More than 1,100 people on bikes and e-scooters travel the Sylvan Road Bikeway corridor each weekday in Brisbane’s inner west, despite the route running directly alongside traffic with no physical separation. Plans are now advancing fora protected bikeway through Toowong.
Early works are expected to start from mid-2026, with a target completion in 2028, after community consultation held in June 2025. The project is backed by a Queensland cycling grant supporting the design phase and a $5 million federal contribution announced on 27 February 2025, towards an estimated $12 million total cost.
A Key Link Between Two Major Bikeways
Sylvan Road is a key connection between two major off-road routes: the Bicentennial Bikeway near the river and the Western Freeway Bikeway. Council describes the project as part of local network improvements around Sylvan Road and nearby intersections, aimed at making trips smoother and safer for more people moving through Toowong.
The route has also been highlighted in cycling safety reporting, including BikeSpot material that collects and maps locations riders consider unsafe.
Strong Community Support
Council’s community engagement update reports strong support for protected infrastructure on Sylvan Road. It says 93 per cent of respondents believed a separated bikeway would have a positive or very positive effect on their travel, while 94 per cent said they would feel very safe or somewhat safe using Sylvan Road if a separated bikeway was installed.
The consultation summary also reports concerns about avoiding crashes, unsafe turning movements and limited crossing options. It notes people asked for safer crossings, slower traffic speeds, wider footpaths, better lighting and more greenery to improve comfort for everyone using the street.
Alongside separated bike lanes, Council’s update also points to work around major junctions connected to Sylvan Road, including Croydon Street, Jephson Street and Milton Road. Council says it is working toward concept designs in early 2026, with detailed design expected later in the year, and construction timing dependent on how the design develops.
Council’s “Your Say” page for the project describes Sylvan Road as a popular cycling route linking the two bikeways and says there is an opportunity to improve safety for walking, riding and scooting, including at key intersections.
The streets of Toowong have been transformed into an open-air gallery, with local residents painting vibrant artworks on traffic signal boxes throughout the suburb. These eye-catching installations celebrate everything from local stories to community connections, turning everyday street furniture into conversation starters.
At the corner of Coronation Drive and Booth Street, artists Matisse Raphael and Aya Stronach have transformed an Energex padmount transformer into an imaginary apartment building. Painted in June 2022, the artwork features multiple window panels, each framing diverse characters who peer out or sometimes in, representing Toowong’s cosmopolitan community. A flowering jacaranda filled with local wildlife completes the scene, capturing the vibrancy of this inner-Brisbane suburb.
Created by eight-year-old Alice White in December 2018, this design at the intersection of Milton Road, Croydon Street and Morley Street takes inspiration from the nearby Cat and Fiddle shopping centre. The artwork features a possum dressed in Toowong School uniform alongside colourful Queenslander houses and a sunset characteristic of local skies. The piece earned a nomination for Best 12 and Under.
Located at the Sylvan Road pedestrian crossing near Kate Street, Maleea Holbert’s August 2025 design depicts origami cranes drifting through the sky. Positioned directly in front of Toowong State School, the artwork aims to capture children’s imagination whilst providing a calming presence for parents and passers-by. Holbert drew inspiration from memories of making paper cranes in Japanese class.
At the same Sylvan Road pedestrian crossing location (a previous artwork on this box), D.K. Perkins and Peta Thomson created this May 2021 piece asking the age-old question: is the glass half empty or half full? The design encourages viewers to look for silver linings and sparked from the family’s experiences during 2020. The artwork won Best 18 and Under in 2021.
Mira Westaway’s December 2016 artwork at the intersection of Moggill Road, Jephson Street and High Street combines her passions for ballet and fashion design with a Halloween twist. The piece earned nominations across multiple categories, including Overall Winner and both youth age groups.
Leesl Ross brings the University of Queensland to Toowong’s streets with this October 2016 depiction of the university’s iconic sandstone walkway and arcade. Located at Brisbane Street and Glen Road, the artwork earned a nomination for Overall Winner.
At Sherwood Road and Holland Street, Lisa Kelly’s April 2019 artwork promotes the message of Eating Disorders Queensland, a community-based not-for-profit organisation. The piece serves as a sister artwork to Kelly’s other box on the same street, designed to bring the community together and remind viewers that beauty comes in all forms. It received a nomination for the Energex Box Award.
Lisa Kelly’s September 2018 design at Sherwood Road and Jephson Street celebrates bodies of all shapes and sizes through depictions of various female forms throughout history. Created in recognition of Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the artwork was produced in collaboration with The Eating Issues Centre and earned nominations for Overall Winner and Best Organisation.
Kate Halling’s January 2020 design at Benson Street and High Street explores how people make sense of their surroundings through sensory experiences. Using varying colours, shapes and forms, the artwork responds to its location and aims to provoke a positive sensory experience for viewers.
Gabrielle Cook, a disabled artist, created this July 2025 artwork at Jephson Street and Lissner Street featuring iconic Australian birds enjoying a picnic of recognisable Aussie snacks. Cook, working with collaborators Emma Blakey, Kyron Mayhew and Naomi Moore from the University of Queensland’s School of Social Sciences, designed the piece to invite playfulness and connection through accessible public art.
Sarah Sparks and Tom Hilton’s June 2025 design at 3 Valentine Street and Milton Road celebrates Brisbane from the river to the purple jacarandas and turquoise of South Bank lagoon. The artwork features six iconic bridges symbolising the merging of modern and historic Brisbane, with dashes representing walking tracks and dots representing the city’s tapestry of cultures. The title pays homage to the traditional name for Brisbane.
