New Pedestrian Refuge for Montague Road
As your local Councillor, pedestrian safety is one of my top priorities. I've heard the frustration from residents across the Gabba Ward about the lack of pedestrian safety improvements being delivered by Council. That's why I've been looking for ways to deliver these improvements directly through my role as your local Councillor.
This has led me to use my annual Suburban Enhancement Fund (SEF) to progress projects that matter most to our community. The proposed Dornoch Terrace pedestrian crossing is one of four pedestrian improvement projects I've been working on over the past two years.
A community voting poll was opened from 7 February - 15 March 2026 to allow Gabba Ward residents to make the decision about whether the proposed pedestrian upgrade will go ahead.
This consultation reflects my commitment to transparency, community engagement, and putting pedestrian safety first in the Gabba Ward. Please take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information.
UPDATE 10/04/26
I want to thank everyone who engaged with the Community Poll on the proposed Pedestrian Safety Upgrade for Montague Road.
The level of engagement has been genuinely heartening; from votes cast to the thoughtful feedback shared in person at community meetings, pop-up offices, and via email. I'm grateful for every contribution and welcome your continued engagement as this project moves forward.
The results show clear and encouraging support for improving pedestrian safety in our community. It was especially positive to hear from so many residents who value safer access near bus stops and recognise the importance of making Montague Road safer for everyone. At the same time, I appreciate those who raised concerns and shared constructive ideas, particularly regarding the proposed location and the loss of some on-street loading zones. This feedback has been important in helping build a well-rounded understanding of community priorities.
Outcome of Community Poll
The results highlighted an overwhelming level of community support for the proposal, with 97% of respondents in support and just 3% not in support. This is a remarkable result that demonstrates how clearly our community wants to see safer pedestrian infrastructure on Montague Road.
I understand this is a concern for some residents and local businesses regarding the loss of two loading zones to meet line-of-sight requirements for pedestrians. I am actively working with Council to move these loading zones to an appropriate nearby alternative.
While no single solution will meet everyone’s needs, it is encouraging to see such strong support for making our streets safer. With increasing density across West End and South Brisbane, it’s more important than ever that our road design improves safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users. These changes also play a role in helping to reduce congestion on our local streets.
What happens next?
I will now be progressing the funding sign-off and Council's tender process, with the goal of delivering this project as soon as possible.
If you didn't get a chance to view the design earlier, I have provided the Brisbane City Council's final designs below.
Other key concerns highlighted by residents
One of the most common concerns was the increasing density along Montague Road. Rapid development without the supporting public infrastructure has, in effect, turned Montague Road into a sub-arterial corridor without the footpaths, crossings, and traffic calming measures needed to keep people safe. I have been working alongside community groups such as Don’t Sell Southbank 2.0 to push back against inappropriate development that prioritises profit over people.
Overdevelopment without proper planning creates genuinely unsafe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. I will continue advocating for stronger planning controls, infrastructure-first development, and communities designed for people, not just short-term outcomes and developer profit.
Residents also highlighted the urgent need to improve the Montague Road, Ferry Road, and Drake Street intersections. I am very aware of the safety risks at these locations and have been advocating for their redesign for several years. While these intersections fall outside the scope of this specific project, they remain a priority.
Last month, I wrote to Cr Ryan Murphy, Brisbane City Council's Civic Chair for Infrastructure, requesting his support for a formal Black Spot Program funding submission for this intersection, and to Federal Member for Griffith Renee Coffey, requesting her advocacy for federal Black Spot Program funding given the intersection falls within her electorate.
POLL IS NOW CLOSED
Thank you again for your thoughtful and constructive feedback throughout this process.
I also encourage you to sign up to my mailing list to keep in the loop on similar local issues in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What does the proposed Montague Road pedestrian upgrade look like?
Why is pedestrian safety on Montague Road important?
