Local Government Infrastructure Plan - submission

Introduction

In August 2023, the Brisbane City Council alerted residents across the city about amendments to the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP), this is a 5 year statutory requirement. The LGIP has no statutory delivery or budget allocated across future years, but is an important document as it highlights the key future infrastructure delivery for the city

Below is my future submission with relevant notes and comments on items within the LGIP amendment and also with details and comments on items missing from the LGIP.

It is a dense document, but I wanted to present a transparent and informative document where residents can choose to deliver submission based on their concerns or needs.

Please reach out if you have questions.

Please note: there is very little information on the projects within the LGIP, for most projects there is no design concept or parameters for delivery. This does make it hard for feedback. However, we have worked to deliver a feedback based on consultation with community and historical knowledge based on the work the Gabba Office has done over the past 7 years.

River Walk

RiverWalk 2026 - 2031 ($40,386,172) KAN-RW-004

“Kangaroo Point Riverwalk (Dockside Ferry Terminal to Mowbray Park)”

I support the completion of this project. Completing the river walk will be essential to ensure we get the most out of the Kangaroo Point to City Green Bridge. It will allow residents on the eastern side of Kangaroo Point, East Brisbane, Morningside, Norman Park and beyond to be able to access the new Green Bridge. There is a strong case to accelerate this project so the river walk is completed shortly after the Green Bridge. This project should also include completing the missing link between the completed river walk and the new accessible pedestrian and cycle underpass under the Story Bridge.

Green Bridges

Green Bridge - Toowong to West End 2026- 2031, TOO-GB-001

I am supportive of the delivery of this project, however I am disappointed to see its delivery in the 2026 - 2031 timeframe. This is a critical connection that should be within the 2021 - 2026 timeframe. Both areas of this bridge are already high density areas that are earmarked for another increase in hyper-density.

The delivery of this infrastructure will be critical for the active movement of residents across the Kurilpa Precinct and will enable access to much needed amenities such as a Train Station and shopping. In an area which needs a rapid decrease in car and road usage this is a priority project that must be moved forward to ensure that as the hyper-development begins, behaviour and infrastructure exist to accommodate active and connected inner city living.

Green Bridge - St Lucia to West End 2021 - 2026, SLU-GB-001

I am supportive of the delivery of this project.

Cycle Routes

Kangaroo Point Bikeway (Veloway 1 Cycle way to Thornton Street) 2026-2031, KAN-SP-004

I am supportive of this project, however the delivery timeframe should move forward to the 2021-2026 to deliver a streamline approach to feed into the Kangaroo Point Green bridge which is set to be delivered in 2024. The delivery of this bikeway is a critical link for safety of cyclists and other active transport users who need this connection that will connect Sound Brisbane and Woolloongabba to Kangaroo Point and beyond using the Green bridge to travel north of the Kangaroo Riverwalk to connect to Norman Park.

Key infrastructure Cycle Routes missing from the LGIP amendment

Priority 1: Vulture St Bikeway

The delivery of the separated bike lanes down Vulture St, that connect from the Mater precinct, down to Montague Rd is a critical infrastructure missing from the LGIP amendment.

Parts of the project have had initial consultation with impacted stakeholders and the bikeway team has already produced concept designs for Vulture St (eastbound, single direction) between Dock St and Christie St.

This is a critical missing link for the safety and connectivity for active transport users across the city. The project received a 10 million dollar commitment in 2020 from the state government and should be in the LGIP as an infrastructure delivery 2021-2026.

Priority 2: Dornoch Terrace

An area with extremely high cyclist volumes alongside extremely high traffic volumes. With a rapidly increasing population in the West End, Highgate Hill and the south-eastern Suburbs, a separated and protected cycleway is critical for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. This area is a part of the River Loop, a popular recreational cycle route that follows the Brisbane River from South Bank to Indooroopilly and back again.

Road Corridor Projects

Road Corridor Project - Montague Road 2026 - 2031 SBR-RC-001

Road Corridor Project - Montague Road 2021 - 2026 WES-RC-020

Road Corridor Project - Montague Road 2026 - 2031 WES-RC-021

Road Corridor Project - Montague Road 2026 - 2031 WES-RC-022

I am supportive of the Montague Road projects listed within the LGIP amendments. However, the delivery particularly of WES-RC-021 and SBR-RC-001 must be prioritised with the 2021-2026 timeframe. Montague Road is the main corridor connecting the Kurilpa peninsula from North to South. It is a critical transportation link that currently does not accommodate for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport appropriately.