Emma Watt’s October 2024 artwork at the Coronation Drive pedestrian crossing and Booth Street captures jacaranda trees flowering against the heritage Regatta Hotel. The piece aims to evoke nostalgia and appreciation for Brisbane’s character, highlighting the short-lived beauty of spring before summer arrives and the intertwining of history and nature.
At Land Street and Patrick Street, Bronte McDonald’s December 2022 design draws from Ray Bradbury’s quote comparing cats to creative ideas. McDonald, working with assistants Ashleigh Barker and Bibi Bonfield, believes creating is as essential to human wellbeing as exercise and good nutrition, with CAT also serving as an acronym for Creative Art Therapy.
Santo Cavallaro’s June 2022 artwork at Land Street and Sylvan Road celebrates the special connection between nature and discovery. The design reflects on how spending time in nature can provide endless opportunities for learning, growth and peace, whether hiking through mountains or simply walking in a park.
About Artforce Brisbane
These artworks are part of Artforce Brisbane, an annual community art programme run by Brisbane City Council since 1999. The initiative invites Brisbane residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to paint original artworks on traffic signal boxes throughout the city’s suburbs. More than 5,000 volunteers have painted over 1,200 boxes across Brisbane, celebrating local characters, cultures, histories and landmarks while reducing graffiti and vandalism. The programme is managed by Artfully, a Brisbane-based arts consultancy specialising in public art and placemaking. Each year, approximately 80 painting opportunities become available as the council upgrades intersections and replaces old cabinets.
The Legacy Way Tunnel, linking Toowong and Kelvin Grove, has generated more than $1 million in donations for Legacy Brisbane through toll contributions since opening ten years ago.
The Legacy Way Tunnel connects the Western Freeway at Toowong with the Inner City Bypass at Kelvin Grove. Beyond reducing congestion and saving drivers time, the tunnel has delivered ongoing financial support for veterans’ families.
Each trip contributes one cent to Legacy Brisbane, and over millions of journeys the initiative has reached a seven-figure total.
Impact on Veteran Families
Legacy Brisbane supports nearly 4,000 family members across Queensland, including widows, partners, and children of veterans.
The funds provide education opportunities, care programs, and personal development support. They also help ease cost-of-living pressures, ensuring families receive practical assistance during difficult times.
Voices From the Community
Transurban representatives said the milestone shows how everyday travel helps achieve lasting community outcomes. Legacy Brisbane leaders explained that the partnership has strengthened their ability to reach more families and expand services.
The funding, they said, ensures long-term social and financial support continues for those impacted by a loved one’s service.
Community Impact
With more than 76 million vehicles having travelled through since opening, the Legacy Way Tunnel has become both a vital transport link and a steady source of funding for veterans’ families.
The $1 million milestone demonstrates how routine daily travel can deliver lasting benefits for the community, ensuring Legacy Brisbane can continue its support well into the future.
Plans have been announced to demolish the flood-ravaged Toowong Bowls Club site, with community input being sought on potential redevelopment options. The site has remained unused since the devastating floods of 2022. Local authorities are keen to revitalise the area while ensuring resilience against future flooding events.
Locals have responded enthusiastically to the call for input, suggesting various innovative and practical ideas. Some residents have proposed planting iconic Moreton Bay figs to enhance the greenery and provide shade for future generations. Others have suggested a skate facility for local youth, community playgrounds, tennis courts, or a BMX track.
A recurring theme in the community feedback is the desire for a versatile space to accommodate various events and activities. One resident envisions a large, covered structure on the existing bowling fields, similar to the popular Bardon Bowls Club, which could host markets, charity events, music performances, and informal gatherings.
The dilapidated building and concrete slabs are scheduled to be demolished in August. The council is committed to transforming the site into a parkland that enhances the Brisbane lifestyle. Residents are urged to submit their suggestions to the committee for consideration.
Ms Penny Wolff acknowledged the community’s interest in the site’s future and encouraged residents to share their ideas for post-demolition use. She highlighted the importance of considering flood resilience in any proposed plans, suggesting options such as fitness facilities, pickleball courts, lifestyle amenities, or green spaces.
This initiative reflects the council’s dedication to community engagement and sustainable urban development. The Toowong Bowls Club site redevelopment presents a unique opportunity to create a vibrant and resilient community space that caters to residents’ diverse needs and interests.
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.
Vera Street Community Garden has been actively conducting workshops that help Brisbane City Council in their efforts to cultivate greener communities. Consisting of locals and non-local residents, the association is dedicated to helping people establish and maintain organic vegetable garden beds for shared consumption and rehabilitating the Toowong Creek.
Tim Davies from All You Can Eat Gardens will be facilitating a hands-on workshop on making a no-dig garden out of recycled timber and compost from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, 13 May 2018.
Photo credit: www.allyoucaneatgardens.com.au
No-dig gardens are an excellent way to transform wasted spaces into productive food gardens. This type of garden can be built on lawns, weeds, hardpan clay, and even on concrete. This workshop will show you how you can do it on your own.
Attendees will also learn the necessary skills to make their own raised bed at home.
Photo credit: www.allyoucaneatgardens.com.au
Tim Davies has been engaged with Permaculture and organic farming through woofing, teaching, and designing since 2008. His studies as an Environmental Engineer helped him develop his understanding of natural systems and design.
For those who want to attend the free event, call the Council on 3403 8888 to reserve your slot. Don’t forget to wear a hat, a long sleeve shirt, and closed in shoes during the event.
