3 schools to get there every day. ( sometimes 3 times a day ) I am an electrician so I can not carry 400 kg worth of ladders and gear on a bicycle. There is only one road there unless I start driving towards Toowoomba. This is of no help to me at all.
Agree. I don’t see how these green bridges solve any road congestion issues. I’ve been travelling overseas the last few years and cities with a river/canal running through the heart of the city all have numerous bridges making it so much easier for people to transport themselves. I am all for better public transport in Brisbane but this ridiculous notion that public transport is suitable for every situation is getting beyond a joke.
The idea is that it removes other cars where walking/public transport does suit the driver, which is most people, from the roads which reduces congestion for other people for whom it is not suitable.
Bellbowrie and moggill are growing with many small developments. The area and surrounding suburbs need a bridge to get traffic out onto a highway instead of a growing area and increasing traffic being forced through an already congested Kenmore. Cycling to Riverhills does not get me to work each day.
Have they surveyed how many cars use the ferry every day? How many people live in 4070?
We need a real bridge for all commuters.
Yes, I love bridges!!!
I think this is a great idea. There are a lot of little trips that can simply be reduced to walking or biking. This contributes to a more connected and green Brisbane!
I might like to do my shopping in Mr Omaney however even if there was a bus from the bridge to Mt Omaney would I want to lug my weekly shop back across the bridge on a hot summers day or any day for that matter? I believe other green bridges are doing a great job but there is no good reason to believe that a green bridge in between. Bellbowrie and Wacol would be well used and in my opinion a total waste of money UNLESS public transport were allowed to use it.
Pathetic. No consideration for the elderly, infirm or mothers with kids in tow. I can imagine a parent trying to get to a shopping whilst ‘doubling’ 3 kids on the bicycle, but wait that’s illegal in this city. Public transport does not go everywhere nor is it reliable in all weathers. We need more vehicle bridges to reduce the strain and congestion on the few inadequate roads. Ridiculous that the Centenary Bridge is the most westerly bridge in this region. As has been said the major rivers around the world are much better serviced with bridges than the Brisbane. I assume that the BCC does not consider the Brisbane River a ‘great’ river. So easy to sit back and enjoy the commute when you are chauffeur driven and have a parking space waiting for you.
Just wondering what the clearance under the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge is. Will we still get our sailing boat up to the city?
Can’t see why Kangaroo Point should get another bridge before Toowong or St Lucia.
Building more toll free all vehicle bridges and more free commuter carparks in the suburbs would be a far “greener” use of $550 million than five new pedestrian and cycle bridges. The business case for the $190 million Kangaroo Point Bridge states that its construction will result in “300 fewer bus trips and 230 fewer cars using river crossings each day”. So in total maybe 250 vehicles per day. Currently about 300,000 vehicles (in total) use the Clem 7 tunnel, Captain Cook and Story Bridges. That works out at a 0.08% reduction in congestion, what a joke. Building more all vehicle bridges and commuter carparks will reduce trip travel distance and get people onto public transport.
After reading the comments, I feel that it’s not hard to see I have the same reactions and opinion as many people here. Simply can not understand why a bridge can not be used to pass cars everyday. Building a bridge is expensive already, why not put it into a instant real helpful use that can really help people with their daily lives. With Brisbane’s up and down hills all over the city, bikes are not really a practical daily commute method other than a physical working out option for most people. Is there any possibility that these decisions can be made by addressing the true needs and voices of the majority? Just do a survey to see who’s not happy with more car useable bridges across our river? Guessing there may not be many.:)