Kurilpa Futures and Queensland Ballet partnered together in 2022 to create the Montague Road Project and "facilitate a community-initiated process for our community to come together to create its vision for the future." One of the key outcomes of this project was the development of a community vision for Montague Road.

The community vision identified four key pillars:

Sustainable Movement (making public and active transport the most convenient and obvious choice for most people)
Cool, Green, Blue (water sensitive urban design and increased tree cover to reduce heat and mitigate flood impacts)
Kurilpa Canopy (First Nations designed and managed museum integrated into a forest park)
A Village Experience (a street that prioritises the experience of people and community connection)

This project must engage with local stakeholders including the Montague Road Project to ensure that the road corridor project meets the needs and expectations of the local community.

Park Upgrades

Park upgrade - Musgrave Park 2021 - 2026 ($1,983,375) SBR-U2-001

“Upgrade existing park infrastructure to the value of $1-2m (METROPOLITAN GENERAL RECREATION)”

I welcome the inclusion of funding for an upgrade to Musgrave Park. Any changes to the park must be done in consultation with the First Nations communities who have connections to the park.

Musgrave Park has long been identified by the local First nations community as the site of a future Aboriginal Cultural Centre and this should be a centre piece of any park upgrade. There is an old and unused concrete pad located in between Jagera Hall, the Musgrave Park Pool, and the Croquet Club that has been sitting empty and many First Nations people believe should be the site of the cultural centre.

Brisbane is the only capital city in Australia that does not currently have an Aboriginal cultural centre - this is an embarrassment to our city which needs to be urgently addressed. With the 2032 Olympics coming up, Brisbane is going to be on display to the world and it is essential that the cultural centre is completed by this time. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture will undoubtedly be a centrepiece of the Olympic Games and it would be a loss to the city as a whole if Brisbane still doesn’t have a cultural centre by this time.

Park Upgrade - Davies Park 2021-2026 ($2,644,500) WES-U1-010

“Upgrade existing park infrastructure to the value of $2m+ (DISTRICT GENERAL RECREATION & DISTRICT OUTDOOR SPORT)”

Davies Park contains one of only two outdoor sports grounds in The Gabba Ward (the other is the Football fields at Raymond Park).
As population growth and density increases in West End, at one of the fastest rates in the country, it will be extremely difficult to find additional greenspace for large outdoor sports fields.
The two sports grounds at Davies park currently services regular rugby league (Souths Logan Magpies), football (West End Football Club) and touch rugby.
It is important that the park’s sportsgrounds serves the fast expanding local community. Currently only the football club and touch rugby are local sports with a local player catchment.
- The rugby league club has been a Logan-based club for some time, with most games played at their other grounds (with significant resources at Lagan, including clubrooms and sportgrounds).
- Souths Logan rugby league clubs player catchment area is primarily in Logan.
- The rugby league clubs youth and player development is all in Logan.
- Souths Logan league club only play a few games a year at Davies Park.
- Davies Park is primarily used by Souths Loan league club for a few premier team games and for fundraising opportunities via their clubrooms.
- As we understand, the Souths Rugby League club sub-leases the clubrooms and markets at Davies park, to a contractor, primarily for fundraising purposes.
The expanding local clubs with local player catchments are football and touch rugby. In any future development and upgrades of Davies park, it is important that the West End football club, touch rugby teams and any other locally-based sports are given priority.
The last public consultation on the park’s future, completed in May 2018, found that local residents and park users generally wanted any improvements to “not alter the overall natural feel of the park”. With a priority of opportunities for ”children and teenagers”. (Reference; memo to GWO councillor, from Wade Fitzgerad, Major Projects & Asset Coordination Manager, NEWS; 17/5/2018).
The BCC has just recently invested $2.5 million in upgrading Davies Park, creating a basketball court, small skate facility, new toilets, nature play space and a picnic/play oval. An additional $2.5 million must be spent on enhancing the developments that have recently taken place and not overriding them.

