Feedback re "Green Bridge" from Melanie Doheny...
Sunday 23rd February
Residents Meeting Ironside Primary School, St Lucia
The Brisbane City Council have plans to construct this bridge between Dutton Park and The University of Queensland's St Lucia campus to magically correct traffic problems along Coronation Drive, which has already recently undergone major roadworks for improvement. This bridge has been termed a "Green" bridge to hoodwink the people of Brisbane that it is an environmental way of correcting traffic and parking problems associated with the University of Queensland.
This Bus bridge is proposed to be 18.7m wide, 60m high and plans to carry buses every 8 minutes. Not only will this Bus bridge require major and long-term construction works, but the busway to be associated with it will split Dutton Park into two, pass 30 m from local residents and create further delays for traffic along Gladstone road. The entire project is anticipated to cost at least $150 million. In addition, the loss of park areas, local flora (including a number of "significant trees") and fauna (such as trees used by a family of Boobook owls) and river views in the inner city of Brisbane degrades the quality of life which makes Brisbane so unique.
The very feasibility of this project is under question given the seasonally of activities associated with The University of Queensland and the overestimation of southsiders who travel to the St Lucia campus. The project is not supported by The University of Queensland's Chancellor, Sir Llew Edwards, nor by many local residents. The potential for the busbridge to become a major through-road for cars and a thoughoughfare to Indooroopilly from Mt Gravatt and Carindale has not been ruled out by the City Council, nor have more appropriate and green alternatives been adequately addressed.
Why has the council ignored the more obvious and cost effective option of improving the efficiency of the current public transport system already in place? This will not only decrease the university problem, but will ease the ever increasing congestion caused by nearly 400,000 people travelling to work every day by car - BY THEMSELVES.
May I also point out that the BCC states that the Uni. students travelling from Mt Gravatt and Carindale will not drive to the University along Coronation Drive if the bridge is constructed.
Firstly, if you drive to the Uni. from Mt Gravatt or Carindale, you would NOT go through the CBD but through Yerongpilly and over the Indooroopilly Bridge. Secondly, the current ferry crossing option is not listed on any BCC or Qld Transport - TRANSINFO service and is not promoted as an solution to the buses which have to be caught to the CBD and then the UNI. and finally, there is a more viable and environmentally friendly option utilising Venner Road which is not bush parkland, has existing roadways that can be utilised and would just plainly make more sense.
Could the media please address the situation reporting correctly both sides of the bus bridge debate. It is no wonder the BCC wins every battle when the war seems to be with the media. The current lack of support for the general public's opinion and the BCC being showcased as the saviours of Brisbane with this Bus Bridge, it is obvious that people only be able to react when it is too late to make a difference.
I thought this was a democratic society, but it appears the politicians at Brisbane City Hall have powers over those we trust to be professional and report all the facts correctly and objectively.
Please give the Brisbane residents the chance to explain all the reasons for the opposition to the bus bridge. We want long term environmental solutions, we understand that there needs to be progress and we want consultation and an assurance that our concerns will be taken seriously.
We want a sustainable environmental solution for all the Brisbane community: for now and future generations.
I would also ask that investigating reporters have a full discussion and consultation with the community groups and individuals who have researched, studied and made alternative suggestions to this proposal. Let's provide information to the rest of Brisbane so they can understand fully the consequences and methods used by the BCC and this proposal.
Closing date for public comment is March 7th. Only 2 weeks away, and as yet, many residents directly effected are not fully aware of the extent of this project.