Green Bridge Archives - Toowong News

Toowong-West End Bridge Survives Scaled-Back Green Bridge Program

Brisbane will deliver just one more green bridge, the Toowong-West End Bridge, after abandoning plans for a fifth bridge connection amid escalating infrastructure costs and budget constraints.

However, the West End to St Lucia Bridge has been cut from the program, marking a significant shift in the city’s ambitious infrastructure strategy first announced in 2019.

Project Background

The original “Bridges for Brisbane” program initially proposed constructing five bridges over a decade, with joint funding from local, state, and federal governments. To date, two bridges have been completed: the Breakfast Creek Bridge and the recently opened Kangaroo Point Bridge.

Budget pressures from multiple fronts have influenced the decision. The COVID-19 pandemic, post-2022 flood rebuilding efforts, and the ongoing housing crisis have significantly impacted infrastructure funding.

Council highlighted increased construction costs and lower-than-expected revenue as key factors in scaling back the bridge program.

Toowong-West End Bridge — *Photo Credit: BCC*

New Green Bridge Impact

The Kangaroo Point Bridge, the most recent addition, is expected to remove approximately 84,000 cars from Brisbane’s roads annually and reduce travel times for active and public transport users by up to 50 percent.

The bridge features separated pedestrian and active transport lanes and will connect to a nearly four-kilometre eastern bikeway between 2027 and 2028.

Two dining venues along the Kangaroo Point Bridge – Stilts Dining and Mulga Bill’s – are expected to open early next year, adding further community amenities to the infrastructure project.

Efforts have been made to secure funding for the Toowong-West End Bridge, using a business case to support the initiative. There is a strong commitment to finish this green bridge ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games while keeping the budget balanced.

Published 17-Dec-2024

Toowong to West End Bridge: Brisbane’s Stalled Project Seeks New Momentum

The long-awaited Toowong to West End pedestrian and cycle bridge project may soon see new life, as prospects brighten for the ambitious infrastructure endeavour. The project, which had been stalled, is poised to resume once the infrastructure backing is secured.

Read: Budget Cuts Force Pause on Toowong to West End Green Bridge and Victoria Bridge Project

Brisbane City Council, unable to shoulder the estimated several hundred million dollar cost alone, is turning to higher levels of government for support. The council is preparing a final business case for Infrastructure Australia and eyeing the federal government’s $100 million active transport fund as potential sources of funding.

To put the scale of the project in perspective, a much smaller bridge over Breakfast Creek recently completed at a cost of $60 million. This underscores the significant investment required for the larger West End to Toowong crossing.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Flickr

Cr Adrian Schrinner expressed optimism about the project’s future, stating that the council is actively working with Infrastructure Australia on the business case. Federal Labor Senator Anthony Chisholm has confirmed that the council is eligible to apply for funds from the active transport initiative, though he refrained from speculating on the application’s chances of success.

The proposed bridge design, which underwent community consultation from November 2021 to February 2022, garnered strong public support. Key features of the concept include:

A curved single-mast cable-stay design spanning approximately 280 metres, with a 75-metre mast height above water level
Dedicated pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, with a minimum width of 6 metres
A clearance height of 11.4 metres and a 70-metre wide navigation channel
A rest point with seating and viewing opportunities near the bridge mast
Shaded walkways and a new riverside green space at the Toowong landing

Despite the initial enthusiasm, the project was paused following the February 2022 severe flood and weather event, as Brisbane prioritised rebuild and recovery efforts. The ongoing global inflation crisis has further complicated matters, leading to continued postponement to avoid passing additional costs onto residents.

Proposed riverside park and plaza at the Toowong landing (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Flickr)

However, there’s renewed hope for the project’s revival. Cr Schrinner believes that the successful completion of other bridge projects, such as the Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek bridges, will likely increase public demand for similar infrastructure.

Read: Cameras Installed on Mt Coot-tha Walking Trails Amid Security Concerns

As Brisbane continues to grow and evolve, projects like the Toowong to West End bridge represent a commitment to sustainable urban planning and active transport.

Published 30-July-2024

Budget Cuts Force Pause on Toowong to West End Green Bridge and Victoria Bridge Project

Photo Credit: BCC

BCC will undergo a series of cost-cutting measures to address a forecast budget blowout of approximately $400 million, impacting the already delayed Toowong to West End Green Bridge, which will be paused indefinitely.

Also affected by the cut is the shading of Victoria Bridge, part of the Brisbane Metro project, a stage that’s estimated at $5 million. This significant spending reduction, equating to a 10 per cent reduction in Council expenditure, comes just three months after the 2023-2024 budget was unveiled in June this year.

Rising Costs Prompt Immediate Spending Cuts

The decision to reduce the budget by $400 million aims to tackle soaring construction costs, labour, materials, goods, and services, which have put pressure on Council’s financial resources. This move seeks to keep future rate increases in check and maintain affordability for residents as the city heads into an election year.

Brisbane City Council will implement a range of austerity measures to achieve these savings. For instance, the public art component of the Brisbane Metro project will be delayed. Advertising, travel, consultants, and councillor ward budgets will also be reduced.

However, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner assured that there would be no forced layoffs among permanent Council employees, although contractors may face uncertainty.