Park upgrade - West End Riverside Lands Park 2026 - 2031 ($2,829,000) SBR-U1-010

“Upgrade existing park infrastructure to the value of $2m+ (METROPOLITAN ACCESS/ RECREATION CORRIDOR)”

Presumably this proposed upgrade is to close the existing road and extend the pedestrian and cycle way from Riverside drive from Jane St to the end of the road.
This stretch of road has an extremely high number of pedestrians walking directly on the road.
- This is due to the footpath, close to Jane street, finishing and taking people directly onto the road and then a very old and very narrow footpath continuing.
- This stretch also flows on from the closed portion of Riverside drive and for many pedestrians are not even aware that this is a 50kmh road.
- The old narrow footpath is insufficient for the high volumes of foot traffic.
- With a 50kmh speed limit we believe this road currently poses the highest safety risk in Brisbane for pedestrians. There are many prams and children frequently walking on this 50kmh road in high numbers.
The road should be completely closed and instead there should be a similar treatment of cycleway and open wide pedestrian thoroughfare, to that portion created at Forbes st & Riverside drive.

Park upgrade - Orleigh Park 2021 - 2026 ($2,644,500) WES-U1-012

“Upgrade existing park infrastructure to the value of $2m+ (DISTRICT GENERAL RECREATION)”

I am supportive of this project. Extensive community consultation and engagement should be delivered to ensure that park upgrades meet the needs and desires of residents.

Park upgrade - Dutton Park 2026 - 2031 ($2,121,750) DUP-U2-001

“Upgrade existing park infrastructure to the value of $1-2m (DISTRICT GENERAL RECREATION)”

I am supportive of this project. Extensive community consultation and engagement should be delivered to ensure that park upgrades meet the needs and desires of residents.

Park upgrade - Raymond Park 2026 - 2031 ($2,121,750) KAN-U2-001

“Upgrade existing park infrastructure to the value of $1-2m (DISTRICT OUTDOOR SPORT)”

I am supportive of this project. Extensive community consultation and engagement should be delivered to ensure that park upgrades meet the needs and desires of residents. I am strongly against these funds being used to deliver Olympic Games infrastructure that the local community does not want or need.

Park upgrade - Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park 2026 - 2031 ($2,829,000) KAN-U1-001

“Upgrade existing park infrastructure to the value of $2m+ (METROPOLITAN GENERAL RECREATION)”

I am supportive of this project. Extensive community consultation and engagement should be delivered to ensure that park upgrades meet the needs and desires of residents.

Park Establishment

Park acquisition and embellishment - specific location 2031 - 2036 ($33,147,741) SBR-A2-001

“Acquire and embellish land to provide DISTRICT GENERAL RECREATION infrastructure” 1 ha

I am supportive of this project. Successive state and council governments have given the local community the impression this land was always planned to be acquired for new parkland.

The nearby Kurilpa Point park was also the site of a horrific rape and murder of Sophie Collombet in March 2014. A big part of the reason the existing park is so dangerous is that it is disconnected from the neighbouring streets. Removing the industrial use and connecting the park back up to Montague Rd will improve sight lines and make the park much safer for all users.

This land has a medium chance of flooding (1% annual likelihood) and was flooded in both January 2011 and February 2022. Returning the land use to parkland will reduce the impact of future floods while simultaneously delivering community benefit.

Park acquisition and embellishment - specific location 2031 - 2036 ($23,436,881) SBR-A1-001

“Acquire and embellish land to provide LOCAL GENERAL RECREATION infrastructure” 1 ha

I am supportive of this project. The population of South Brisbane more than doubled from 2012 to 2022 and no new parkland has been delivered in that time. Council should explore acquiring more land than the 1.3 ha planned to meet the needs of this growing community.

Park acquisition and embellishment - specific location 2021 - 2026 ($15,962,248) WES-A1-002

“Acquire and embellish land to provide LOCAL GENERAL RECREATION infrastructure” 0.46 ha

I have issues about the specification about this park acquisition. The subject of the site across streets Ida Rogers and Raven Street. The site comprises 5 character houses and 6 townhouses. The area is currently zoned as Character Residential overlay within the West - End Woolloongabba District Neighbourhood plan. This area also has the overlay of Traditional Building character (Neighbourhood character) and is on the fringe of the Flood zone overlay.