Montague Road is now effectively an arterial road due to the significant population increase in the area and surrounding suburbs, carrying much higher traffic volumes than in previous decades. This increased traffic has made it increasingly difficult and dangerous for pedestrians to cross safely.
Why was this specific location chosen for the proposed pedestrian crossing?
This stretch of Montague Road has two bus stops, high foot traffic due to a number of local businesses and apartment buildings, and no safe ability to cross. This creates a dangerous situation for residents, particularly those catching buses, visiting local businesses, or accessing amenities on the opposite side of the road.
The location addresses a genuine gap in pedestrian infrastructure along this busy corridor.
Why was this specific location chosen for the proposed pedestrian crossing?
Council undertakes comprehensive assessments including:
- Pedestrian, bus, bicycle, and traffic counts
- Cadastral data (land ownership, boundary, and legal information)
- Aerial imagery analysis
- Compliance with existing Australian Standards
- Consideration of site-specific conditions
Will any car parks or loading zones be removed?
Yes. A total of 4 car parks and 2 loading zones will be removed if this project is delivered. This removal is necessary to ensure the pedestrian refuge is compliant with line of sight requirements for pedestrian safety.
While I understand losing car parks and loading zones is never popular, pedestrian safety must be the priority, and these sight line requirements are essential for ensuring people can cross safely.
What about street lighting at the crossing?
Existing street lighting at the intersection will suffice for the pedestrian crossing. However, further investigation is required during the next stage of design to confirm this and identify any additional lighting needs.
How much will this project cost?
The cost for delivery of this pedestrian refuge is estimated at $90,000. This estimate could increase depending on site conditions discovered during construction or changes in material costs.
This crossing is deliverable via my office’s Suburban Enhancement Fund allocation.
Has Council approved this design?
Yes. The design and location have been approved by Brisbane City Council for delivery. The project meets all relevant safety standards and technical requirements.
Is community consultation required for this project?
No. Voting and community consultation are not required by Council legislation for projects delivered through the Suburban Enhancement Fund.
However, community input and transparency are core values of my office, so I want you to have a say. The community will ultimately decide whether I proceed with delivering this crossing through this consultation process.
Who can participate in the consultation?
All community members are encouraged to participate, whether you live directly on Montague Road, in the surrounding streets, or elsewhere in the Gabba Ward. This crossing will impact the broader community, and everyone's perspective is valuable.
If the community votes yes, when could construction begin?
If the community supports this project, I will allocate funding through my Suburban Enhancement Fund in this financial year (2025/26). The exact timing will depend on contractor availability and any unforeseen site complications.
I will keep the community updated on timelines as the project progresses.
What happens if the community votes no?
If the community votes no, then the pedestrian upgrade will not be delivered.
The decision rests with you, the residents of the Gabba Ward. This is your opportunity to determine whether this pedestrian safety improvement should proceed using Suburban Enhancement Fund resources.
If the crossing does not go ahead, the funding allocated for this project could potentially be redirected to other community priorities within the ward.
What about intersection improvements at Mollison Street and Montague Road?
Our office is actively working on and aware of community concerns about safety improvements needed at this intersection.
However, these intersection upgrades are out of scope for this particular project. The proposed pedestrian crossing between Donkin Street and Anthony Street is a separate, standalone safety improvement that can be delivered through my Suburban Enhancement Fund.
Intersection modifications require significantly larger budgets, more complex engineering designs, and coordination across multiple Council departments. I continue to advocate for these intersection improvements through the broader Council planning and budget processes.
If you have specific feedback or concerns about the Mollison Street and Montague Road intersection, please contact the Gabba Ward Office at [email protected] so we can include your input in our ongoing advocacy work.
What about safety improvements at the Montague Road, Ferry Road, and Drake Street intersection?
The Drake Street / Ferry Road / Montague Road intersection is a high priority for the Gabba Ward, and my office has been actively working on this issue for years.