Citywide Impact and Concerns

The budget cut will have far-reaching consequences, potentially jeopardising various projects or increasing their costs. The specifics of how these cuts will affect services and projects, including roads and footpaths, have not been disclosed, leading to concerns among opposition parties and residents.

Opposition leader Jared Cassidy criticised the lack of transparency in revealing which projects would be impacted, emphasizing that residents should not have to wait for months to discover how their local services might be affected.

Mr Schrinner defended the budget cut as a necessary corrective action to avoid future rate rises, highlighting the increasing costs faced by the council. He cited rising expenses in areas such as fuel, electricity, bitumen, and construction as key reasons behind the decision. Mr Schrinner maintained that essential services like waste collection, buses, and ferries would remain unaffected.

“Households right across the city are tightening their belts and it’s only fair governments do too,” Mr Schrinner said.

“Today I’m announcing a Council-wide 10% savings drive amid the global inflation and cost-of-living crisis.

“What we’re doing will put downward pressure on future rates compared to the uncontrolled spending we see at other levels of government that will only lead to pain for households.

“This is the kind of responsible decision-making Brisbane residents expect so we can maintain the lowest rates in South East Queensland.”

Future Implications and Challenges

The revised budget is expected to be released by the end of November, just a few months before Brisbane ratepayers go to the polls in March 2024.

Global inflation has played a substantial role in driving up construction costs, causing budget revisions and project delays. Fiona Cunningham, chair for finance in Brisbane civic cabinet, explained that continuing to spend without addressing these rising costs would result in future rate hikes for residents, an outcome the Council is determined to avoid.

“While some proposed projects may be paused, the majority will be delivered on time however council officers will be working hard over coming months to descope and remove unnecessary costs,” Ms Cunningham said.

Published 18-Oct-2023

Toowong to West End Green Bridge Design Phase to Start Soon

After being paused to prioritise Brisbane’s flood recovery last year, the proposed Toowong to West End green bridge is set to move into the detailed design phase by the end of 2023.

Read: Steps Taken to Acquire Toowong Green Bridge Landing Site

The Toowong to West End pedestrian and cycle bridge, which would span the Brisbane River connecting the two suburbs, is one of four green bridges proposed by Brisbane City Council. It could support over 5,000 trips per day by 2041 if built.

Toowong to West End Green Bridge rest point with seating and viewing opportunities – Artist’s impression only (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Flickr)

According to updates from Council, planning for the bridge had been paused to focus on the city’s flood recovery efforts. But with developers now moving on the former ABC Toowong site, securing the land for the bridge was identified as a priority.

The concept design for the bridge was unveiled in late 2021 and community consultations were undertaken until early 2022. Based on the outcome of the consultations, the concept design received generally positive feedback on the proposed bridge form.

Key features of the proposed bridge

a curved single-mast cable stay bridge form with a length of about 280m and mast height of 75m above water level
a single water-based pier on the Toowong side of the Brisbane River to minimise impacts on river users
dedicated pathways for walkers and riders, with a minimum width of 6m and accessible grades
a bridge clearance height of 11.4 metres, with provision for a 70m wide navigation channel
a rest point and widened pathway (up to 9m) adjacent to the bridge mast with seating and viewing opportunities
shade along the length of the walking path
a new riverside green space at the Toowong landing
a landing at Orleigh Park that minimises impacts on open space and provides a direct connection to the walking and cycling network.

An estimated one third of funding for the Toowong to West End bridge and other planned green bridges needs to come from state and federal governments. Council has yet to apply for state government funding for the Toowong to West End bridge project.

The Council is pushing forward with plans for the Toowong to West End bridge, saying detailed design work is essential before approaching the state and federal governments for funding.

Read: Could Toowong Soon Witness the Rise of Higher Density and Taller Skyscrapers?

So far, only the plans for the Kangaroo Point green bridge and the Breakfast Creek green bridge are progressing. Like the Toowong to West End bridge, The St Lucia to West End green bridge has also been paused to prioritise flood recovery.

Published 31-August-2023

Toowong, St Lucia to West End Green Bridges Confirmed After Overwhelming Support

After a four-month consultation period and more than 4,000 responses from the locals, the locations of the third and fourth green bridges to link West End to Toowong and St Lucia have been confirmed.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said that the bridge from Toowong to West End will have its landing sites at the former ABC property on Coronation Drive and Forbes Street in West End. About 83 percent of the residents agreed to this proposal, whilst 64 percent supported the plan to have a green bridge at Guyatt Park in St Lucia to connect to West End’s Orleigh Park.

Mr Schrinner said that the new owners of the former ABC site, Consolidation Property Group, have been aware of the proposal, which will become part of its upcoming development plans.

Council will soon be working on a detailed business case that will carefully map out the estimates and benefits of the Toowong to West End and St Lucia to West End green bridges, including the funding and time frame for construction.

“We will now proceed to develop business cases for each of these bridges and commence detailed design work. The rise of e-mobility is illustrating just how important major infrastructure like this is to connect communities and reduce our reliance on motor vehicles,” Councillor Ryan Murphy said.

Meanwhile, Council said that the Toowong to West End green bridge will be able to cater to 3,400 trips a day in 10 years. Per the residents’ response, the Toowong site is third on the priority list after the construction of the green bridges in Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek. These bridges are earmarked for construction by late 2021 and should be completed in 2023.

Only the fifth bridge’s location has yet to be determined.