The location of the park is also challenging, related to current density of West End, accessibility to a park should exist east of Hardgrave road. Approach to the site is challenging with the current slope from Montague Rd.

Below I have listed 4 priority parks that should be delivered immediately that would service the residents of West End economically and community benefit wise more efficiently. I request that this specification be reconsidered.

Park acquisition and embellishment - specific location 2026 - 2031 ($7,880,028) SBR-A1-002

“Acquire and embellish land to provide LOCAL GENERAL RECREATION infrastructure” 0.228 ha

I have issues about the specification of this park acquisition. The subject of the site across street address 75, 77,and 79 Gloucester Street and 7 Colin Street. Is currently zoned as Character Residential within the Dutton Park-Fairfield Neighbourhood Plan. The Site is also subject to several overlays, notably including the Traditional Building character Overlay, (the site contains two pre 1946 Character houses) and the Noise Corridor Overlay.

The initial proposal of this site was noted within the TLPI Kurilpa, however its distance from the actual precinct puts into question any community benefit for that area.

Performance outcome 3 of the BCC park planning and design code specifies that development ensures that the park has a gradient that is suitable for its intended use, and doesn’t not pose a safety hazard and allows for ease of maintenance.

Lot 3 within the site has a slope of almost 15% which would be inappropriate for a new public park and is not consistent with the Council's own Standards that recreation spaces have less than 1V:20H and greater than 1V:150H to suit proposed recreational functions and accessibility requirements.

According to the Brisbane Park Classification system a Local General Park is to have a minimum area of 0.8ha. The site does not accommodate this classification.

High priority park establishment projects not included in the LGIP

Priority 1: 127-129 Hardgrave Road, West End 0.1 ha

This vacant block of land is an ideal location for a new parkland which can be delivered without displacing any residents. The streets around Spring St, Whynot St, and Bristol St are some of the locations furthest away from existing parkland and some of the only areas that do not meet Council’s goals to have all residents living within 750m of a park.

Priority 2: 16-24 Duncan St, West End 0.93 ha

This site is also located in the centre of the majority of the new high density development that has occurred in West End. Delivering new parkland in this area will make space to deliver new facilities desperately needed in this area including new dog off leash areas, enough open space to kick a ball around, and new playgrounds. The location will mean that it is extremely close to the majority of residents who need the space the most.

These two blocks of land are located on land with a medium chance of flooding (1% annual likelihood) and were heavily flooded in January 2011 and moderately flooded in February 2022. Building a park on this land will result in a better long-term outcome than allowing more high density development on the floodplain.

Priority 3: 281-299 Montague Rd, West End 1.2 ha

These two sites are adjacent to Davies Park and would allow the expansion of that greenspace by 1.2 ha. There is strong community support for this land to be incorporated into Davies Park which would increase the amenity and useability of that site.

Priority 4: 24-26 Archibald St, West End 0.08 ha

The block of land at 24-26 Archibald St, West End is currently vacant and empty following a tragic house fire earlier this year. It has recently been listed for sale and would be an ideal location for a small pocket park that could be delivered without displacing any residents.

Ferry Terminals

Ferry terminal - new; Ferry terminal - upgrade 2021 - 2026 ($15,816,284) SBR-FT-002

Ferry terminal - new; Ferry terminal - upgrade 2021 - 2026 ($14,595,984) SBR-FT-002

“South Bank 1 and 2 Ferry terminal” “DDA compliance, flood resilience”

I am supportive of this project.

Ferry terminal - new; Ferry terminal - upgrade 2026 - 2031 ($17,826,009) WES-FT-002

“Victoria Street Ferry Terminal” “New Ferry Terminal”

I am delighted to see this ferry terminal reintroduced to the LGIP after strong advocacy from both myself and my predecessor Cr Sriranganathan. Many residents bought units in this area with the understanding that the ferry terminal would be built by 2016 as proposed under the 2011-2016 LGIP.

The failure to deliver this terminal has put extreme pressure on the bus and road networks in West End, particularly Montague Rd. Both the 199 and 60 buses are regularly filled to capacity, with buses having to skip stops and leave residents behind because there is no space for more people onboard. There was sufficient demand for this new ferry terminal in 2016 and I am concerned that the delivery timeframe is only 2026-2031. Given the population of the area has already almost doubled in the ten years from 2012 to 2022, there is a strong case for moving the delivery of this facility to 2021-2026.