This has been an escalating problem since at least 2019, when residents raised serious safety concerns including dangerous sightlines for pedestrians crossing Drake Street along Montague Road, dual left/right turn lanes from Ferry Street causing visibility problems for right turning vehicles, drop off congestion from Queensland Ballet spilling onto Montague Road, footpath blockages preventing residents with prams and mobility aids from crossing safely, and increased traffic flow due to increasing development in the area.
My office has experienced significant funding and delivery challenges when advocating for improvements at this intersection. Council's Transport Planning and Operations has not supported signalising this intersection, claiming traffic volumes are not high enough, and the administration has blocked or delayed delivery through the centralised transport budget. Progress has been further stalled by the Montague Road Transport Study, which despite being expected in early 2025 has still not been finalised or released, with no foreseeable date for completion. The Draft Study released in late 2024 was high level only, containing no local intersection designs and no commitment to funding - meaning the safety improvements residents have been waiting years for remain firmly on hold.
I am continuing to advocate for this intersection through multiple channels. Most recently, I have written to Cr Ryan Murphy, Brisbane City Council's Civic Chair for Infrastructure, requesting his support for a formal Black Spot Program funding submission on behalf of the Gabba Ward for improvements at Ferry Road / Montague Road / Drake Street intersection, Dornoch Terrace / Hampstead Road and the Dornoch Terrace / Ganges Street / Hardgrave Road intersections. I have also written to Federal Member for Griffith Renee Coffey, requesting her support in advocating for federal funding via the Black Spot Program given both intersections fall within her electorate. I am also pushing Council to prioritise these intersections in their transport planning and budget processes, through my annual budget submission and working with residents and community groups including Kurilpa Futures to gather improvement ideas to raise with Council.
If you have experienced safety issues or near misses at this intersection, please report it to Council on 3403 8888, contact our office at [email protected], and report near misses to Queensland Police Service. The more documented evidence we have, the stronger our case becomes for urgent intervention.
Why don’t you just lower the speed limit?
I wish it were that simple! Believe me, I would lower the speed limit in a heartbeat if it were within my power to do so.
I'm a strong advocate for lower speed limits across the inner southside. There are too many near misses, too many people choose to drive because they don't feel safe riding or walking and we shouldn’t wait for something tragic to happen to make changes. As our population grows, we need to make our roads safer for all modes of transport, but particularly for pedestrians and bike users .
Lower speed limits reduce the severity and frequency of car crashes, make it easier and safer for vehicles to pull out of side-streets and driveways, and encourage more people to use active and public transport, which in turn reduces traffic congestion. They also reduce noise and air pollution, improving pedestrian comfort and helping to shift suburbs into walkable neighbourhoods with vibrant street culture.
In built-up inner city suburbs with narrow roads and high volumes of pedestrians, 50 and 60km/h speed limits simply aren't safe or sustainable.
But here's the challenge: speed limit decisions aren't made by individual councillors. These requests require approval from multiple agencies and levels of government, including the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and Brisbane City Council's transport officers. The process involves traffic studies, safety assessments, and consultation with various stakeholders.
I'm still pushing hard for these changes and have won some small victories by advocating for speed limit reductions in other areas of the ward. But these things take time, persistence, and coordination across government.
How does the classification of a road affect what kind of traffic calming measures can be installed?
Road classification has a huge impact on what types of traffic calming measures can be implemented, and it's one of the most frustrating barriers I encounter when advocating for safer streets.
Brisbane City Council uses a road hierarchy system that classifies roads into five types: Neighbourhood, Suburban, District, Arterial, and Motorway. You can find more details in Council's Road Classification factsheet.
Here's the key issue: decisions about road changes (such as pedestrian crossings and upgrades, lowering speed limits, and traffic calming measures) are all based on the type of road involved.
Generally, Neighbourhood roads are generally the only type that will have Local Area Traffic Management (LATM), which allows Council to install traffic calming measures such as speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings, chicanes, and other interventions designed to slow traffic and prioritise safety.
