14 September 2023
Submission regarding the LGIP Amendment 1B
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the LGIP amendment 1B. The below submission is based on my own consultation and communications with residents in the electorate of South Brisbane over recent months.
This is a fast growing neighbourhood, with rapidly increasing density as a result of largely unrestricted development, the Olympic Games, the approval of the Kurilpa TLPI by both the LNP council and the Labor state government and a planning system that is geared primarily towards the profits of developers. The neighbourhood is already lacking in terms of a number of key pieces of infrastructure. With this increased growth, the infrastructure needs for this community are only going to grow, including the need for more public and active transport, parkland, community facilities, schools, public medical centres, public housing, and community services.
It remains unclear how the BCC will deliver on the essential infrastructure that Brisbane needs, while also giving an infrastructure charges discount to property developers. This is a shortsighted measure that will reduce the livability of Brisbane.
Kangaroo Point Riverwalk
I fully support the Kangaroo Point Riverwalk completion (KAN-RW-004). Completing the river walk will be essential to ensure we get the most out of the Kangaroo Point to City Green Bridge, and is something that residents in Kangaroo Point have been waiting many years for. 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. The timeframe for this must be brought forward. The state government has also allocated $22.5 million to this project over the next three years, and in 2020, committed to finishing the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk should be 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
I am supportive of the St Lucia to West End bridge (SLU-GB-001) and the Toowong to West End bridge (TOO-GB-001). However I am disappointed to see the delivery of the Toowong to West End in the 2026 - 2031 timeframe. This is a critical connection that should be delivered within the 2021 - 2026 timeframe. Both ends of this bridge are already high density areas that are earmarked for another increase in 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, behavior and infrastructure exist to accommodate active and connected inner city living.
Cycling Infrastructure
I am supportive of the Kangaroo Point Bikeway (KAN-SP-004) 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.
The LGIP should be updated to include the following bike infrastructure:
- Vulture St Bikeway: 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.
- Dornoch Terrace: 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.
- Annerley Rd: The Active Travel for Annerley campaign has been pushing for separated bike lanes along Annerley Rd. There is widespread community support for this project.
Intersection Upgrades
Annerley Road/Cornwall Street/Noble Street Intersection (FFD-RI-001): This is an incredibly dangerous intersection for pedestrians and cyclists, so I welcome the inclusion of this intersection in the LGIP. 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. All sliplanes at this intersection should be removed, in line with TMR policy. 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.
Slip lanes should also be closed at the Ipswich Rd/Cornwall St intersection (WOO-RI-002) and the Ipswich Rd/O’Keefe St intersection (WOO-RI-003).
Logan Road/Old Cleveland Road Intersection (WOO-RI-001): This roundabout, and the nearby Junction Street intersection, is very dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists and cars. Given its proximity to Buranda State School, Narbethong State Special School, Buranda Train Station, Buranda Bus Station and Stones Corner Library, safety upgrades on this intersection should be a high priority for the Council.
To make this a safe and functional intersection that encourages active and public transport and reduces traffic congestion, it’s essential that these upgrades include: traffic lights with a scramble pedestrian crossing, properly aligning the roads at this roundabout, and barrier protected bike lanes. I’m concerned that the current allocation of $1.789 million funding for this upgrade will not go far enough to fully complete these essential upgrades and urge the BCC to allocate more funding towards this project.
I do not support a widening of intersections 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”. Rather, the BCC should prioritize the installation of bus lanes, protected bike lanes and safe pedestrian crossings.
Montague Road Project
It is promising to see the Montague Road projects listed within the LGIP amendments. However, the delivery 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.
I note the in-depth community consultation and planning done by the Montague Road Project, a coalition of local community groups, who have created a vision for sustainable movement, a cool, green and waterwise street, a connected canopy of trees, and a ‘village experience’ that fosters community connection. Separated bike lanes, bus lanes, and improved pedestrian safety and enjoyment should be prioritised for Montague Road.
Parks
I strongly object to acquisition of homes for parkland at Ida St, Rogers St and Raven St (WES-A1-002). The subject of the site sites across streets Ida St, Rogers St and Raven St. 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. Approach to the site is challenging with the current slope from Montague Rd. As such, this should be removed from the LGIP. I request that this specification be reconsidered.
Below I have listed a number of areas that should be delivered as parkland, that would service the residents of West End economically and community benefit wise more efficiently. Some of these are vacant land, and could be delivered immediately:
- 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 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.
- 16-24 Duncan St, West End 0.93 ha: This site is 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.
- 281-299 Montague Rd, West End 1.2 ha: These two sites are adjacent to Davies Park and would allow the expansion of that parkland 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.
- 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.
- Pocket Parks: There is also a great opportunity to take advantage of road reserves around the neighborhood, which could be transformed into pocket parks. See the Kurilpa Greenspace Strategy, prepared by local community group Kurilpa Futures, for details on establishing much-needed pocket parks across the neighbourhood.
- The Gabba CRR site: The state government promised in 2020 that 50% of the Gabba Cross River Rail station site would be greenspace, co-designed with the community. The BCC should be holding that state government to this promise, as a way of expanding parkland in Woolloongabba, which is growing rapidly.
Ferry Terminals
I am delighted to see plans for a ferry terminal at Victoria St (WES-FT-002) reintroduced to the LGIP after strong advocacy from Cr Trina Massey. Many residents moved into 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.
I am supportive of plans to upgrade ferry terminals at Mowbray Park, Dockside, and Southbank 1 & 2. Southbank 3 should also be upgraded and re-opened. In addition, I urge the BCC to ensure that CityCats stop at the new Dockside terminal, to ensure that Kangaroo Point has improved access to public transport.
Cuts to Infrastructure Charges
As mentioned above, it remains unclear how the BCC will deliver on the essential infrastructure that Brisbane needs, while also giving an infrastructure discount to property developers. These discounts are very unlikely to actually deliver affordable housing. Handouts to property developers don’t create housing - rather, these handouts go towards property developer profits, and drive up the amount of money developers are willing to pay for land. Higher land values means higher rents, larger mortgages, and are a barrier to new construction.
In addition, there is ample evidence that cutting ‘red tape’ for developers does not deliver affordability, given that developers will sit on land, sit on approved DAs, and even developed properties, until conditions are such that they can make the most amount of money. Developers hold back supply in order to avoid “supply-led price declines”.
If the BCC was genuinely interested in housing affordability, they would be putting in measures to restrict short-term accommodation, supporting a rent freeze and rent cap, and pushing for investment in more public and social housing.
Kind regards,
Amy MacMahon
Member for South Brisbane