Between the West End and East Brisbane ferry terminals there are 3 CityCat terminals on the south side of the river and 6 CityCat terminals on the north side of the river. Adding an additional stop in West End will therefore improve accessibility for all residents who use the CityCat service, not just residents of the Kurilpa peninsula.

Ferry terminal - new; Ferry terminal - upgrade 2021 - 2026 ($18,864,794) KAN-FT-003

Ferry terminal - upgrade 2021 - 2026 ($12,277,352) KAN-FT-003

“Dockside Ferry terminal” “DDA compliance, flood resilience”

I am supportive of this project. Council should prioritise upgrading this terminal before upgrading the Mowbray Park terminal. This would allow CityCats to temporarily stop at the Dockside terminal when the Mowbray Park terminal is closed, minimising the impact on the local community when these upgrades take place.

Ferry terminal - upgrade 2021 - 2026 ($11,768,012) EAB-FT-001

Ferry terminal - new; Ferry terminal - upgrade 2021 - 2026 ($16,659,022) EAB-FT-001

“Mowbray Park Ferry terminal” “DDA compliance, flood resilience”

I am supportive of this project.

Community Facilities

Community facility - indicative location 2026 - 2031 ($4,649,746) WES-CF-001

“Land acquisition, basic site preparation and connection to services to provide LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTRE AND LIBRARY EXTENSION”

The population of the Kurilpa peninsula has almost doubled in the past decade and there has been no increase to library capacity during that time. The existing Kurilpa Library also has significant constraints that limit its capacity to appropriately service residents of the area. In particular the library does not have accessible toilets and does not have accessible community meeting rooms available for hire.

I welcome the inclusion of a provision to extend the library and provide a local community centre. However I am concerned that the delivery is only scheduled to occur in the 2023-2031 timeframe. Given the lack of accessibility and already increased population, there is a strong case for this facility to be accelerated and delivered in the 2021-2026 timeframe.

Priority 1: Specific location for community centre and library extension - 174 Boundary St, West End

As a heritage listed building, there are limited opportunities to address these constraints and improve the useability of this facility. Council already owns the neighbouring property at 174 Boundary St, West End - this site is currently home to the underutilised Kurilpa Hall. There is an opportunity here for Council to expand the Kurilpa Library onto the Kurilpa Hall site and build a four storey community centre and library connected to the existing library. The benefit of this proposal is that it would increase the useability of the existing library. This expansion would provide accessible toilets, community meeting rooms, expanded book holding space, and a large community hall. Consultation with local residents and library staff should be conducted to ensure the new building meets the needs of the community.

Priority 2: Local community centre and library for Woolloongabba - possible location on the Cross River Rail site

Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point are densifying rapidly. The LGIP projects that 18,480 residents will live in these two suburbs by 2026. This number appears to be a gross underestimation given that the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office data has 19,730 residents living in these suburbs as of 2022. Kangaroo Point and Woolloongabba already have a similar number of residents living in them than West End, South Brisbane, and Highgate Hill had living there in 2012 (21,237) - yet the former two suburbs do not have easy access to a Council library or community centre.

With the existing and future projected population growth for Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point, these communities will need a new library and community centre. The new Woolloongabba station being built for Cross River Rail would provide a central and accessible location for these facilities.

Community facility - indicative location 2026 - 2031 ($52,103,254) SBR-CF-001

“Land acquisition, basic site preparation and connection to services to provide PRINCIPAL INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE”

I am extremely supportive of this provision. The Gabba Ward does not currently have an indoor sports centre and only has two publicly accessible outdoor sporting fields (Davies Park and Raymond Park). There is a strong need for more sporting facilities. My office has received requests from residents for space for volleyball, futsal, basketball, badminton, roller derby, and bicycle hockey which could all be accommodated in this facility. To ensure the facility meets the needs of the community, the specific types of sports to be included in the indoor sports centre should be determined in consultation with the community.