Once a road is classified as Suburban, District, or Arterial, it becomes much harder to implement meaningful traffic calming. These roads are designed to move higher volumes of traffic more quickly, which often comes at the expense of pedestrian and cyclist safety, even in dense, built-up areas where people are walking and riding every day.
How is overdevelopment in Kurilpa affecting pedestrian safety, and what am I doing about it?
This is something I've been deeply concerned about and actively fighting against. The rapid, hyper density development we're seeing in Kurilpa is being approved without adequate infrastructure to support it. We're getting more residents and more traffic, but we're not getting the footpaths, crossings, or traffic calming measures needed to keep people safe.
I've been working alongside community groups like Visy Don't Sell Southbank 2.0 to push back against inappropriate development that prioritises profit over people. This campaign has been fighting to protect public land and ensure that development in our area actually benefits residents rather than just developers' bottom lines.
Overdevelopment without proper planning creates genuinely dangerous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. I'll keep fighting for better planning controls, infrastructure-first development, and communities that are designed for people, not just cars and profits.
What is the Montague Road project and how does it affect when we'll see safety improvements on Montague Road?
The Montague Road Transport Study is a comprehensive corridor study that began in late 2023 to look at what upgrades are required along the entire Montague Road corridor to accommodate West End's growing population.
There have been two Brisbane City Council consultations. The first was an online consultation in October/November 2023. The second occurred in November/December 2024 based on the Draft Transport Study. Because Council only held one in-person event, I called a community meeting myself to go through the study, answer questions, and take comments from residents.
The Draft Study proposes three distinct sections for Montague Road, each with different features. You can find my full submission here.
As of February 2026, the final study results are still not available, despite being expected early 2025. My office has been pushing hard for this to move forward because the study has placed much needed work on the next steps to make the Study a fundable and deliverable project on hold.
The Montague Road Transport Study directly impacts any decisions about upgrades, pedestrian safety measures, or traffic changes along this corridor. Until the study is finalised and funding is allocated, we're in limbo and unable to move forward with critical safety improvements that residents desperately need. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at [email protected]
Will other people who haven't attended this community meeting get a chance to talk to you about the proposed pedestrian crossing?
Yes! I will be holding pop-up offices to discuss the proposed Montague Road pedestrian crossing at the West End Markets on the following dates:
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Saturday 21 February, 8:30am - 11:00am
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Saturday 14 March, 8:30am - 11:00am
These sessions will give you an opportunity to ask questions, share your concerns, and discuss the proposal directly with me before the poll closes on Sunday 15 March.
I encourage anyone interested in learning more about the project or providing feedback to stop by and have a chat. You can also contact the Gabba Ward Office at [email protected] anytime with questions or feedback.
What is the Suburban Enhancement Fund (SEF)?
The Suburban Enhancement Fund is an annual allocation provided to each councillor to deliver local improvements and community projects within their ward. These funds allow me to respond directly to community needs and priorities without waiting for larger Council budget cycles.
What other pedestrian safety projects are you working on?
In addition to the Montague Road crossing, I'm progressing pedestrian safety improvements at three other locations across the Gabba Ward:
- Dornoch Terrace (Highgate Hill)
- Main Street (Kangaroo Point)
- Nile Street (Woolloongabba)
These projects represent my commitment to making our streets safer for everyone who walks, cycles, or uses public transport in our community.
How will we find out the outcome of the poll results?
My office will send an email to all poll respondents who opted in with the results once the poll closes.
I will also announce the outcome in my monthly newsletter and on my social media pages, so the broader community can stay informed about the decision.
If you'd like to ensure you receive updates, please make sure to subscribe to my newsletter or follow my social media channels for the latest information on this and other Gabba Ward projects.
How do I ask additional questions?
If you have further questions about the proposed Montague Road pedestrian crossing, please contact the Gabba Ward Office at [email protected].