sylvan road Archives - Toowong News

Petition Launched to Halt Auction of Sylvan Road Greenspace

Local residents have launched a petition urging officials to reconsider plans to auction off a 450-sqm parcel of greenspace on the corner of Sylvan Road and Land Street in Toowong.

Read: Cyclist Safety at Risk on Sylvan Road in Toowong, Awaiting Promised Upgrades

The site, which is classified as High Density Residential and falls within the Regatta Hotel Precinct, is set to be auctioned off on November 6. However, local resident Harry Smithers and other concerned citizens argue that this greenspace is crucial for the vibrant, dense Toowong community.

“This part of Toowong is vibrant and dense. In areas like this, we need to maintain our communal greenspaces to mitigate the urban heat island effect and provide habitat for native birds and bees,” said Mr Smithers.

The site, located at 21 Sylvan Road, currently houses seven well-established eucalyptus trees, which studies show can boost mood and increase feelings of happiness through exposure to nature. Mr Smithers also noted the area’s vulnerability to flooding, and how the greenspace plays a key role in managing stormwater.

“Greenspaces play a crucial role in managing stormwater and reducing the impacts of flooding. This part of Sylvan Road is flood prone,” he said.

The petition, which has garnered nearly 400 signatures toward a goal of 500, calls on local officials to reconsider the auction and instead explore ways to revitalise and preserve the site as a community greenspace.

“This tiny site is being marketed as a multi-level development opportunity – how given the size? The last thing this area needs is more million-dollar units on this remnant of green space,” one supported noted.

“We need more green space in our cities plus Land Street goes under every time it floods,” another resident stated.

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

Those wishing to sign the petition can do so via the Change.org platform. Residents hope the show of community support will prompt a reassessment of the plans for this valuable pocket of greenery in urban Toowong.

Published 30-October-2024

Cyclist Safety at Risk on Sylvan Road in Toowong, Awaiting Promised Upgrades

Sylvan Road in Toowong continues to present significant safety challenges for cyclists, ranked as one of the most dangerous locations in Brisbane according to recent BikeSpot findings.

Sylvan Road in Toowong remains a focal point of safety concerns for the local cycling community, featuring prominently in the BikeSpot 2023 rankings as a hazardous area. The road is notorious for its high traffic speeds and dangerous intersections, which have been identified as major risks for cyclists.

Rank	Location	Features Noted as Dangerous
1	Hopkins St, Footscray (VIC)	No bike lane, high traffic speeds
2	Victoria Rd, Rozelle (NSW)	Dangerous intersections, no bike lane
3	Sylvan Rd, Toowong (QLD)	High traffic speeds, dangerous intersections
4	Franklin St, Adelaide (SA)	Lack of dedicated bike lanes
5	Tydeman Rd & Pearse St Intersection (WA)	Complex traffic patterns, high vehicle speeds
6	Northbourne Ave, Lyneham (ACT)	High traffic speeds, no bike lane
7	Tasman Bridge (TAS)	Narrow paths, high vehicle speeds
8	Epping Rd Shared Path, Lane Cove (NSW)	Dangerous intersections
9	St Georges Rd Trail (VIC)	Intersecting roads causing safety concerns
10	Bourke Rd, Alexandria (NSW)	Poor surface, dangerous intersections

Despite proposals for upgrades, the road’s current conditions continue to pose a serious threat to cyclist safety.

As part of a broader traffic management strategy announced by LM Adrian Schrinner in March 2024, Sylvan Road is slated for major upgrades designed to alleviate congestion and improve safety. The plan includes redesigning key intersections and enhancing the overall road layout to better accommodate both vehicular and bicycle traffic. However, these changes are still in the planning stages and have yet to move forward, leaving cyclists to navigate the existing hazardous conditions.

The local community and cycling advocates continue to urge immediate action to make Sylvan Road safer. The area’s traffic issues and the absence of dedicated bicycle lanes have contributed to several accidents, highlighting the urgent need for improvements.

With Toowong’s population growth and the upcoming Brisbane Olympics, the pressure is increasing on local authorities to expedite these critical upgrades to ensure the safety of all road users.

Whilst funding and political discussions about road improvements are ongoing, the primary concern for residents and local officials remains squarely focused on enhancing safety measures.

Published 17-Sept-2024

Water Main Upgrade to Impact Toowong Bike Lane

Heads up for cyclists! Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU) has been preparing for the upgrade of the water main on Archer Street and the Bicentennial Bikeway between Sylvan Road and High Street. These upgrades will impact a lot of Toowong bike lane cyclists accessing Coronation Drive.

Some of the water pipes directly below the bikeway will need replacement so temporary bike lane closures will be enforced. The closures, however, won’t begin until November, according to the QUU.

Cr James Mackay informed the public of the forthcoming bike lane changes in a video post on Facebook.

“QUU emailed me to say works would begin Monday 19 October. QUU has said today the works on the bikeway will not commence until early November,” Mr. Mackay said. “I am meeting onsite with QUU to discuss the bikeway closure and the options. QUU has confirmed it will contact cycling groups before the closure, outlining detours, and so on.”

The bike lane closures will be active for two weeks but the QUU prepared a detour plan for cyclists.

For additional details about the Toowong bike lane detour and this water main upgrade, residents may phone 1300 13 13 38.

Cyclist Almost Hit on Sylvan Road in Toowong: Are BCC’s Bike Lane Upgrades Enough?

Sylvan Road in Toowong has long been the subject of controversies, particularly for cyclists. The road was under a 12-month trial of peak period bike lanes until the Brisbane City Council made it permanent in September.

The initiative allows the bike lane to be free of vehicles for three hours until 9:00 a.m. and three hours until 7:00 p.m. five times a week. However, during its trial period, business owners have already complained about the lack of parking that has affected several businesses on the road. Cyclists are also not keen on the idea as they think that this is not a solution for their safety on the road.

Space for Cycling Brisbane spokesman Chris Cox was quick to address the issue and has asked the local community for more patience.

Recently, a cyclist called for a separate bike lane on the road after getting nearly hit by a car. The cyclist was able to capture the accident on camera and the video was shown to the police and Mr Cox. Mr Cox again stressed the importance of a separated corridor that links the Western Freeway and Bicentennial Bikeways.

As of now, they are urging the council to drop the speed limit on the road to 40kph and Land Street to Patrick Lane.

Public and Active Transport Chairman Adrian Schrinner, on the other hand, said that they have gotten majority votes on the peak-hour lanes that they have implemented. He said that they have also seen a 20% increase in cyclists using the road on a daily basis. In light of this, the trial is considered successful in balancing the needs of the cyclists along with the local community, which is why they are do not see the necessity for a separated bike lane.

However, he said that the council will upgrade the bike lanes with clearer markings and install new signages such as flashing warning signs.