The population of the Kurilpa peninsula has almost doubled in the past decade and no new local sports facilities have been delivered in that timeframe. Our parks and existing sports facilities are already bursting at the seams and this will only get worse as more residents move into the area. The demand for this facility already exists and so the timeframe for delivery should be accelerated, with land acquisition and planning to begin in the 2021-2026 LGIP timeframe.

Intersection Upgrades

Road intersection project 2026 - 2031 ($1,169,230) SBR-RI-003

“Merivale Street/Montague Road Intersection”

Any upgrade to this intersection must consider the impact on active transport users. Of particular importance will be the inclusion of barrier protected bike lanes along Montague Rd. Montague Rd is an important cycle route which is currently incredibly unsafe due to the lack of appropriate cycle infrastructure.

I do not support a widening of this intersection to increase the number of car lanes. Road widening creates congestion because widening roads increases the attractiveness of car travel while making active and public transport less attractive. This is a well documented phenomenon which transport engineers have termed “induced demand”.

Road intersection project 2026 - 2031 ($2,463,270) SBR-RI-002

“Mollison Street/Montague Road Intersection”

This intersection is a bottleneck for the 199 and 60 on their inbound routes to the CBD. Upgrading this intersection to include a dedicated right turn lane for inbound traffic will help alleviate this problem and increase the reliability of these bus services. It is essential that the intersection upgrade makes space for barrier protected bike lanes as Montague Road is a major cycle route.

Road intersection project 2026 - 2031 ($2,543,605) WES-RI-003

“Montague Road/Jane Street Intersection”

Any upgrade to this intersection must consider the impact on active transport users. Of particular importance will be the inclusion of barrier protected bike lanes along Montague Rd.

The community places high value on the large established fig trees in Davies Park and these should be retained and protected in any plans. My office is about to spend ~$100,000 creating a small urban plaza along the Jane St frontage of Montague Park near this intersection - any plans should protect and enhance this urban space.

There are some issues with traffic bottlenecks for vehicles traveling inbound along Montague Rd when there are a lot of vehicles waiting to turn right into Jane St. This is of particular concern because it reduces the reliability of the incredibly popular 199 and 60 buses. Any intersection upgrade should look at improving this issue, whether by a dedicated bus jump lane or another means.

Road intersection project 2031 - 2036 ($1,073,727) SBR-RI-004

“Gloucester Street/Stephens Road Intersection”

I welcome the inclusion of this intersection upgrade. Traffic often banks up here during school drop off and pick up. Of particular concern is the lack of safe and accessible pedestrian crossing facilities. Pedestrians often have to wait for a long time for traffic to pass to be able to safely cross safely. There is no accessible crossing point, so people with limited mobility often struggle to cross the road even when there is a break in traffic. Ideally this intersection upgrade should also include provision for barrier protected bike lanes.

Road intersection project 2026 - 2031 ($1,617,508) KAN-RI-001

“Vulture Street/Main Street Intersection”

This intersection is extremely dangerous for cyclists. Any intersection upgrade must include space for barrier protected bike lanes running along both Vulture St and Main St.

Consideration should be given to turning the leftmost lane of Vulture St into a right turn only - this would help address the dangerously short merging lane on the eastern side of the intersection.

While potentially outside the scope of this project, the merging of the M3 exit lanes with Vulture St is incredibly dangerous with vehicles weaving across the four lanes.

Road intersection project 2021 - 2026 ($1,106,318) FFD-RI-001

“Annerley Road/Cornwall Street/Noble Street Intersection”

This is an incredibly dangerous intersection for pedestrians and cyclists, so I welcome the inclusion of this intersection.

Of particular concern is the dangerous left turn from Annerley Rd into Cornwall St at which the vast majority of vehicles do not give way to pedestrians and cyclists as required by law - this conflict point must be addressed in a way that improves active transport safety and convenience.

Any upgrade of this intersection must include barrier protected bike lanes to allow for the future expansion of the Annerley St cycleway which currently terminates at the intersection of Annerley Rd with Gladstone St.

Road intersection project 2031 - 2036 ($1,623,105) WOO-RI-002

“Ipswich Road/Cornwall Street Intersection”

This intersection has three unsignalised slip lanes at which the vast majority of vehicles do not give way to pedestrians and cyclists as required by law - this conflict point must be addressed in a way that improves active transport safety and convenience.

The Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads rightly notes: “Unsignalised slip lanes often create uncertainty for pedestrians and motorists, with drivers often unaware of their obligation to give way and pedestrians uncertain of where to cross…It is the primary position of Transport and Main Roads’ Road Safety Policy (2018) that slip lanes should preferably be removed or not constructed.”

In line with the advice of TMR, this intersection upgrade should include the removal of unsignalised slip lanes in order to improve pedestrian safety. Space for barrier protected bike lanes should also be included in this intersection upgrade to make space for the eventual inclusion of barrier protected bike lanes along Ipswich Rd.

Road intersection project 2031 - 2036 ($1,469,697) WOO-RI-003

“Ipswich Road/O'Keefe Street Intersection”

High priority road intersection projects not included in the LGIP

Priority 1: Ferry Road/Drake Street/Montague Road Intersection

This is a highly trafficked intersection which is used to access the Woolworths and also the Thomas Dixon Centre. There are also an extremely high number of pedestrians who cross at this intersection and a high number of cyclists. My office receives reports of near misses almost on a weekly basis from residents. This issue will continue to get worse as more high density apartments are built and more residents move into the area.

My top priority would be to signalise this intersection - this is the most common request I receive from residents. From my conversations with Council’s transport planners, it sounds like signalisation may not be supported. As an alternative I would be open to investigating the following option instead:

Closing off Drake Street just past the Thomas Dixon Centre driveway, turning the part just west of the traffic calming into a cul de sac, so that no cars would be able to travel from Montague up Drake St. We think that would solve a lot of the rat running problems for Drake Street.
A redesign of the Drake-Montague-Ferry intersection, banning the right turn from Ferry Rd and making Ferry Rd a left-only exit onto Montague Rd.
Adding a pedestrian crossing and island to Ferry Road, further making it safer for foot traffic and reducing the flow of traffic from Ferry onto Montague by narrowing the road.
Exploring a redesign of Tondara (and Tarabay) Lane to solve the lack of safety and continuity for pedestrians and the hazards of vehicles entering the lane without proper sight lines.

Space should also be made as part of this intersection upgrade for barrier protected bike lanes running along Montague Rd.

Priority 2: Dornoch Tce/Hardgrave Rd/Ganges St

This is a high potential conflict intersection with no safe pedestrian crossings and a high speed environment which makes it difficult for vehicles (including the 199 bus service) to turn right from Hardgrave Rd onto Ganges St.

Council has already developed a concept design as part of the Dornoch Terrace Safety Improvements Project. This project was ultimately canceled as a high number of residents did not support the removal of car parks along Dornoch Tce to include bike lanes. The intersection upgrade did not propose to remove many car parks (if any) and had a high level of resident support.

The plan included lowering the speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h and raising the road on a platform to be level with the sidewalk. It also included a new zebra crossing at the top of Hardgrave Rd and Ganges St. This project or something similar should be included in the LGIP.

Image: Design produced as part of the Dornoch Terrace Safety Improvements Project Concept

Priority 3: Wellington Rd (between Baines St and Mowbray Tce)

Wellington Rd is a four lane one-way road where vehicles often travel at high speeds with no breaks in the traffic. There are no safe crossing points between Vulture St and Lytton Rd. During peak hour pedestrians often have to run across the road to be able to cross in the small breaks that occur. This is impossible for people with limited mobility which makes it almost impossible for them to cross the road.

Council has already done a preliminary design on a signalised intersection just north of Mowbray Tce. This intersection would be a pedestrian crossing only. I am broadly supportive of this proposal and strongly encourage it to be included in the LGIP.

Priority 4: Dornoch Tce (between Boundary St and Colton St)

There are currently no safe pedestrian crossings along Dornoch Tce between Hardgrave Rd/Ganges St and Gladstone Rd - with the possible exception of a traffic island near the Assisi Walkway just west of Katrine St.

During consultation for the Dornoch Terrace Safety Improvements Project, the lack of safe pedestrian crossings was one of the top issues raised. There are a lot of people who live in this area who have limited mobility and are especially impacted by the lack of crossing facilities.

My top priority would be for a zebra crossing to be installed somewhere between the Boundary St overpass and Colton St, with the specific location to be determined in consultation with community.